Friday, December 27, 2013

Dried Beef Cheese Ball



For just about as long as we have been married, we have spent Christmas Eve with my husband's mom.  Sometimes she has lots of Christmas Eve guests and sometimes she has just a few.  This year she had a bumper crop.  The living room was full of laughing cousins, lots of stories, and even more good food.

My mother-in-law always makes wonderful little BBQ hotdogs on Christmas Eve.  My sister-in-law and I LOVE them!  I haven't posted that recipe but they are just a jar of grape jelly plus a jar of mustard and regular hotdogs cut into fourths.  She cooks them slowly in a little crock for hours until they are thick and yummy.

We are big on hot dogs apparently because the other favorite dish are regular old pigs in a blanket cut small and made with canned biscuits and hot dogs.  Those are always the first things to go.

This year, my daughter, Rachel, made a Dried Beef Cheese Ball.  We love all kinds of cheese balls but this is a particular favorite.  We decided that I definitely needed to post this recipe so that we can find it to make in the future.  We even served the leftovers of this cheese ball on Christmas morning and it was a great savory snack instead of sweets for breakfast.

Here's how Rachel made Dried Beef Cheese Ball AT HOME MY WAY:

Dried Beef Cheese Ball
 
  • 3 (8 ounce) blocks of cream cheese (we used 1 regular + 2 nonfat blocks of cream cheese)
  • 1 jar Armour brand Sliced Dried Beef (2.25 ounces)
  • 4 Tablespoons sliced green onions (approximately 3)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Accent
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce 
  • Plastic Wrap to line a small bowl for forming the cheese ball, serving plate, and crackers.
Instructions:
 
Soften cream cheese in the microwave approximately 30 seconds in a micro safe mixing bowl until you can stir.
 
Chop the dried beef in small pieces - do not add yet.  Dried beef is found near the tuna in the grocery isle and looks like this:
 
 
Chop the green onion until you have approximately 4 Tablespoons - do not add yet.
 
Add the Accent and worcestershire sauce to the softened cream cheese.  Then, stir in the onion and chopped, dried beef.  Mix well.
 
Place a piece of plastic wrap in a small bowl (the size of your cheese ball).  Dump in the cheeseball mixture and using the plastic wrap to fold over, press the cheese ball into the bowl. 
 
Refrigerate for a few hours to harden.
 
To serve, open the plastic wrap and place the bowl upside down on a serving plate.  Remove the plastic wrap.
 
Serve with crackers of your choice.
 
 
Enjoy!
 
Gina