Feta Cheese Snowball with Olive Relish

I am planning our traditional Christmas Eve Party in which my entire family comes over for a pre-celebration and so the kiddos can open a gift early… it’s something we have done for years. But something is nagging at me this year that it’s time to switch up some of our favorite traditional dishes! I revamped the dessert menu and my husband is anxious to try a new ham glaze instead of our usual honey mustard and brown sugar… but I was stuck on the appetizers! How could I do things differently while making sure everything was still delicious? I mean, Christmas Eve family get-togethers are NOT the time that you want to “experiment” and find that that fancy recipe actually tastes like crap… do you know what I mean, or do you know what I mean!? So I searched simple snacks that I could prepare ahead of time to test out before serving it to my lovely mother and father (the Rachel Ray and Chef Ramsey of the family) and once I tasted this new spin on a cheese ball, I looked no farther!! Seriously. If you try something new this year, make sure this is it!!!

This Feta Cheese Snowball with Olive Relish is a piquant combination that redefines cheese spreads. It includes a bed of garlic-infused mixed olives and red bell peppers that complement the creamy feta cheese ball perfectly. And this is all you need to make it:

• 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened*
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped pine nuts or slivered almonds, toasted**
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• Keebler® Town House® Original crackers
• 3/4 cup pitted kalamata or other black olives, sliced
• 3/4 cup pitted green olives, sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red bell pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

*Soften cream cheese in microwave at high for 15 to 20 seconds.
**To toast pine nuts or almonds, spread evenly on baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown, stirring once or twice.

Instructions:

1. Beat cream cheese and feta cheese in a small mixing bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in pine nuts or almonds and onion. Using plastic wrap, shape into ball. Wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
2. Stir together in a small bowl black olives, green olives, parsley, oregano, bell pepper, oil, lemon juice and garlic.
3. Place cheese on serving platter. Surround with olive mixture. Serve with crackers.

This recipe serves 28 and takes 20 minutes to prepare!

Everyone will thank you!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!