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

Name: I Could Have Been a Cheese Ball, but the Pecans let me down...
Yield: ONE... ok, if you share, quite a few
Cuisine: American
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 in own juice (small can will do); 1/2 jar diced pimento (drained)... or one of those really tiny jars; 1 tsp seasoned salt

By Deb Kotansky
@Deb77

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

Blue Ribbon Recipe

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! The Test Kitchen

Rating:

★★★★★ 24 votes5

Comments:

209 Comments

Serves:

ONE... ok, if you share, quite a few

Method:

No-Cook or Other

Ingredients

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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 in own juice (small can will do)
1/2

jar diced pimento (drained)... or one of those really tiny jars
1 tsp

seasoned salt

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

Step-by-Step

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.

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