Herbed Marinated Cheese Balls Recipes

HERB-COATED MINI CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix cheeses and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper, using fork or back of spoon to mash feta, until well blended. Cover; refrigerate 45 to 60 minutes or until firm enough to shape into balls.
• In small shallow bowl, mix parsley, basil, rosemary, lemon peel and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Shape cheese mixture into 1-inch balls (about 1 teaspoon cheese mixture for each ball); roll in parsley mixture to coat (some cheese will show through herbs).
• To serve immediately, place each ball on a bagel chip. To make ahead, do not place cheese balls on bagel chips; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve but no longer than 24 hours. Just before serving, place each ball on a bagel chip.

HERB MARINATED CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut the cheese crosswise into 1/2-inch slices, and arrange on a serving platter.
• Sprinkle with onion, herbs, and red-pepper flakes. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
• Let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Serve with sliced bread.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Find a small, wide-mouth canning jar or small glass vase (3 1/2 inches in diameter by 4 inches high), just large enough to hold the two goat cheeses on top of each other with a little room to spare. Cut each cheese in half horizontally, making 2 rounds from each. (A piece of dental floss makes this easier.)
• Place half of the first disk flat in the jar, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then with 1/2 teaspoon dill, 1 teaspoon basil, and a few red pepper flakes, and drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Place another disk of cheese on top and repeat the seasonings, herbs, and oil. Continue with the remaining cheese disks, piling one on top of the other with oil and seasonings in between. When all the disks are stacked and seasoned, drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top. Cover and set aside at room temperature for one hour or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Serve at room temperature with bread or crackers for people to help themselves.

FOOTBALL CHEESEBALL WITH HERBED CRACKERS

Steps:

• Combine the cream cheese, Cheddar, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and shallots in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a large sheet of plastic wrap, cover with a second sheet of plastic wrap and form into a football shape. Wrap up in the plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the butter, rosemary and thyme in a small bowl and microwave until melted.
• Lay the crackers out on two baking sheets. Brush the tops with about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the herb butter. Bake until fragrant and a shade darker, about 10 minutes. Cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to eat. (The crackers can be made up to 2 days ahead.)
• Toss the walnuts with the remaining herb butter and arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Cool completely, then finely chop.
• Unwrap the cheese ball and cover completely with the walnuts. Transfer to a serving dish. Separate the string cheese into strands and arrange them to look like the laces on a football. Serve with the herbed crackers and crudites.

BALSAMIC HERBED MARINADE FOR GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Mix vinegar, lemon juice, orange juice, lemon peel, garlic, basil, rosemary, and oregano in medium bowl.
• Gradually whisk in oil.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour mixture into glass baking dish or a pickling jar.
• Add goat cheese; turn to coat.
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 2 days, turning occasionally.
• Transfer goat cheese to platter.
• Spoon marinade over.
• Top with sun dried tomatoes and or black olives.

HERBED CHEESE RINGS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, oil, honey, egg, salt, whole wheat flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour and herbs. Beat until blended. Stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to form a soft dough. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Punch dough down and turn onto a floured surface; divide in half. Roll one portion into a 15x10-in. rectangle. Combine filling ingredients; sprinkle half over dough. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal., Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. With a sharp knife, cut 1/2-in. slashes at 2-in. intervals. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Preheat oven to 350°. Brush each ring with egg; sprinkle with sesame seeds and cheese. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

MARINATED CHEESE

Steps:

• In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the olive oil, wine vinegar, pimento, parsley, green onion, garlic, sugar, basil, salt and pepper. Shake vigorously to blend. Set aside.
• Cut the block of Cheddar cheese in half lengthwise. Cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices to form squares. Repeat with cream cheese. Arrange cheese squares alternately in a shallow baking dish with slices standing on edge. You can arrange in a single long row, or 2 parallel rows depending on the size of your dish. Pour the marinade from the jar over the cheese slices, cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
• To serve, remove slices to a serving platter so they are still arranged in an alternating pattern. Spoon some of the extra marinade over the cheese, and serve with crackers.