This recipe is from my Aunt Jane, who was one of my very first role models in living a more natural lifestyle. I remember visiting their house growing up and I always noticed that they used natural personal care products and natural cleaning products.
Even though it took me a little while to catch on to this natural lifestyle, now I love sharing tips and ideas with her, and she even reads my blog! And I’m so glad she shared this recipe with me – it is sooo good, you won’t be able to stop eating it. It’s perfect for an appetizer, a snack, or to take along to a party.
Cream Cheese Ball
Ingredients:
- 1 – 8 oz pkg cream cheese or light cream cheese
- 1/4 c plain yogurt (I used homemade)
- 1/4 c sour cream
- 3-4 slices cooked nitrate-free bacon, crisp and crumbled
- 1 T minced green or red onion
- 1/2 t dill
- 1/8 t black pepper
- 1/4 c, or more, finely grated cheddar cheese
- whole or sliced almonds for garnish (optional)
Soften cream cheese, then add the rest of the ingredients (except almonds). Shape into ball on serving plate. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. Right before serving, garnish with almonds – use whole ones to make a pretty pattern on the top, or put sliced ones around the outside.
So, from the picture you can tell that I didn’t actually make it into a cheese ball, I just served it as a dip. It’s kind of messy after it’s all mixed up, so I’m not exactly sure how you would make it into a ball?
Maybe you could use wax paper to shape it and then once it’s been chilled in the fridge it will hold it’s shape. It tastes great either way! Also, you could definitely leave out the bacon and it would still be good, but bacon adds just a little extra something to it.
I served it with Meijer Naturals multi-grain crackers, but other types of crackers, tortilla chips, and even veggies would be great with this too.
Have you ever made a cheese ball? Do you have any tricks for actually getting it into a ball shape?
More yummy stuff:
- Egg Fried Rice – a great way to use up leftovers!
I’d love to see more of you! Please consider subscribing to e-mail updates, or in a reader, to be sure you don’t miss a single post. You can also connect with me on Twitter and Facebook!
Linked to:
Recipe Swap at Grocery Cart Challenge
This would go really well with the Risotto chips I am eating right now! Yum.
Yummo. This stuff is good. My daughter and I just made it. We are very happy 🙂
I see this is an older post, but in answer to your question, my mum’s cheese ball is slightly different as it is cream cheese and mayonaise (no sour cream/yogurt) but probably a similar texture. She adds dried mustard and worstershire sauce, dried onion to hers.
Anyway, if you get it really well mixed it is messy, so she does what she can, then puts it in saran in a small bowl so you get a kind of ball, then throws in in the fridge for awhile, it goes much firmed, not quiet as hard as the cream cheese alone, but closer! Then you can kind of mould it a bit smoother with the saran wrap on. She rolls hers in walnut pieces, I’ve seen it done with bread crumbs too, something so the outside isn’t as sticky and looks pretty I think 😉 Then any kind of knife you can use to spread it.
I LOVE cheese ball, so yummy! Might have to make one tomorrow now 😉