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?