Pumpkin
Cheese Ball
Witches, ghosts and goblins will howl over this delicious Halloween treat. The bright orange color of pumpkin is a
giveaway that it is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. In the
conversion to vitamin A, it performs many important functions in overall
health. Cream cheese is blended with
crushed pineapple, bits of beef and Cheddar cheese. It is shaped, scored and decorated with a
celery stem and ripe olive cutouts.
Serve with a surround of whole grain crackers.
Preparation time: About 15 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: Can opener, colander, kitchen scissors,
table knife, utility spoon, electric mixer, rubber scraper, and serving plate.
Safety: Carefully cut
beef into small pieces. Cover and
refrigerate cheese ball until served.
Recipe:
1 8-ounce
package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup
canned 100% pumpkin puree
1 4-ounce package finely
shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese
1 8-ounce
can crushed pineapple, well drained
4 ounces Budding Beef, cut into fine pieces
6 large pitted ripe olives
Celery stalk/leaves
Whole grain crackers
1. In a
mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, pumpkin, and pineapple until smooth.
2. Stir in Cheddar cheese and
small pieces of beef
.
3. For easier shaping, cover and
refrigerate for an hour. Place on serving plate and
shape
into a face up pumpkin.
4. Score face with a knife to
resemble a pumpkin and add celery stalk/leaves for the
stem. Place on pieces of black olives for
face.
5. Cover and refrigerate before
serving. Serve with a surround of whole
grain
crackers.
Yield: 12 servings.
Clean up: Clean up the
kitchen quickly, so you have plenty of time for Trick or Treating!
Carolyn Gass Hardimon, M. S. Family and Consumer Science Home Economist