Ultimate Cheeseball Recipe

Real Restaurant Appetizer Recipe

This Ultimate Cheeseball Recipe will give you the "cheesiest" appetizer you could possibly serve, but you and your guests will love it!

Cheese balls are considered "unfashionable" by some people today, but I still make them for parties at home. Why? Because my family and guests devour them and are always disappointed if they come to my house and I haven't created a cheeseball for them to try.

Cheeseballs are very easy to make. They can be a fun project for the family. My grand-daughter and I love to experiment with ingredients when we make a cheese ball together.

Experimenting with ingredients will give your cheese ball a unique and hopefully satisfying flavor. You can also make different kinds to add choices for your guests.

Today, as opposed to the '50's when my mother would make a cheeseball, we have dozens of specialty cheeses from which to choose. That option alone changes the old cheese ball into something new and more delicious.

What you serve with your cheese ball also makes a difference. Assorted crackers are fine, but I also like to select an artisan bread, thinly sliced to accompany the cheeseball. Or some wonderful bread sticks.

I like to make this cheeseball recipe, or several others, at home whenever I am having guests, but especially during the winter holidays and when I am "sponsoring" a football party, like the super bowl. I make it ahead, refrigerate it and then bring it out about a half hour before the guests arrive.

As I recall, I discovered this particular cheesy recipe a number of years ago in a magazine, but I don't remember which one. And this recipe actually makes 2 cheeseballs. I keep one cheeseball "in reserve," or as they say in football, "on the bench," until needed.

The Ultimate Cheeseball Recipe

Real Restaurant Appetizer Recipe

Preparation time: 30 minutes (must chill in refrigerator for at least a couple of hours). Makes two cheeseballs; enough for 16 servings.

Ingredients:

• 2  cups shredded Swiss cheese
• 2  cups shredded cheddar cheese
• One 8  ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2  cup sour cream
• 1/2  cup chopped onions
• One 2  ounce jar of pimiento (optional)
• 2  tablespoons sweet pickle relish
• 8-10 slices of bacon, cooked crisp, drained, and crumbled
• 1/2  cup pecans and/or almonds ( your favorite or a combination), finely chopped or sliced
• 1  dash salt
• 1  dash pepper
• 1/4  cup parsley, finely chopped
• 1  tablespoon poppy seeds (optional)
• Assorted crackers and/or artisan bread with a side tray of fruits and veggies

Instructions:

• Let Swiss and cheddar cheeses come to room temperature
• In a large bowl beat together cream cheese and sour cream till fluffy
• Beat in Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, onion, un-drained pimiento, pickle relish, half of the bacon, 1/4 cup of the pecans, salt and pepper
• Cover and chill until firm
• Shape into 1 large or 2 balls (or logs, if you prefer) on wax paper
• In a small bowl combine remaining bacon, pecans, parsley, and poppy seeds
• Turn mixture out onto clean sheet of waxed paper
• Roll cheese balls or logs in seed mixture to coat
• Top with sliced almonds if using
• Wrap and chill
• Let stand 30 minutes at room temperature before serving
• Serve with assorted quality crackers, artisan bread and/or bread sticks

Enjoy your cheeseball recipe and the company of those you share it with!

Donna

“Life is great. Cheese makes it better.”

Avery Aames, ‘The Long Quiche Goodbye'