Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Oh, Christmas Cheese, Oh, Christmas Cheese!

If you asked me to pick one ingredient I always go to for holiday goodies, it's not sugar. Nope, I'd pick cheese! Full of protein and calcium, it keeps me going this holiday season.

I was raised with the tradition of cheese plates at every one of Mom's open house parties. Pimento cheese spread, corned beef and cheese balls, sausage balls, those little ham sliders with swiss cheese and honey mustard. Cheesecake always for my birthday!

That knowledge came in pretty handy when I took one more look at the invite for a party I was attending this past Saturday.  Directions. Check. Donations of paper goods and hygeine products for the local domestic violence shelter. Check. Appetizer to share. Ch---------. Noooooooo! Did I mention I looked at the invite mid-morning on Saturday????

I could have just done something like this brie and cranberry chutney tree:

Brie and cranberry chutney tiny tree! No I didn't eat the star!

But my mother would haunt me if I didn't make a bit of effort, no matter how small.

That's when I thought of Christmas Cheese! So simple. Low carb. Like playdough in my hands so I could be creative and make a Christmas Cheese Tree! Most importantly, I had time to make sure it chilled.

Waiting for the gluten free crackers and carrot sticks.

I know you are wondering, why did that woman make a tree and not just stick with a ball? Well, I have a thing for Christmas trees.  In fact, I have quite a few but they don't get decorated until December 12th. Why? Because my children offered long ago to spare me from decorating the tree so every birthday, they descend on the house and put out the trees and the Fontanini nativity dear daughter and I have collected for almost thirty years.

But here is one of my favorite trees, the one with my childhood ornaments, Christmas bells made the year I was born and a little clown on top. Why a clown? Because when I was born prematurely all the other babies in the critical care nursery got Christmas angels hung over their isolettes but I got a clown. Mom told me it was because of my red curls but I don't know...

My baby blanket makes the Christmas tree skirt for my childhood memory tree.
  
Hence my love of all things Christmas tree.
 
 Christmas Cheese Tree

1  8 oz package organic cream cheese

5-7 oz shredded medium white cheddar

two dashes worchestershire sauce

Chopped herbs such as parsley and pepper cut outs for decoration.

1) Combine the cheeses and worchestershire sauce in a food processor and pulse til blended.

2) Shape into a tree. You can do this as  a flat tree using a large cookie cutter or roll it in wax or parchment paper to form a tree shape.

3) Chill at least one hour.

4) Decorating your tree:  
- If using a flat tree shape, sprinkle chopped herbs on top in an even layer before serving.

- If using the formed tree shape, sprinkle chopped herbs on another piece of waxed paper and roll before standing up on a plate. Press any remaining herbs in bare spots.    

5) Serve with crackers or sturdy veggies like carrot or celery sticks.

Options:

Christmas Snow Man: Roll cheese into two round balls, one larger than the other. Roll chilled balls in shredded white cheese. Place small ball on top of larger one and decorate as a snow man with raisins or olives.

Mexican style cheese mixture: Add a 1/2 teaspoon of taco seasoning. Serve with Christmas corn chips

French style cheese mixture: Add a quarter cup blue cheese.  Serve with baguette slices.

Swiss style cheese mixture: Substitute 1/2 cup guyere  for that amount of cheddar.  Serve with roasted potato wedges or apple slices.      


So what is your go to last minute appetizer or dessert during the holidays? Do you settle for one Christmas tree or have more than one?



18 comments:

  1. A clown?? Over a baby's crib? I wouldn't be able to hang with that childhood tree I guess.... I have a fear of clowns...but not of cheese! I agree--it is a holiday thing and I look forward most to the baked brie on Christmas Eve.

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    1. I really miss the bread covered baked brie but the chutney makes it all good. And I know, probably the reason I have a fear of them too. From birth!

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    2. Yes, the chutney would help and taste very good. And that probably is the reason! Lol!

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  2. Oh, I LOVE cheese too! If I'm in a pinch, I like to put a block of cream cheese on a serving plate and pour pepper jelly over it (Harry & David used to make a really good one). Then arrange crackers around it.

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    1. I do love pepper jelly but I cheat with it and buy it. My grandmother would be appalled. But it's good stuff for sure. And so festive.

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  3. Your cheese tree looks so cute I would hate to eat it. Or at least to be the first one to dig in.
    The mr. made pepper jelly this week and we sampled it last night over cream cheese and Ritz crackers. The jalapeno really gives it a pop. But our go-to appetizer is usually chile con queso or salsa with chips. Hey! we're Texans, what can I say?

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    1. Nikki, Velveeta and a can of chili in the crock pot is one of our go-to's as well. :)

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    2. Chili con queso...you've talked about it. So yum. And yes, I had to cut into the tree to get people started. I stabbed my baby.

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    3. @ Missy--I'll bet our queso dips are really different. :) Ours doesn't have a can of chili, but has onions and green chiles, along with tomatoes, garlic and a few other spices. But I'm thinking you can't go wrong...

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    4. Nikki, that sounds delicious! And a little spicier. :)

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  4. Ha! It's appetizer day in the Harlequin Community Open House and I posted a cheese dip. You have to go there to see it though.

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  5. Oh, what a fun idea! Very clever! I'm usually that boring person that throws cheese on the table (I provide a knife!!!) and a bowl of crackers alongside. Julie, I should really come and take lessons from you! You know what I found that I loved last year, an English cheese with cranberries in it... Amazing Stilton Cheese w/Cranberries!!! Oh my stars, it is an indulgence for once in a great while, but this is a marvelous cheese!!!

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    1. Ruthy, I LOVE that stuff! You need to try it with ginger snaps! Amazing.

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    2. I'm going to be making GF ginger snaps this weekend. I think I know what I will be buying to go with them.

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    3. Julie, you'll love it. And actually, I love the goat cheese with cranberries too. But I think I did that on water crackers.

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  6. Julie, I love your cheese post. I like cheese a lot but not so much brie or swiss cheese, although I will eat swiss cheese if it's on a Reuben sandwich. Ha Ha...laughing at Piper's comment...and now I know she's afraid of clowns. And the cheese tree is fantastic...I think I'm going to try and make it. I'll let you know how it turns out.

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    1. And thanks to Cindy R you can try green pepper or olives or all sorts of green things to make the tree green. Can't wait to hear and yep, I saw a clown picture with Santa. Twice the creepy.

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