In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and black pepper. Mix until well blended.

Low-fat and/or fat-free cream cheese work equally well in here, as does goat cheese or mascarpone. A sprinkle of chives makes it even prettier — but it will disappear quickly, with or without them.

his recipe from Stoney River Steakhouse iin Duluth ndeed uses smoked Gouda, but one of the other things that makes it stand out is a tangy sauce that includes sour cream and a bit of lemon juice.