I Could Have Been a Cheese Ball, but the Pecans let me down...

Recipe Rating:	6 Ratings5
Categories:	Cheese Appetizers, Quick & Easy, Spreads
Collections:	Festive Feasts
Serves:	ONE... ok, if you share, quite a few

Ingredients

8 oz	cream cheese
8 oz	cheddar cheese, grated fine
1/2	green bellpepper, diced small
2	green onions, chopped small (green & white parts)
1/2 c	crushed pineapple (small can will do)
1/2	jar diced pimento (drained)... or one of those really tiny jars
1 tsp	seasoning salt

Pinched by TSKITCHEN, and 2,351 more.

Deb Kotansky

Well Seasoned

Hazleton, PA (pop. 25,340)

Deb77

Member Since May 2010

Deb's Notes:

WARNING!! This is totally addicting!! You will lick the spoon, you will lick the beaters, you will search frantically for a cracker! It will call you from the fridge late at night... Think I'm kidding? Ok..make it. I dare ya!!! lol

Comments from the Test Kitchen:

Deb tells us that this is better on the second day, but we'd eaten it all by the end of the first day! This is a terrific appetizer for any occasion and could easily be pepped up even more by adding your favorite hot sauce or jalapenos.... if you're so inclined. Happy snacking!

Directions

Have cream cheese at room temperature. Combine all ingredients and mix with mixer. Chill well before serving.

I usually use the whole jar of pimento. Mostly because I love pimento, but also because I never know what to do with the rest of the jar, lol. Or... you could double this and use the whole jar. I don't drain the pineapple.. works just fine either way. Just remember to chop the onion and bell pepper really small... tiny even.

Originally this was a cheese ball recipe. You were supposed to divide mixture in half and roll each portion in chopped pecans, forming 2 balls. The first time I made this, I made balls. Never again! If you don't eat it all, the pecans get rubbery in the fridge. Ever since then, I just make it as a spread and serve in a bowl with really good snack crackers. It is ever better the second day, so can be made a day ahead.

If you really feel the need to make this into balls, I would suggest draining the pineapple and putting mixture in the fridge for an hour or so before trying to roll it in chopped pecans. It makes 2 cheese balls.

Comments

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Deb Kotansky Deb77

May 12, 2010

Ok, kinda cheesy to comment on your own recipe, but....I sent this home with my step-kids at Christmas for their mom to have a taste. I only sent a little because I didn't know if she would like it. She called me a couple of days later. She said her and her boyfriend were fighting over who would get to finish it and she was licking the bowl. I make sure I double it when I make it now, so I can send enough over to them so that they don't have to fight over it! lol

Lori Lassiter LoriL

May 12, 2010

Can't wait to try this one!!!!Deb... thanks for sharing..gonna go look in my fridge & pantry,, and see if i have everything to make it tonight!!!!

Bianca lauterbach bianca1959

Jun 7, 2010

I also love this, but i use two cream cheese instead of chedder and drian the pinapple well and make in to balls, always a big hit,

Lillian Russo Lilliancooks

Jul 28, 2010

I love cheese balls! I've tried a few in my day! They always go over great at parties! I can see why this won! I love the addition of pineapple in this one! Sounds and looks perfect! Congratulations Deb!

CAROL GORNTO labrescue

Jul 31, 2010

What if you made it into balls, fridged it overnight, and THEN rolled it in the nuts just before serving? Would the nuts stay securely on? That might just eleviate the "rubberiness" of the nuts. OR just lick it out of the bowl, and forget the whole thing!

Deb Kotansky Deb77

Jul 31, 2010

Carol, the pecans didn't get rubbery until after the party and we had leftovers. They get smushed into the cheese ball, and just were not very tasty the next day. I don't miss the pecans. I love it right out of a bowl and like you said... you can lick the bowl! lol

Bonnie D. Utahn

Sep 21, 2010

Well, my name is Dare, I gotta try it! Thanks for posting it! It looks delish!

Eddie Jordan EDWARDCARL

Sep 21, 2010

I think your right!! I got addicted just reading this recipe. I'm going to try it real soon. THANK'S for this recipe.

Jean Johnson Abbyjean

Sep 21, 2010

YUM! How about chopping pecans and mixing them in? m-m-m-m it sounds so so good! Thx!

Deb Kotansky Deb77

Sep 21, 2010

Thanks everyone. I hope all who try it will love it as much as we do. Jean, you could try adding them... but honestly, I don't think it needs them. Even though the JAP Crew didn't have any for the next day... it really is even better after the onion and bellpepper have a chance to sit and release their flavors, lol.

Marcy Beach Spiritdreamer

Sep 22, 2010

I have made a cheese ball like this for years but instead of the pimentos, I add 1/4 cup of chopped pecans. I will have to add the pimentos now for another variation. Yum!