Nutty Cheese Ball Recipes

DRIED FRUIT CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• In a medium bowl combine cream cheese and honey; beat until smooth. Stir in cheese and chopped fruit; mix well.
• Form into a ball and roll in chopped nuts. Chill for at least 3 hours.

CHEESE BALL I

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and dressing mix. Form into one large ball or two smaller balls. Roll in chopped pecans to coat surface. Decorate the top with pecan halves. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

NUTTY PIMIENTO CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Process cream cheese in a food processor until smooth. Add Cheddar, Monterey Jack, mayonnaise, pimientos, onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper and pulse to combine. Scrape into a bowl, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 days.
• Place pecans in a medium bowl. Roll the cheese mixture into 1-inch balls and coat each ball evenly with pecans.
• Serve the cheese balls at room temperature or chilled.

WORST DATE EVER NUTTY CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• You should have known that it wasn't going to go well when he arrived to pick you up for dinner on his Segway. As if it wasn't awkward enough having to walk briskly along beside him, craning your neck to make eye contact as he rolled down the sidewalk, there was the added talking point of his jaunty little straw boater. What was he thinking? What were you?
• Now you are starving because he took you to a raw food restaurant and then announced that everything was, "Real expensive, so don't go crazy." You were totally not prepared for him to whip out the calculator to determine, to the penny, what you ate. Once safely back in your own apartment-alone!-make yourself a nutty cheese ball because that's exactly what that clown was. Mix together cream cheese and pineapple.
• Take a quick peek out the window to make sure he's gone. What? Is that him, lurking beneath the lamppost? Oh, great, not only was he a lousy date, but now he wants to stalk you? Why is it always the losers that you can't get rid of? Wonder, "Why can't the really good-looking and successful guys be the stalkers?" as you put walnuts in a ziplock bag and crush them with a hammer, pounding on them like he kept pounding his fist on the table as he ranted endlessly about how nobody listens to him at work.
• Add diced green pepper and celery to the cheese. Roll cheese mixture into a ball. Try not to think about how he kept adjusting his balls during dinner, saying, "Damn, boys, sit still!" And especially don't think about the several times he actually reached down inside his pants and then with the same hand reached over to your plate to fish a piece of zucchini out of your raw lasagna.
• Roll cheese ball in walnuts and vow not to ever, ever again go out with a man you met at the ninety-nine-cent store.

CELEBRATION CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic until blended. Divide into three portions. , For Pine Nut-Pesto Cheese Ball: Beat one portion of cream cheese mixture and pesto until blended. Stir in basil. Chop 2 tablespoons pine nuts; stir into cheese mixture. Shape into a ball; roll in remaining pine nuts. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm. , For Horseradish-Bacon Cheese Ball: Beat one portion of cream cheese mixture and horseradish until blended. Stir in bacon and onion. Shape into a ball. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm., For Salsa Cheese Ball: Beat one portion of cream cheese mixture, tomato paste and salt until blended. Stir in cilantro, onion and jalapeno. Shape into a ball. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm. , Can refrigerate up to two weeks. Serve with crackers.