Super Easy Sunday: Cheese Ball

Welcome back! I hope you all had a great holiday season. I know I did, but it's definitely time to get back on track

I did a lot of cooking over the last month or so.  My goal for this recipe was to create an appetizer that was quick to make, could be made in advance, had few ingredients, and was really easy. It's very similar to the Ranch Cheese Ball that I've posted in the past, but with fewer ingredients and less prep time.

What You'll Need

Supplies

Food processor w/ shredding attachment                               Knife for chopping

                            or                                                               Cutting board

Cheese grater                                                                         Spatula

Large mixing bowl                                                                Measuring spoons

Mixing spoon                                                                        Small bowl

Ingredients

8 oz block sharp cheddar cheese                                           Tobasco

8 oz low fat cream cheese                                                     Pecans

1 1/2 tsp onion powder                                                          Flour

Now Let's Make a Cheese Ball!

I'll be giving directions as if you had a food processor, but keep in mind that you can always do it by hand.

Set up your food processor with the shredder attachment. Cut your cheese block into pieces that will fit into the food processor shoot if necessary (an 8oz block usually fits in mine). Turn the food processor on and push the cheese down the shoot to shred it. Remove the shredder attachment, and dump cheese into small bowl. Refit the food processor with the normal blade attachment and return cheese to processor. 

Mmmm... cheesy

Add your 8 oz block of cream cheese. Make sure to break the cream cheese up into chunks.

Messy? Nooooo

Now add 1 1/2 tsp of onion powder.

Ever notice how onion powder clings

Next add several shakes of Tobasco to taste. I usually do about 7 shakes, but it will depend on your spiciness preferences.

Spicy

On your cutting board, chop a couple handfuls of pecans. You want a little over 1 cup once chopped. 

Chop, chop!

Take a small handful, and add it to the food processor. 

Secure the lid on the food processor and begin pulsing the mixture. Switch the food processor to on and allow it to mix ingredients until smoothly blended. You may have to stop occasionally and push down large clumps with your spatula.

Using your spatula, spoon the cheese mixture over the chopped pecans on your cutting board. Flour your hands, and pat the cheese into a ball shape. Roll it around in the pecans until it is thoroughly coated.

Voila! Cheese Ball. Refrigerate and serve with crackers.