Spinach Cheese Ball Christmas Tree Food

SPINACH BALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients until well mixed.
• Roll into 2 inch, walnut-sized balls.
• Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat and saute onions until soft and translucent. Add spinach, salt, and pepper and briefly saute while stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes.. Cover and cook until spinach is wilted, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove lid after 5 minutes and allow cooking liquid to evaporate. Remove from stove and cool completely.
• Chop spinach mixture and combine with ricotta and Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Roll out puff pastry sheet and evenly cover with spinach-cheese mixture to within 1/2 inch of the edges. Tightly roll up sheet lengthwise and press edges tightly together. Wrap in plastic wrap and cool in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Slice pastry log into 3/4-inch slices so you have 16 to 22 pinwheels. Lay puff pastry pinwheels in the shape of a Christmas tree. The lowest row should consist of 6 pinwheels the second row 5 pinwheels, etc. If you end up with 16 pinwheels, start with 5 pinwheels in the lowest row. Place the last wheel on the bottom to make the stem. Brush with egg.
• Bake in preheated oven until wheels are lightly browned and puffed up, 20 to 25 minutes. Decorate with cherry tomatoes for Christmas tree ornaments.

CHRISTMAS TREE CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, cayenne, Worcestershire, scallions, lemon juice and some salt and pepper to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth; you still want a few bits of cheese in there. Remove with a rubber spatula to a piece of plastic wrap and wrap up the cheese mixture. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Shape the cheese mixture with your hands into a Christmas tree/cone using the plastic wrap to keep it together. Mix the chopped parsley and dill together on a plate or work surface. Coat the shaped cheese in the chopped herbs.
• Transfer the cheese tree to the center of a platter. Decorate with the pomegranate seeds as ornaments. Serve with buttery crackers.

SPINACH CHEESE BALL ( CHRISTMAS TREE)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the spinach, cream cheese, water chestnuts, vegetable soup mix, mayonnaise and Cheddar cheese until well blended.
• Form into a ball, and roll in chopped walnuts. (This is where you can shape it into a christmas tree, cover it in parsley. Use small peices of water chestnuts, and maybe pimentos to use as ornaments.).
• If the mixture is too soft to form a ball, refrigerate for about 30 minutes to set.
• Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight to blend the flavors before serving with your favorite crackers.

HOLIDAY CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Place cream cheese, shredded cheddar, French onion soup mix, and ground mustard in the food processor. Pulse until the mixture is well combined.Scoop the cheese mixture out of the food processor and form with your hands into the shape of a large almond. Place on a platter.Press the round ends of the almonds into the cheese ball with the points slightly leaning toward the pointed end of the cheese ball form. Cover the cheese ball completely with almonds. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish the platter with fresh herbs and serve with crackers or cut vegetables.

PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Remove the puff pastry from boxes. Bring the puff pastry dough pieces to room temperature.
• Put the spinach, paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper in a food processor and mix well.
• Flour the counter, lay out 3 rectangles of puff pastry dough on top of each other, sprinkle flour on top and roll into a 10-12" rectangular shape with a rolling pin.
• Do the same for the 3 other puff pastry sheets on another section of countertop.
• Cut each rectangle into a tall triangle with a knife or dough cutter. (Try and resemble a Christmas tree!)
• Place the 1st triangle stack on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
• Spread the spinach paste on top, then sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese & about 2/3 of the Parmesan.
• Cover with the other triangular piece of dough.
• Seal the edges together by pressing the dough closed with your fingers.
• Make 1" to 4" cuts on the sides of the tree, then twist the dough. Repeat cuts from the top of the tree down, on each side.
• Mix the egg yolk well with 1 tablespoon of water and brush it all over the top of the dough.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds & remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in a 400°F oven until golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. Serve warm.

SPINACH CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the spinach, cream cheese, water chestnuts, vegetable soup mix, mayonnaise and Cheddar cheese until well blended. Form into a ball, and roll in chopped walnuts. If the mixture is too soft to form a ball, refrigerate for about 30 minutes to set. Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight to blend the flavors before serving with your favorite crackers.