The Dabble

-food with a side of life-

My Family Cheese Ball Recipes

Yesterday was fun, except the whole “your mouth needs a complete remodel” thing. Now, I have to get to a tooth contractor (known as an oral surgeon) to give me a quote. I’m beginning to think they need a show similar to Extreme Makeover Home Edition for people’s dental needs and other health issues for those that can’t afford the procedures. I know they had ridiculous shows, probably still do, for “ugly duckling” makeovers where they get a complete overhaul but please, this new show will not be shallow. (Did the woman really need a breast enhancement to an F from a D cup? I tell you, tears stream from my eyes when I think about those poor women who have normal-sized breasts that ache for a larger size so that they can become a bikini model. Sniff sniff. )

Instead, the show will be honest and touching because real people + much needed assistance = worthwhile television. This idea reminds me of the time I thought a cooking show titled “Pimp My Recipe Box” would work. (Back when that silly Pimp My Ride show was on.) What was I thinking?

While I’m complaining, I have to give a shout out (sense the sarcasm) to the town for clearing the snow piles with the biggest and loudest truck before 4 AM today. I am glad they were on it but they started clearing the snow at midnight the night before. I knew it had to be done so I said nothing and slept minus a few hours.

I am not so jolly today, can you tell? We spoke with several people that live outside of town that said their areas weren’t plowed whatsoever. I’ll say it again, the town doesn’t come alive until 8 or so and it took less than an hour for them to “clear” the area.

Part of their definition of clear is to shove a few feet of snow onto the sidewalks and parking spaces. There was one community worker giving it his all at the dentist, going full-bore in his truck around their tiny lot, not stopping for any staff and patients and nearly running over a few crossing to the building. We stayed in Ru 2 until he was on the other side of the lot and then made a mad dash to the front door.

Between that and the whole wisdom teeth/root canal thing (plus Greg has to get something done for his jaw), my excitement over the season has deflated the holiday balloon- I am begging for a pump. I am going to get back to that joyful point damn it. Merry friggin’ Christmas! (I feel better already.)

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I think one way to inflate that balloon is to share my grandma and mom’s recipe for cheese balls. I requested these dips of cheesy goodness growing up. (Thank you, mom and grandma!) This time I added hot sauce, sriracha, but they are both wonderful without and feel free to substitute the walnuts for another nut or bacon bits and bacon bits with walnuts or another nut. Serve with pretzels, crackers and veggies. You might notice that I placed the walnuts in the cheese ball because I wasn’t focused and dumped them in but it still tastes great so no biggie.

Cheese Balls

Olive and Walnut Cheese Ball
Makes about 1 ½ cups

Ingredients:
1 5 oz. jar olive pimento cheese
1 5 oz. jar Old English cheese
8 oz. cream cheese
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
dash of garlic powder
dash of hot sauce- optional
2 cups of crushed walnuts

Mix all but the walnuts together. Place a third of the walnuts in a bowl and roll mix into a ball, then roll the ball over the walnuts (or add walnuts into the mix), adding more as needed to cover all of the cheese. Chill for at least an hour and serve with pretzels, crackers and veggies.

Olive and Bacon Cheese Ball
Makes about a cup
Ingredients:
1/3 cup chopped green olives with pimentos
¼ cup chopped black olives
8 oz. cream cheese
dash of hot sauce-optional
1 ½ cups bacon bits

Mix all but the bacon bits; roll the mix into a ball. Place a third of the bacon bits in a bowl and roll the cheese mix over them, adding the remaining bits to cover the ball. Chill for at least an hour and serve with pretzels, cracker and veggies.