Friday, January 30, 2009

Favorite Ingredients Friday for January 30


The theme at Favorite Ingredients Friday today is items one might take to a Super Bowl get-together. I decided to share this favorite appetizer/snack recipe.

FESTIVE CHEESE LOGS

2 cups walnut pieces
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 ounces grated sharp Cheddar cheese
4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (or use a couple tablespoons of dried parsley flakes if you must)
2 tablespoons finely minced onions (the dried will work; use 2 tsp.)
1 or 2 minced garlic cloves (optional)
1/4 cup minced pickled jalapeño peppers (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Toast the walnuts: Spread them on an ungreased baking sheet and place them in a 350º oven for 7 to 10 minutes until nicely toasted. Watch them carefully. When they’re done, transfer them onto a large plate and let them cool.

Put the three cheeses in a large mixing bowl and work them with the back of a wooden spoon until blended. Add the remaining ingredients (except the nuts), and mix them with a spoon or your hands until everything is evenly blended.

Chop the nuts with a hand chopper and work 1 cup of them into the cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

When the 15 minutes are up, put a large piece of wax paper on your work counter. Spread the nuts on the wax paper. Divide the cheese mixture into two portions and place one portion on top of the nut-covered wax paper. Using your hands, shape the cheese mixture into a log, rolling and pressing it into the nuts as you shape. Wrap it in plastic wrap and follow the same procedure to make a second cheese log from the remaining cheese mixture. (If you prefer to make a cheese ball, scoop the entire cheese mixture onto the nut-covered wax paper and shape it into a large ball, again rolling and pressing it into the chopped nuts as you shape. ) Wrap the cheese ball or logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.

Makes 2 cheese logs.


This recipe has been a family favorite for years, and it always goes over well at events I take it to. It's nice because you can make it well ahead of time and keep in the fridge until you're almost ready to use it. Just pick up a box or two of crackers and you're all set. I took this to a gathering in early December and took along the snowflake-shaped Ritz® crackers to accompany it. I like to make the logs rather than a cheese ball because they stay neater looking -- just slice and serve.

To see what others have shared for Favorite Ingredients Friday, head on over to Overwhelmed with Joy and check out the links.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:22 PM

    I love cheese logs!!! Thanks for a yummy recipe!

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  2. These sound super delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!

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  3. Thanks, Vicki and Kathleen Marie, for stopping by my kitchen table. I hope you enjoy the cheese logs. They have been a big hit wherever I have served them.

    Stop by and visit any time!

    God bless,
    Mrs.T

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love cheese logs too! I'll have to try this recipe the next time we host or attend a party. Cheese and crackers is always a hit! :)

    Thanks for participating in my Favorite Ingredients Friday- Super Bowl edition recipe exchange. I do appreciate it.

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  5. Thanks to you, too, Overwhelmed, for hosting FIF and for stopping by my kitchen table! I hope you do try the cheese log recipe and that your family and friends will enjoy this as much as we do.

    Stop by anytime!

    God bless,
    Mrs.T

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit my kitchen table! I love company here in my kitchen, so be sure to leave a comment so I'll know you've visited! I'll answer your questions and comments here on the blog unless you request otherwise.