Photo: Victor ProtasioThis is not your grandmother’s cheese ball!The retro snack, though perfect for the holidays, could use an upgrade. Try these three spins in familiar flavors and fill your guests with nostalgia.Fig & Blue Cheese12 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (about 2 cups)8 dried figs, roughly chopped1 tablespoon honey1 teaspoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)1⁄2 cup pistachios, toasted and choppedRosemary crackersStir together cream cheese, blue cheese, figs, honey and lemon zest in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Place pistachios on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in pistachios to coat. Serve with rosemary crackers.Serves:8Smokey Pimiento8 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. smoked Gouda cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)3 tablespoons jarred chopped pimientos1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce1⁄2 teaspoon smoked paprika3⁄4 cup pecans, toasted and choppedButtery crackersStir together cream cheese, cheese, pimientos, hot sauce and paprika in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Place pecans on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in pecans to coat. Serve with crackers.Serves:8Loaded Potato8 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)3 tablespoons sour cream1⁄4 cup minced fresh chives, divided6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled (about 1⁄2 cup)Potato chipsStir together cream cheese, cheese, sour cream and 2 tablespoons of the chives in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Combine bacon and remaining 2 tablespoons chives on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in bacon and chives to coat. Serve with potato chips.Serves:8
Photo: Victor Protasio
This is not your grandmother’s cheese ball!The retro snack, though perfect for the holidays, could use an upgrade. Try these three spins in familiar flavors and fill your guests with nostalgia.Fig & Blue Cheese12 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (about 2 cups)8 dried figs, roughly chopped1 tablespoon honey1 teaspoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)1⁄2 cup pistachios, toasted and choppedRosemary crackersStir together cream cheese, blue cheese, figs, honey and lemon zest in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Place pistachios on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in pistachios to coat. Serve with rosemary crackers.Serves:8Smokey Pimiento8 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. smoked Gouda cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)3 tablespoons jarred chopped pimientos1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce1⁄2 teaspoon smoked paprika3⁄4 cup pecans, toasted and choppedButtery crackersStir together cream cheese, cheese, pimientos, hot sauce and paprika in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Place pecans on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in pecans to coat. Serve with crackers.Serves:8Loaded Potato8 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)3 tablespoons sour cream1⁄4 cup minced fresh chives, divided6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled (about 1⁄2 cup)Potato chipsStir together cream cheese, cheese, sour cream and 2 tablespoons of the chives in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Combine bacon and remaining 2 tablespoons chives on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in bacon and chives to coat. Serve with potato chips.Serves:8
This is not your grandmother’s cheese ball!
The retro snack, though perfect for the holidays, could use an upgrade. Try these three spins in familiar flavors and fill your guests with nostalgia.
Fig & Blue Cheese
12 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (about 2 cups)8 dried figs, roughly chopped1 tablespoon honey1 teaspoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)1⁄2 cup pistachios, toasted and choppedRosemary crackers
Stir together cream cheese, blue cheese, figs, honey and lemon zest in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Place pistachios on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in pistachios to coat. Serve with rosemary crackers.
Serves:8
Smokey Pimiento
8 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. smoked Gouda cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)3 tablespoons jarred chopped pimientos1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce1⁄2 teaspoon smoked paprika3⁄4 cup pecans, toasted and choppedButtery crackers
Stir together cream cheese, cheese, pimientos, hot sauce and paprika in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Place pecans on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in pecans to coat. Serve with crackers.
Loaded Potato
8 oz. cream cheese, softened8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)3 tablespoons sour cream1⁄4 cup minced fresh chives, divided6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled (about 1⁄2 cup)Potato chips
Stir together cream cheese, cheese, sour cream and 2 tablespoons of the chives in a medium bowl until well-blended. Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Combine bacon and remaining 2 tablespoons chives on a plate. Form cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball; roll in bacon and chives to coat. Serve with potato chips.
source: people.com
