Fresh Basil Wrapped Cheese Balls Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl using a hand held mixer or stand mixer, add the cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add the goat cheese and mix together with cream cheese until well blended.
• Add the herbs, dill, basil, rosemary, and chives and mix together. Lay plastic wrap on top of the inside of a smaller bowl completely covering the inside of the bowl leaving the excess plastic wrap hanging off the bowl. Use a rubber spatula and scoop the cheese mixture into the bowl.
• Once all the cheese has been added, take the ends of plastic wrap and cover the exposed cheese wrapping the entire mixture. Turn the wrapped cheese to the countertop and use your hands to form into a perfectly sized ball. Place inside the refrigerator for, at least, 2 hours.
• Turn the ball onto a serving platter and remove the plastic wrap. Garnish the ball by sprinkling with dill and parsley leaves, if desired. Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• Wrap each mozzarella ball with a basil leaf.
• Thread a tomato half, a basil-wrapped mozzarella ball, and another tomato half onto a skewer. Repeat until all tomatoes are on skewers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix cheeses and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper, using fork or back of spoon to mash feta, until well blended. Cover; refrigerate 45 to 60 minutes or until firm enough to shape into balls.
• In small shallow bowl, mix parsley, basil, rosemary, lemon peel and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Shape cheese mixture into 1-inch balls (about 1 teaspoon cheese mixture for each ball); roll in parsley mixture to coat (some cheese will show through herbs).
• To serve immediately, place each ball on a bagel chip. To make ahead, do not place cheese balls on bagel chips; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve but no longer than 24 hours. Just before serving, place each ball on a bagel chip.

Steps:

• For vinaigrette:
• Blend all ingredients in blender until basil is very finely chopped and vinaigrette is thick; season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)
• For salad:
• Cut small skin-deep X on end opposite stem of each tomato. Drop tomatoes into saucepan of boiling water; cook 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer tomatoes to plate. Starting at X, peel skin off tomatoes. Cut 1/3 to 1/2 inch off end opposite stem of each tomato. Using small spoon, scoop out insides of tomatoes, leaving shells intact. Mix cubed mozzarella cheese and chopped basil in medium bowl. Divide cheese mixture among tomato shells, packing gently. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover tomatoes and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)
• Invert 1 filled tomato on each plate. Pour vinaigrette into 6 shot glasses. Place 1 shot glass next to each tomato. Garnish each tomato with basil leaf.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic until blended. Divide into 3 portions; place each in a small bowl., For Pesto Cheese Ball: Beat pesto into 1 portion of cheese mixture. Stir in basil. Shape into a ball., For Horseradish-Bacon Cheese Ball: Beat horseradish into second portion of cheese mixture. Stir in bacon and green onion. Shape into 1 large or 3 mini balls., For Gorgonzola-Cranberry Cheese Ball: Beat Gorgonzola cheese into third portion of cheese mixture. Stir in cranberries. Shape into a ball; roll in walnuts to coat., Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm. Decorate as desired. Serve with crackers.