Nat’l Cheese Ball Day Is for Chicks

By: Michelle Buffardi

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Happy National Cheese Ball Day! The appetizer kind of cheese ball, not the fast-talking used car salesman with slicked-back hair and a leather blazer kind of cheese ball. Today is a special day just for celebrating the crowd-pleasing spreadable snack that you can customize with just about any flavor, and mold into just about any shape. (Don't believe me? Check out this Cheese Ball Snowman, and this Cheesy Christmas Tree.)

Since everyone loves cheese and everyone loves adorable little spring chickies, turn your cheese into a chick, for National Cheese Ball Day, Easter, or really, any day you want a charming little snack.

All you have to do is make a standard cheese ball, shape it into a little chick, roll it in some shredded cheese, give it a beak, some eyes and feet and serve.

Cheese Ball

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (preferably orange), shredded, plus additional for rolling

2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
Coarse salt and white pepper, to taste

Put all ingredients into the bowl of a mixer, and blend thoroughly. Form into an egg-like chick shape, and refrigerate until firm, about an hour. Before serving, roll the cheese ball in shredded cheese (this will look like feathers). Use a whole almond for the chick's beak, raisins for eyes and slivers of carrot or orange peppers for the feet. Serve with crackers or crudites.

The results are at once delightful and delicious; don't expect the little guy to last very long.

How are you celebrating this important national holiday, Cheese Ball Day 2011?

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