Yes, the “holidays” are here.
Will there be parties, get-togethers, gatherings, like usual?
I’m not so sure.
First it was St. Patrick’s Day, then Easter was canceled, we missed summer vacation and traveling, no 4th of July parties, Halloween was a bust – and now? Will COVID allow for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year?
Regardless of whether you’re attending a party or not, you always need a cheesy appetizer to entertain yourself, right?
I grew up with cheese balls and crackers every night when Grandma Nat and Grandpa Bill were visiting, or Aunt Anne. Cocktail hour always involved nutty cheese balls.
These, are SO much better – and we have two varieties of cheese balls for you to enjoy:
Spicy Veggie Cheddar Cheese Ball (pumpkin shaped, of course) and Strawberry Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Cheese Ball (again, like a pumpkin), for more of a sweet tang!
Happy Harvest Season!
Spicy Veggie Cheddar Pumpkin Cheese Ball
8oz. garden veggie cream cheese
8 oz. sharp cheddar, shredded
1 tsp. dill weed
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 cup goldfish cracker crumbs
bell pepper stem
Mix together the cheeses and spices until well combined. Form into a ball.
Roll in the cracker crumbs and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Then, “push” into more of a gourd shape, and wrap with string to create the crevices a pumpkin might have.
Top with the stem of a pepper.
Strawberry Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Cheese Ball
8oz. strawberry cream cheese
8 oz. Monterey Jack, shredded
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup green pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
bell pepper stem
Mix together the cheeses and dried fruit until well combined. Form into a ball.
Roll in the seeds and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Then, “push” into more of a gourd shape, and wrap with string to create the crevices a pumpkin might have.
Top with the stem of a pepper.
