We're making a bridge loaf. It's a charming sandwich loaf filled with salads and frosted with cream cheese. I've had more requests for this recipe then any other one that we've featured on the show. Here's how:

-Makes 24 servings
-Shrimp Salad Filling (below)
-Olive-Nut Spread (below)
-Deviled Ham Spread (below)
-2 loaves (1 1/2 pounds each) unsliced sandwich bread
-1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
-4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
-1 cup half-and-half
-Few drops food color, if desired

Make Shrimp Salad Filling, Olive-Nut Spread and Deviled Ham Spread. Trim crusts from bread loaves. Cut loaves horizontally into 4 equal slices. Lightly spread butter over 3 slices. Place 1 buttered slice on each of 2 serving plates or trays; spread each evenly with half of the Shrimp Salad Filling. Top with second buttered slices; spread each evenly with half of the Olive-Nut Spread. Top with third buttered slices; spread each evenly with half of the Deviled Ham Spread. Top with unbuttered slices. Lightly press loaves together. Stir together cream cheese, half-and-half and food color. Spread half of the mixture over sides and top of each loaf. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until cream cheese mixture has set. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 2 1/2 hours but no longer than 24 hours. Cut into slices.

Shrimp Salad Filling

-1/3 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
-1/4 cup finely chopped celery stalks
-2 tablespoons lemon juice
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/8 teaspoon pepper
-2 hard-cooked eggs, finely chopped
-2 cans (4 ounces each) tiny shrimp, rinsed and drained
-Stir together all ingredients.

Olive-Nut Spread

-2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
-1 cup finely chopped walnuts (4 ounces)
-1/2 cup finely chopped pimiento-stuffed olives
-1/4 cup milk
-Stir together all ingredients.

Deviled Ham Spread

-1/4 cup sour cream
-1/4 cup sweet pickle relish, drained
-2 tablespoons grated onions
-1/8 teaspoon red pepper sauce
-2 cans (4 1/4 ounces each) deviled ham
-Stir together all ingredients

Episode 108 Main Page