Living on an Air Force base overseas is pretty exciting. For instance, Air Force One could land on the flight line two blocks from our house, and President and Mrs. Obama could stop by for some appetizers.
Okay, maybe that isn’t exactly how it could happen.
Regardless, the tradition at my house is to always have a Cheese Ball at the ready for any neighbors, Christmas parties, emergency gifts, and random people who stop by on their way through……to things like the Asian Economic Summit in Tokyo.
Okay, no one stopped at my house before they went to the summit meeting either.
My mom has made Cheese Balls every December for forever. I do not recall a life without this cheese ball in it. It is so much a part of me that I refuse to try anyone else’s.
· 2 eight ounce packages of Cream Cheese
· 2 teaspoons onion or garlic juice
· 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
· 1 teaspoon lemon juice
· 1 teaspoon dried mustard
· ½ tsp Lowry’s seasoned salt
· ¼ tsp salt
· 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
· Parsley flakes, chopped dried beef, or chopped nuts
Put everything but the last two ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mush it all up with your hands until it is all mixed together. It’s kind of messy but it gets the job done. Now dump in the shredded cheese. Mix that with your hands too.
Shape into balls and roll in parsley flakes, chopped dried beef (that's the beef in the jars in the canned meat section of your grocery), or nuts. I almost always do the dried beef, but my mother does the parsley. It looks more festive all green. Nuts are gross so I don’t use them.
One batch will make one very large cheese ball, 2 medium balls, or three tiny ones. Serve with crackers (Ritz are best). Veggies are good too. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use or give as a gift.
One batch will make one very large cheese ball, 2 medium balls, or three tiny ones. Serve with crackers (Ritz are best). Veggies are good too. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use or give as a gift.
NOW WAIT! Remember the President is coming over……in my dreams. So this year, my daughter Abbey helped me make my plain old cheese balls a little fancier!
Follow recipe above until you have a giant cheese wad….
With your very cool painted fingernails…..
Shape cheese into a cone…..
Cut some cherry tomatoes in half……
Peel some orange or lemon rind into long skinny strips….
Cover cone with parsley……
Arrange your tomatoes, orange rinds, and cheese star on your cone (we got help with some toothpicks), then garnish beneath with crackers meat and veggies. This is what you get......
A Cheese Ball Tree!!!!
Thanks Abbey for your help! I think we did a pretty good job, don’t you?
Arrange your tomatoes, orange rinds, and cheese star on your cone (we got help with some toothpicks), then garnish beneath with crackers meat and veggies. This is what you get......
A Cheese Ball Tree!!!!
Thanks Abbey for your help! I think we did a pretty good job, don’t you?
Here’s where I am linking this post!
Wow, that looks neat. I hope the Obama's do drop over sometime. Wouldn't that be a hoot LOL?
ReplyDeleteI love it! Must try it! I'll get my nails done first.
ReplyDeleteThat looks too pretty to eat :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is great, I like the way you did the words on the pic of the president and his wife!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! And because you have such a creative idea, I do hope the Obamas stop by : )
ReplyDeleteVery cute idea! And the recipe sounds delish!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Last year when George W & Laura stopped by my house to drop off gifts, I had one and they loved it, so I'm sure the Obama's will too. Love the color of Abbey's nails.
ReplyDeleteOk, the president is missing out! Seriously! What a great presentation for a cheeseball!!! I've been making the same cheeseball since the 80's and am itching for a new one. Your's sounds great! Thanks for sharing and linking up to my "Very Merry Christmas Party" on sweetjeanette.com I'm so glad you did!
ReplyDeletehahaha!! this post was informative AND funny!! I sharing it w my friends! Your daughter? she's so cute...little cheesy grin lookin shy for the camera..awww, reminds me of my neice :) I read you live in Japan? is that right?
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so yummy. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I had a dream once that the Obama's came over for Afternoon tea. Maybe if I'd made this they would have stayed longer. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to make the cheese ball!!
ReplyDeletesuper, stinkin' COOL cheese ball tree! LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article, may be I will ask my wife to prepare cheese ball for me.Thanks for your comment on my blog.
ReplyDeleteMy kids would love to help make that:) Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHow cute is that! Now I'm craving a cheeseball!
ReplyDeleteThe tree is a great idea! That is so funny because I am the same way about MY cheese ball! lol I think yours looks good though--completely different from mine. Maybe I should make both!
ReplyDeleteGreat posts Lynne! Love the cheese ball!
ReplyDeleteWell, if they didn't stop they totally missed out. I'm certain they would have been amazed by the cheese tree! Cute post.
ReplyDeleteThe finished cheeseball Christmas tree looks fabulous, but I was a little worried when I saw the unformed cheese mixture lump. It looked...ahem...shall we say, like a large, coughed-up hair ball from a large cat? (Sorry! I really do love the finished tree, and I bet it tastes delicious!) LOL
ReplyDeleteIf the President and his Mrs. come over for appetizers, I want an invitation! I am passing by and following you back from ToughCookieMommy.com. I look forward to seeing back every Monday for our Monday Mingle Blog Hop.
ReplyDelete