Appetizer Cheese Trees Or Snowmen Food

APPETIZER CHEESE TREES

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese and Cheddar cheese; divide in half. Mix pesto into 1 half; mix onion, mustard and pepper sauce into other half. Cover each half and refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape.
• Place cheese mixtures on cookie sheet. Shape each half into cone shape to look like Christmas tree. Roll trees in parsley, pressing parsley evenly onto trees. Press pine nuts onto trees in string form for garland. Press bell pepper pieces onto trees for ornaments. Top each tree with star shape cut from lemon peel if desired. Serve with crackers.

APPETIZER CHEESE TREES OR SNOWMEN

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese and Cheddar cheese; divide in half.
• Mix pesto into one half; mix onion, mustard and pepper sauce into other half.
• Cover each half and refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape.
• Place cheese mixtures on cookie sheet.
• Shape each half into cone shape to look like Christmas tree.
• Roll trees in parsley, pressing evenly onto trees.
• Press bell pepper pieces onto trees to form ornaments.
• Press pine nuts onto trees in string to form garland.
• Top each tree with star-shape cut from lemon peel, if desired.
• Serve with crackers.
• For Snowman Cheeseball: above recipe enough for one large snowman or two small snowmen.
• Omit parsley, pine nuts and bell pepper.
• Mix cream cheese and Cheddar cheese; divide into 3 equal parts.
• Mix 2 parts to equal two-thirds of mixture;mix in pesto.
• Mix onion, mustard and pepper sauce into remaining one third of cheese mixture.
• Refrigerate as directed.
• Shape each cheese mixture into two balls; roll 1/3 cup finely chopped blanched almonds.
• Arrange balls on serving plate with smaller ball on top for head of snowman; press together slightly.
• Insert pretzel sticks for arms.
• Decorate as desired, with capers (for eyes), sliced olives (for buttons), chopped carrots (for nose), sliced cucumber (for hat a thin slice for brim a chunk for top), chopped bell pepper (for mouth) and fresh thyme leaves (for scarf).

SNOWMAN CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the first four ingredients until blended. Shape into three balls, one 3-1/2 in., one 3 in and one 2-1/2 in. Place the 3-1/2-in. ball on an 8-in. serving plate; top with the 3-in. ball, then the small ball. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes., With a knife, smooth spreadable cream cheese over each ball; spread remaining cheese around base of snowman. Arrange rosemary sprigs on snowman's head, forming a wreath. Place three dried cranberries inside wreath. Insert pretzel sticks for arms., Cut two thin slices from olive and make two 1/8-in. circles. Place circles on head for eyes and slices on body for buttons. cut one cranberry in half widthwise; place in the center of olive buttons. Cut remaining cranberry in half lengthwise; shape one piece into a smile and place on snowman's face (discard remaining cranberry half)., Trim carrot to make a small nose; position on face. Cut top of green onion into a 1/4-in. strip; tie around neck for scarf. Serve with crackers.

OLIVE APPETIZER TREE

Steps:

• Get a box of toothpicks and a 9 inch cone shape to begin. (green or white).
• Drain olives. Cut block of cheese into 1/2 inch thick slabs and cut 1 inch stars with a cookie cutter. Cover with wrap.
• Break toothpicks in half. Starting at the bottom of the cone, insert toothpicks in a random order and push olives onto them. Vary the olives and leave room for the cheese stars. Place larger olives near the bottom.
• Push each cheese star into a toothpick half, Top the tree with a cheese star and insert rosemary sprigs randomly.
• Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate no longer than 8 hours.