Cream Cheese Pine Cones With Almonds Food

PINE CONE CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Stir cream cheese, goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, thyme, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until smooth and well-mixed.
• Turn cheese mixture out onto a serving platter and form into a tapered oval shape to resemble a pine cone.
• Starting at the tapered end, press almonds into the cheese cone so that the tip of the almond is facing out and down, and cheese cone is completely covered with almonds and resembles a pine cone. Place rosemary sprigs at the top to resemble pine needles.

CREAM CHEESE PINE CONES WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese and mayo together until smooth and well mixed.
• Add bacon, green onions, dill and white pepper - mix well and chill.
• Form cream cheese mixture into the shape pine cone top. Set aside.
• On a cookie sheet, add almonds in a single layer. Bake them at 300 degrees, stirring often, for 15 minutes or until slightly brown. Cool almonds and decorate the cream cheese by placing rows of the almonds from top to bottom. Add a small piece of parsley at the top of the pine cone. Serve with crackers.

CREAM CHEESE AND ALMOND PINECONE

Steps:

• In a 350 degree oven toast the almonds in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
• Meanwhile, combine the room temperature cheeses. Mound the cheese mixture onto the serving platter and shape into a pinecone shape with a spreading knife. Beginning at the bottom, pointed end of the pinecone begin placing the toasted almonds in rows, overlapping them slightly as you build the rows. The almonds should have the tapered end pointing downward. When it is done it will look like a huge pinecone. Decorate with silk leaves or a bow. Serve with an assortment of crackers and festive spreading knives.

PINECONE-SHAPED SPREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, bacon, onion, dill and pepper; chill. Form into two pinecone shapes on a serving platter. Beginning at the narrow end of each shape, arrange almonds in overlapping rows. Garnish with rosemary if desired. Serve with crackers or vegetables.