Mediterranean Cheese Ball Bites Food

MEDITERRANEAN CHEESE BALL BITES

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, add chopped walnuts or pine nuts and stir until lightly toasted. Let cool and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine cheeses, salt, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, bacon, figs, parsley and black pepper. Mix with a large spoon or with your hands until ingredients are thoroughly combined. Refrigerate at least one hour, or overnight if you prefer.
• Spoon the mixture out by the tablespoon and shape into 36 balls about 1.5 inches each. Roll in chopped nuts and refrigerate until ready to serve.

MEDITERRANEAN CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese and feta cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Stir in the olives, capers, red pepper, basil, and garlic.
• Shape cheese mixture into a ball; cover and chill at least 3 hours.
• Roll in the toasted pine nuts just before serving.

CHEESE BALL BITES ARE THE ULTIMATE MAKE-AHEAD PARTY APPETIZER

Steps:

• For the cheese ball bites, in a large bowl, stir together cheddar cheese, cream cheese, green onions, paprika and cayenne pepper. Form mixture into 24, 1 Tbsp balls (tip: dampen hands with a little water if mixture is sticking).
• For the coating, roll 4 balls into walnuts, pressing lightly to adhere, and place on a serving platter. Repeat with remaining balls and coatings (4 balls per 3 Tbsp of topping).
• Serve finished cheese ball bites with fresh baguette, crostini or crackers.

BITS AND PIECES PARTY CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Allow the butter and cheeses to come to room temperature. They should sit out of the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• Put everything except the pecans and parsley in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice. It should take about 4 minutes.
• Plop the mixture onto a piece of waxed paper and gently form into a ball. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes or until firm enough to work with.
• Mix the pecans and parsley together on a large plate or a cutting board, then roll the cheese ball in the mixture. Cover any surfaces with a sprinkling of the mixture and pat into the sides until you have an evenly coated ball.
• Wrap well in plastic wrap and refrigerate. When ready to serve, let the ball sit out for at least a half hour to soften. Serve with good plain crackers or small toasts.

SPICY CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Sift the flour and a little salt into a bowl. Set a non-stick pan on the heat with 150ml cold water and the chopped butter. Bring to the boil, stirring until the butter melts. Tip in all the flour and, using a wooden spoon, beat hard until the mix becomes smooth and starts to leave the side of the pan.
• Remove from the heat, beat in the gruyère and half the parmesan and cool for 5 mins. Gradually beat in the eggs until you have a smooth, thick, but spoonable mix - you may not need all the egg. Can be set aside now for 2 hrs without chilling.
• When ready to serve, heat the oil in a deep-fat frying pan to around 180C. Using 2 teaspoons scoop up neat dollops and carefully drop into the hot oil. Fry 6-8 dollops a time for 3-4 mins until golden and crisp - dunk the dollops under to brown evenly. Reheat the oil as necessary. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with the rest of the parmesan. Serve hot.

CHEESE BITES (TOTALLY ADDICTIVE)

Steps:

• Combine cheese, butter, flour, salt, and cayenne in a large bowl: knead into a dough.
• Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on an un-greased baking sheet.
• If using olives, form each ball around 1 olive.
• If using pecans, press 1 pecan half onto each ball.
• Can bake them right now (see instructions below) or freeze for later.
• Place in trays in freezer for 30 minutes.
• Remove from freezer and place in freezer bags or container.
• Seal and freeze.
• Can bake them straight from freezer.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Place cheese balls 3 inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet.
• Bake 15-17 minutes if frozen, 13-15 minutes if thawed.