Grandma used to make this for every spring gathering and now it is my most requested dish. Takes just 3 ingredients to make.

You can easily tweak this 3-ingredient base to fit what you have on hand while still keeping it simple. For a milder flavor, use 12 oz cream cheese and 4 oz plain goat cheese in place of the full 16 oz cream cheese (this technically adds another ingredient, but the method stays the same). If you prefer less salt, use a reduced-sodium ranch packet or only 3/4 of the packet and taste as you go. For a little kick, stir in a pinch of cayenne or cracked black pepper with the ranch mix. If you don’t have time to toast the pecans in a skillet, you can toast them on a sheet pan at 350°F for 6–8 minutes, stirring once halfway through, just watching closely so they don’t burn. Always let toasted nuts cool completely before rolling the cheese log so the heat doesn’t melt the cream cheese. Food safety tips: Soften cream cheese at room temperature for no more than 1–2 hours before using, and promptly refrigerate the finished cheese log. At parties, try to keep it out at room temperature for no longer than 2 hours (1 hour if it’s very warm) before returning leftovers to the fridge. Store leftovers tightly wrapped in the refrigerator and enjoy within 4–5 days.