Cranberry Kissing Ball Food

CRANBERRY KISSING BALL

Steps:

• Wrap wire tightly around diameter of foam ball once. Twist wire at top of ball to secure. Tuck ends into ball.
• Break toothpicks in half. Push cranberry onto broken end of toothpick; push other end of toothpick into foam ball. Continue until ball is well filled with cranberries.
• Fill in open spaces on ball with 1 1/2- to 2-inch cuts of eucalyptus, securing with pins.
• Slip ribbon through wire twist at top; tie ribbon to make loop for hanging ball. The cranberries will stay plump and pretty for about three to four days. To extend its life, hang the ball in a cool spot, such as in an entryway or on a porch.

CRANBERRY CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Place chopped pecans in a dry skillet and toss over medium heat until toasted, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
• Combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and Mozzarella cheese in a food processor and process until creamy. Add 1/2 of the toasted pecans and 1/2 of the dried cranberries and pulse a few times to lightly break up and combine with the cheese.
• Remove mixture to a bowl and stir in half of the chives, garlic powder, and onion powder until well combined.
• Place mixture in the center of a piece of plastic wrap and use the wrap to help you form it into a ball.
• Combine remaining pecans, remaining dried cranberries, and the other half of the chives on a plate or cutting board. Roll the ball in cranberry-pecan-chive mixture.

HOLIDAY CRANBERRY KISSING BALL

Steps:

• Paint foam ball with red craft paint. Set aside to dry.
• Cut an 18" piece of wire and fold it in half. Push folded wire all the way through the center of foam ball, leaving a 1" wire loop extending at bottom of ball and 3" of wire extending at top.
• Using hot glue gun or toothpicks, attach cranberries to ball, covering it completely. Twist wires at top of ball into a simple hook for hanging. Use ribbon to tie mistletoe and other desired holiday trim to wire above and below ball, and hang with hook.
• Kissing ball will last several days. Discard once berries begin to soften. To extend the life of your decoration, you can spray with an even coating of shellac.