The Ultimate Cheese Ball Food

CLASSIC CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Combine the cream cheese, cheddar, Brie, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl. With an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until incorporated. Add the parsley and continue to beat on low speed until just combined. Form the mixture into a ball and refrigerate until set.
• While the cheese ball sets, coarsely chop the pecans and spread on a rimmed plate.
• About 30 minutes before serving, remove the cheese ball from the fridge. Roll the ball in the pecans, pressing them firmly to the ball, until completely covered. Let soften at room temperature for 30 minutes. Serve.

ULTIMATE CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Stir in the Swiss and cheddar cheeses, onion, bacon, pecans, pimientos, relish, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour., In a small shallow bowl, combine the bacon, parsley, pecans and poppy seeds. Shape cheese mixture into a ball; roll in bacon mixture. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve with crackers.

THE HEAVYSET CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Place and spread all the almonds on a cookie sheet or in a shallow pan, pushing the almonds around until they turn color, about 20 minutes.
• Mix together the cream cheese and the mayonnaise. Add the bacon, salt and pepper, dill, and onion. Chill overnight.
• On a serving platter, make 2 pine cone shapes with the cheese. Begin to press the almonds at a slight angle into the cheese, starting at the narrow end of the pine cone shape.
• Do this in rows, continuing to overlap rows until all the cheese is covered. Garnish with fake sprigs, or real ones, or with rosemary.
• Serve at room temperature and spread on crackers.

THE BEST CHEESEBALL

Steps:

• In a medium bowl combine the cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, green bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, Worcestershire sauce and garlic salt. Mix together and form mixture into a ball. Roll ball in cilantro and serve with your favorite crackers.

THE ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Mix first 4 ingredients just until blended.
• Shape into 8 (1/2-inch-thick) patties.
• Grill 5 to 6 min. on each side or until done (160ºF). Top with Singles; grill 1 min. or until melted.
• Place lettuce, tomatoes and onions on bottom halves of buns; cover with burgers, ketchup and tops of buns.

MY ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER

Steps:

• Heat outdoor grill to med-high heat. You can also use a George Foreman grill or cook the burgers as you normally do.
• Lightly oil grate, if using.
• In a large bowl, beat egg. Mix hamburger, sausage, cornflake crumbs, 2 Tblsp. BBQ sauce, salt, and pepper until just combined. Divide into 4 portions and shape into patties. Set aside.
• Mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, and 1/2 teaspoons dried basil in a small bowl and set aside.
• Cook burgers 3-4 minutes on each side (or until done to your liking). Put cheese on burgers and melt, if desired.
• Lightly toast buns on grill or under broiler. Spread an even layer of sauce on both sides of buns, top with burger patty, sliced onion, sliced tomato, and 2 leaves of baby arugula. Cover with top bun. Serve with a slice of dill pickle and fries or potato chips, and enjoy!

ULTIMATE CHEESE PLATTER

Steps:

• Arrange the fig leaves in a single layer on a 16- to 18-inch diameter round board or platter.
• Place the grapes in the center of the board. Arrange the cheeses on the board around the grapes, cut sides facing out.
• Nestle the strawberries between two of the cheeses to create a block of color. Nestle the apricots between two of the cheeses, also creating a block of color. Transfer the fig jam to a bowl and place it on the board. Arrange the crackers on the board around the cheeses. If using, place the fig ball on the board, cut sides up.