Holiday Cheese Ball

I – like a lot of folks – love the holidays! Holidays bring out the best in people, it seems like they are kinder, and more giving. The holidays bring families together, even if it’s just to eat. But the best part is the food! Why do we wait for holidays to bring out all the good stuff? 

One of my favorite things to make, share and eat during the holidays is a cheese ball, and my favorite cheese ball is a pepper jack cheese ball! Yum! 

Cheese balls are not hard to make, a few basic ingredients, and it’s easy to change things up and create your own signature cheese ball!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 – 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
3 cups of grated pepper jack cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped sweet onion
2 finely chopped cloves of garlic
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 small can of diced green chilies
Approximately 4 ounces of nuts chopped, walnuts or pecans.

Here’s what you do:
1) In a bowl mix the first six ingredients together thoroughly. 
(Tip: I use food safe vinyl gloves to mix and shape the cheese balls. Much less messy‼)

2) Taste test.

3) Form cheese into the shape of one large ball, two smaller balls or several log shapes.
4) Roll in chopped nuts, completely covering the outside.
5) Wrap in plastic or wax paper and refrigerate until ready to use.
6)Serve with crackers or vegetables.

If you don’t like pepper jack cheese and chilies you can try: taco seasoning, olives, and taco blend cheese, or cheddar cheese and celery with purple onion. The combinations are limited only by your imagination‼ 

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! – Julie