Holiday Cheese Logs Blackcherry Walnut Recipes

HOLIDAY GOAT CHEESE LOG

Steps:

• Pulse almonds in the bowl of a food processor until chopped. Add parsley and chives; continue to pulse until incorporated. Add cherries and process until everything is finely chopped and you have a nice mixture of red and green.
• Pour nut mixture onto a flat work surface and spread into a thin layer.
• Roll goat cheese log in the nut mixture until fully covered. Carefully pick it up and tap the ends of the log into the nut mixture to cover. Place on a serving dish.

HOLIDAY CHEESE LOG WITH CRANBERRIES & PECANS

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer or food processor*, mix the cream cheese, feta, Swiss and honey until combined. Transfer cheese onto a sheet of foil and roll into a 1.5" x 10" log. Close foil and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
• Mix pecans and cranberries, and spread into a rectangle on a clean sheet of foil. Roll log over the mixture to coat all sides evenly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate. (Log may be refrigerated up to 3 days.) Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers.
• You may prefer to use a food processor, so that the Swiss cheese gets chopped up really finely amongst the two softer cheeses.

FRUITED HOLIDAY CHEESE LOGS

Steps:

• In a small bowl soak apricots, raisins, and dates in enough hot water to cover for about 30 minutes or until softened. Drain well; set aside.
• Meanwhile, place Monterey Jack cheese and cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Add orange juice to cheeses in bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until well combined.
• Stir in drained apricots, raisins, dates, and salt.
• Divide mixture in half.
• Shape one portion of the cheese mixture into a log about 5 inches long. Repeat with remaining cheese mixture.
• Cover (with wax paper or plastic wrap) and chill logs for 4 to 24 hours.
• Before serving, roll each log in toasted almonds.
• Serve with assorted crackers and/or apple slices.
• NOTE: TO TOAST ALMONDS.
• Spread nuts in a single layer in a shallow baking pan.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until pieces are golden brown, stirring once or twice.
• Cool completely.
• Store in airtight container for up to 4 weeks.

CHERRY WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until edges are lightly browned., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the eggs, brown sugar, salt, baking powder and vanilla. Drain cherries, reserving 2 tablespoons juice; set juice aside. Chop cherries; add to brown sugar mixture. Stir in walnuts. Pour over crust and spread evenly. Bake 20-25 minutes longer or until set. Cool completely on a wire rack., For icing, combine confectioners' sugar and butter in a bowl. Add enough reserved cherry juice to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over bars. Sprinkle with coconut if desired.

HOLIDAY CHEESE LOGS- BLACKCHERRY WALNUT

Steps:

• Grate and set aside the colby cheese in a large mixing bowl. Add the cream cheese, the cherries and the walnuts and with gloved hands mix thoroughly. The cheeses soften during mixing but they will harden back up in the refrigerator. Divide the bowls contents into 4 even portions. Roll each portion into a log about the size of a quarter in diameter, and roll the log into the ground vanilla wafers. Wrap each log in wax paper or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 24 hours if possible before slicing and serving with or without your favorite crackers.