Basil and Roasted Red Pepper Bites (Gluten Free)

Prep Time:25 Mins | Total Time:2 Hrs 25 Mins | Makes:25 appetizers

Five simple ingredients come together to create attractive, bite-size appetizers that are bursting with fantastic flavour!

1 pkg (70 g) thinly sliced cooked ham (about 5 slices)

3 tbsp (45 mL) garden vegetable reduced-fat cream cheese spread

1 pkg fresh basil leaves

1/3 cup (75 mL) roasted red bell peppers (from 341 mL jar), patted dry

5 pieces (5 1/2 inches long) string cheese

Stack 2 slices ham on work surface; pat dry with paper towel. Spread evenly with 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons cream cheese. Top with basil leaves to within 1 inch of top edge. Cut pepper into 1-inch strips; cut to fit width of ham. Place pepper strips across bottom edge of ham. Place cheese piece above pepper on basil leaves; trim to fit.
Beginning at bottom, roll up securely. Wrap in plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 5 rolls. Refrigerate 2 hours.
Unwrap rolls; place seam sides down. Cut each roll into 5 pieces with sharp serrated knife. If desired, pierce each roll with 5 evenly spaced toothpicks before cutting.

COOKING GLUTEN FREE? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is gluten free. Products and ingredient sources can change.

Substitution: You can also use regular cream cheese spread instead of the garden vegetable flavour. Just make sure it is the reduced-fat variety, which is softer and spreads more easily than regular cream cheese.
Success : Be sure to pat the peppers and meat slices dry with a paper towel. The packaged meat is typically quite moist, and the cream cheese may be harder to spread.