What Kind Of Snacks Are You Serving?

Often for New Years Eve I like making lots of snacks and goodies.  What a glorious way to ring in the New Year, with those new resolutions of losing all that extra holiday weight.  (just kidding).  We LOVE cheese in our house (it has been hard going shopping without coming home with cheese).  I am not sure how our favorite foods will taste without cheese...but we are going to try it. However until then I better use up what cheese we do have lingering so we don't have it later.  This cheese ball is delicious.

Cheese Ball
adapted from: http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2012/09/the-perfect-fall-cheese-ball.html

16oz cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (an addition of pepperjack-mmm)
3 T minced onions
3 T salsa
1 t ground cumin
2 cups nacho chips, crushed (I used tomato and herb)

In your mixing bowl combine cheeses, salsa, onion and cumin.  Place mixture in plastic wrap. Form into a ball.  Chill at least 2-4 hours.  When ready to serve roll in crushed chips.  Serve with chips, veggies, etc.

What Crackers & Fresh Veggies LOVE...

Yes crackers and fresh vegetables crave to be dipped into something (and then devoured by hungry people).  That something happens to be a delicious cheese ball/log.  For Christmas I brought a snack over for all to enjoy before Christmas dinner.  It could have easily been my dinner.

Smoky Sesame Cheese Log
adapted from: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Smoky-Sesame-Cheese-Log

2 pkgs (8oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (oops...forgot0
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon
2 T toasted sesame seeds
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 t liquid smoke, optional (I used Hickory flavored)
add-ins that I did: onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder

Combine all ingredients.  Mixing well.  Roll in additional sesame seeds.  Roll in cling wrap and store in fridge until ready to serve.