Italian Cheese Ball Recipes

Steps:

• Mix the cream cheese, provolone, olives, roasted red peppers, salami, artichoke hearts and crushed red pepper flakes in a medium bowl until well combined. Chill until firm and the flavors have blended, at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Shape the mixture into a ball and roll in the pine nuts. Serve with the crackers and garnish with the parsley.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 2 rimmed 15x10-inch baking pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, stir together Bisquick™ mix, sausage, Italian cheese blend, mozzarella cheese, milk, melted butter, Italian seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon pepper flakes, using hands or spoon. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place 1/2 inch apart on pans.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans halfway through bake time, until brown. Immediately remove from pan; transfer to serving platter. Sprinkle with basil.
• Meanwhile, in 1 1/2-quart saucepan, heat pasta sauce and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper flakes to simmering over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 minutes to combine flavors, stirring frequently. Serve warm cheese balls with sauce.

Steps:

• In a shallow dish combine 1 tablespoon of the chives, 1 tablespoon of the basil, and the parsley; set aside.
• In a medium bowl beat cream cheese and Fontina cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
• Beat in the salami and finely chopped roasted red sweet pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons chives, remaining 2 tablespoons basil, the pepper, and garlic.
• Form into a ball (or log).
• Roll ball in herb mixture. Wrap and chill cheese ball for 4 to 24 hours.
• Serve with water crackers or baguette slices, and a nice bottle of Italian wine or sparkling Spumante!
• Makes twelve 2-tablespoon servings.

Steps:

• 1. Stir the seasoning packet (you can also use the generic brands) into the softened cream cheese, roll into a ball, then roll in chopped scallion greens or chopped nuts. Refrigerate for at least an hour before use.
• 2. Serve with an assortment of crackers or breads or with veggies.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, cheese, parsley, pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and refrigerate.
• Pour water and 1 teaspoon salt into a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in rice and reduce heat to low. Cook rice until water is almost absorbed, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and slowly pour in egg mixture, stirring rapidly to prevent egg from scrambling. Allow rice mixture to cool for 1 hour.
• Pour bread crumbs into a pile on one end of a cutting board. Dampen hands and roll rice mixture into 1 inch balls, then coat each one with bread crumbs.
• In a small, deep skillet, heat olive oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). (Should have enough oil to completely cover rice balls.) Fry rice balls 6 at a time, turning as needed to ensure even browning. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.