1. Gather Your Ingredients: Lay out all your ingredients on the counter. This helps ensure you have everything you need and makes the process smoother. Open the cottage cheese container and the olive tapenade jar.

2. Prepare Fresh Ingredients: If using fresh parsley, rinse it thoroughly, pat it dry with a paper towel, and finely chop it. Mince your garlic clove as finely as possible. If you don’t have a garlic press, a sharp knife will do the trick.

3. Combine Cottage Cheese: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the entire 16 ounces of cottage cheese. Make sure the bowl is large enough to allow for easy mixing without spills.

4. Add Flavorful Components: Spoon in the 1/2 cup of black olive tapenade directly into the bowl with the cottage cheese. Add the chopped fresh parsley, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, black pepper, and the optional pinch of red pepper flakes.

5. Mix Thoroughly: Using a spoon or a rubber spatula, gently but thoroughly mix all the ingredients together. Stir until the olive tapenade and other seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the cottage cheese. You want to see streaks of the tapenade and flecks of parsley throughout the creamy cottage cheese. Avoid overmixing, which can break down the cottage cheese curds too much.

6. Taste and Adjust: Take a small spoonful of the dip and taste it. This is your chance to adjust the seasonings. If you prefer more tang, add a little more lemon juice. If you like it saltier, a tiny pinch of salt can be added (though the tapenade is usually quite salty). If you want more heat, add a few more red pepper flakes.

7. Serve Immediately: Once you’re happy with the flavor, transfer the dip to a serving bowl. It’s ready to enjoy right away!