Friday, December 31, 2010

Nutty Bacon Cheeseball: Friday Dec. 31, 2010

Good bye 2010........here we come 2011! Ready or not. My li'l brother Mikey is having a New Year's eve party. This recipe is worth repeating, one of our favorite. Found in a cookbook that came with my kitchen aid mixer:

Nutty Bacon Cheeseball

1 pkg. 8oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c milk
2 c. (8 oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese
2 c. shredded monterey jack cheese (I can only find this at Hy-Vee)
1/4 c. (1oz) blue cheese
1/4 c. finely minced green onions (white parts only)
1 jar (2 oz) diced pimiento
10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
3/4 c. chopped pecans
salt and pepper
1/4 c. minced parsley
1 T. poppy seed

1. Place cream cheese in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer. Turn to speed 2 and mix 1 minute. Scrape bowl. Speed 2, gradually add milk, mixing until well blended, about 1 minute. Scrape bowl. Add cheeses, onions, pimientos, half of bacon and half of pecans. Turn to speed 4 and beat until well blended, about 1 minute.

2. Season with salt & pepper.

3. Transfer half of mixture to lg. piece of plastic wrap. Form into ball: wrap tightly. Repeat with remaining mixture. Refrigerate at least 2 hrs until well chilled.

4. Combine remaining bacon, pecans, parsley & poppy seeds in pie plate or lg. dinner plate. Remove plastic wrap from each cheese ball: roll in bacon mixture until well coated. Wrap in clean plastic wrap & refrigerate until ready to use, up to 24 hrs.
Yield: 24 servings. each ball