Apples With Honey Cream Cheese Dip

I found this recipe in our local newspaper a few weeks ago and decided to give it a try in order to compare it with a recipe that I posted on 8/26/08 called Taffy Apple Dip. We really like the Taffy Apple Dip with apples or peaches for a light dessert or snack. This recipe made with honey is also delicious for a bit of a change in flavor. The mildness of the honey combined with the lemon works great with the apples. This recipe comes from the Washington Apple Commission, with a bit of a change from me. Blessings...

Recipe:

4 apples of your choice cored and sliced, or chopped (I used Gala's)
1 tsp. lemon zest
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened (I used low-fat)
1/2 cup honey
ground pistachio nuts (I did not use the nuts so I don't know how they would taste)

1. In a small bowl, combine lemon zest, juice, cream cheese and honey until smooth.
2. Sprinkle with nuts, if desired.

Note: The original recipe was written with the apples being tossed in the lemon juice to prevent browning while they sat at room temperature. I blended everything together for our dinner needs and then stored the remaining dip in the refrigerator for later use. I also cut the recipe in half for two of us with enough leftover for two more meals. A great kid-friendly recipe to make an apple a special snack.