Athlyn Green enjoys whipping up tasty dishes in her home kitchen. She's received many requests for her recipes and is happy to share.

Do you enjoy cheese balls? Oftentimes, at a gathering, the hosts serve a cheese ball with crackers. These look impressive coated with chopped nuts—and they make such a great spread for crackers.

Cheese balls are very easy to put together, and once you've made your first one, you'll wonder why you put off trying to do it for so long. They are so quick that you may find yourself making them for each gathering or whipping one up to take to a potluck.

A cheese ball is especially nice to serve at Christmastime—something a little special to add to the menu. It can be a focal point, surrounded by an assortment of crackers.

My Recipe

The recipe I'm sharing here is made with Hellman's mayonnaise, and I'm sure you'll agree that the addition of chopped walnuts gives it the wow factor. I served this to my guests, and they raved about it. By evening's end, it was gone. I had to make another for a second batch of company that was coming.

How to Serve It

You can make this ahead of time and chill before your company arrives, then all you do is place it on a platter—or, easier still, if you have a cheese ball server, you can simply use that. You will want to include a small knife for spreading the cream cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 1/4 cup Hellman's mayonaise
• 1/2 small tin ground ham or turkey (flake with fork)
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce or hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon minced onion (or dried onion flakes or chopped chives)
• A shake of paprika
• 1 to 2 teaspoons chopped parsley (optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Mix the cream cheese and mayonaise with a wooden spoon.
2. Add flaked ham and gently fold in.
3. Add Tabasco sauce, onion and paprika to taste.
4. Mix in parsley or pat it around the outside of the cheese ball.
5. Coat the cheese ball with the chopped nuts until the entire surface is covered.
6. Chill the cheese ball for a couple of hours.

A Cheese Ball That Is Perfect for Entertaining

Most people enjoy spreads. With its tasty flavor and nutty texture, this cheese ball is a winner and will do for get-togethers and other social occasions.

© 2007 Athlyn Green

Comments

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on January 30, 2008:

The shortbread recipe is one of my favorites, as is the cheesecake and the Reeces Pieces squares.

cgull8m from North Carolina on December 29, 2007:

Looks lovely will try it out soon. Cheese and Ground meat sounds lovely. Cheers.

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on December 23, 2007:

Thanks and Merry Christmas, everyone.

MrMarmalade from Sydney on December 23, 2007:

Saved and printed for Val to make for New Year. Christamas day is happening to day monday

Veronica from NY on December 22, 2007:

I especially like this, because I've had to eliminate a lot of cheeses from my diet to watch my cholesterol. Mayo, and cream cheese in moderation are allowed. So I can actually have this! Yay!

Athlyn Green (author) from West Kootenays on December 22, 2007:

Hi Veronica. It it easy to make and makes a good cracker spread. The nuts really add something.

Veronica from NY on December 22, 2007:

This sounds yummy!