Mini Cheese Balls - Weekend Recipe

Quick appetizers or just right snacks.  These are great because they average about 100 calories each if you use regular cream cheese and 50 calories each if you use Neufchatel, the light cream cheese.

Mini Cheese Balls – a Savory Truffle

adapted from a recipe from Sargento

8 oz. cream cheese at room temp

1 cup shredded firm cheese (Parmesan, cheddar, pepper jack, monetary jack)

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

½ tsp. grated lemon zest

Kosher salt and fresh pepper

Combine cream cheese, shredded cheese and Worcestershire sauce with lemon zest in a large bowl.  Add salt and pepper.  Divide mixture into fourths.

Into each of the four portions choose ONE of these blends to add.  You can make 4 different blends!

            1 tsp. Butter N Cheese blend from the Backyard Patch

            1 tsp. Boursin Blend from the Backyard Patch

            1 tsp. Herbal Spread blend from the Backyard Patch

            1 tsp. Fiesta Dip blend from the Backyard Patch

Form each portion into 1-inch balls with damp hands and set on a baking sheet.  Chill until firm, about 4 hours.  Then roll the balls in any of these assorted toppings.  The herbs add no calories!

• Chopped nuts
• Sesame seeds
• Crumbled cooked bacon mixed with paprika
• Chopped fresh herbs
• Dried crumbled herbs (or Herb Mix, like Herbal Spread by the Backyard Patch)
• Chopped dried raisins or cranberries (very Valentine's Day festive!)