Easter Cheese Ball Recipes

EASTER CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Put all ingredients into the bowl of a mixer, and blend thoroughly. Form into an egg-like chick shape, and refrigerate until firm, about an hour. Before serving, roll the cheese ball in shredded cheese (this will look like feathers). Use a whole almond for the chick's beak, raisins for eyes and slivers of carrot or orange peppers for the feet. Serve with crackers or crudites.
• The results are at once delightful and delicious; don't expect the little guy to last very long.

EASTER EGG CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Mix together cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and dressing mix in a bowl until well combined.
• Form into a large egg-shaped ball in the center of a serving plate.
• Cut wax paper into strips. Lay them across the cheese ball, leaving spaces every two strips where the cheese is exposed. Sprinkle chopped chives on the exposed cheese, lightly pressing the chives down so they stick to the cheese. Remove the wax paper strips directly below the chives. Cover the newly exposed cheese stripes with bacon bits. Repeat by removing the final set of wax paper strips and adding chopped pecans in the remaining spaces.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

EASTER CHEESE - HRUDKA

Steps:

• Crack eggs into a large saucepan and beat with a whisk. Whisk in milk, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Cook over medium-low to low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture fully forms curds and the whey separates. This will take 20 to 30 minutes. Using higher heat or failing to stir will result in a big pan of sweet scrambled eggs.
• Drain the mixture into a colander lined with several layers of cheese cloth. Use the cloth to shape into a ball and twist the top to remove excess moisture. Secure with a twist tie. Hang for several hours or overnight. I do it on the spigot of the kitchen sink (which would probably wig out the germ police, but I haven't gotten botulism in 34 years). Of course, you could let it drain initially there and then finish it overnight in the fridge suspended over a deep bowl.

EASTER CARROT CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Chop enough onions to measure 2 Tbsp.; set aside. Chop remaining onion tops; refrigerate until ready to use as garnish.
• Beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup cheddar in medium bowl with mixer until blended. Add 2 Tbsp. chopped onions and remaining chopped vegetables; mix well.
• Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Shape cream cheese mixture on plate to resemble carrot; cover with cheddar and reserved onion tops as shown in photo.

EASTER EGG CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine wafer crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar, honey, lemon zest and lemon juice in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. or until center of cheesecake is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool completely before removing rim.
• Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hrs.
• Beat whipping cream in medium bowl with mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Add marshmallow creme; beat until stiff peaks form.
• Spoon marshmallow creme mixture over cheesecake to within 1/2 inch of edge, then use back of spoon to make 3-inch-diameter indentation in center to resemble a bird's nest.
• Sprinkle marshmallow creme mixture with coconut; fill center with chocolate eggs just before serving.