The Patriots and the Eagles are about to duke it out and all of America and much of the world will be watching and munching. And if we are munching we might as well munch on something really good--like cheese balls and crackers. Who doesn't like cheese? (When she was little, my youngest daughter loved cheese so much she said, "I want to marry it!" Fortunately, her idea of marriage has matured.) In preparation for Super Bowl Sunday, we are going to make two scrumptious cheese balls: A Pesto-Pine Nut Cheese Ball and a Pineapple-Apricot Cheese Ball.
One of my favorite checkers at my neighborhood grocery store, Karen, told me about this cheese ball. I just had to try it! Here's what you'll need:
2/3 cup of pine nuts
1/3 cup of pesto
1/2 cup of shredded or parmesan
1 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese
Step 1. In a frying pan using a wooden spoon stir-fry the pine nuts with a teaspoon of butter or oil. Generously salt the pine nuts as you stir continuously. (Trust me: pine nuts burn in a second, so don't turn your back on them.)
Step 2. Mix the pesto, pine nuts and parmesan in a bowl and set aside. (Don't you love the alliteration.)
Step 3. Take a small bowl and line it with plastic wrap, then line the inside of the bowl with the cream cheese making sure to hold back a couple of Tablespoons.
Step 4. Next take half the mixture and using a spoon (or your fingers) press the mixture deep into the entire inside of the dome. You then seal in the mixture with the rest of the cream cheese.
Step 5. You then put a serving plate over the bowl and flip. Next you remove the bowl and carefully peel off the plastic wrap.
Step 6. Finally, you cover the outside of the dome with the other half of the mixture, making sure to press it gently into the surface. (Serve with crackers.)
Here's what you'll need for the Pineapple-Apricot Cheese Ball:
1 8 oz. pkg of cream cheese
1/2 cup of dried and sweetened pineapple chunks
1/2 cup of dried apricots
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
Using kitchen scissors cut the pineapple and apricots into very small pieces and mix them in a bowl with the pecans. You then follow steps 3-6 above.
Try Them You'll Love Them!
Looking Back:
While we are on the subject of appetizers, the most popular Pickett's Pearls appetizer has been Margy Coleman's artichoke dip from our very first post. The thing that makes it so unbelievable is that it has mozzarella and parmesan cheese! Check it out!
Fun Saying
I was on an airplane one time and I was talking to Jimmy from Austin. I can't remember what we were talking about, but at one point he said, "That must have gone the way of the Do Do." Of course he meant the extinct, funny looking Do Do bird. What a priceless saying! I've tried to work it into a conversation ever since, but it hasn't quite happened yet. But I'm not giving up!