| I absolutely love cheese. It is the great comfort | | | | container and refrigerate. If you want to form |
| food of my life. During the holiday season I enjoy | | | | into a ball, line the storage container with plastic |
| the various cheese spreads the party circuit | | | | wrap and pack the cheese into the container with |
| provide to me. The wonderful thing about cheese | | | | a wooden spoon or spatula. When ready to |
| spreads is they are so easy to make. Let me | | | | serve, invert the ball and remove the plastic wrap. |
| share with you two of my favorite cheese | | | | Trail Mix Cream Cheese Spread |
| spreads, a sharp cheddar/bacon and a trail mix | | | | This sweet cheese spread is great on warm |
| cream cheese. | | | | bagels or toast. You will need 1/2 cup drained |
| Cheddar and Bacon | | | | mandarin orange sections, 8 ounces cream |
| Start by assembling your ingredients. You will | | | | cheese divided into 8-10 chunks and 1 cup tropical |
| need 8 ounces of shredded sharp cheddar, 4 | | | | trail mix. The tropical trail mix I use consists of |
| ounces cream cheese divided into 8 chunks and 4 | | | | pineapple, raisins, dates, bananas, papaya and |
| slices of crispy fried bacon. | | | | flaked coconut. |
| Crumble the bacon slices and place into a food | | | | Place the mandarin oranges into the food |
| processor that is fitted with the chopping blade. | | | | processor fitted with the chopping blade. Pulse |
| Pulse for several sequences, reducing the bacon | | | | several times to cut up the orange sections. Next |
| to small bits. Next add the shredded cheddar in | | | | add the trail mix, pulse four or five times to |
| thirds, pulsing to incorporate the bacon bits and | | | | break up mix into bits. Remove the processor lid, |
| cheese. | | | | scrape down the sides and add the cream |
| After the bacon and cheddar are mixed add the | | | | cheese. Process for 15 to 20 seconds, making |
| cream cheese 2 chunks at a time, pulse to mix. | | | | sure the trail mix bits are completely incorporated |
| Continue to pulse the cheeses until a ball begins to | | | | into the cream cheese. Transfer into storage |
| form. At this point, stop, remove the processor | | | | container using the above techniques. If you plan |
| lid and scrape down the sides of the processor | | | | to serve this a ball, place in freezer for 30 |
| bowl. Replace the lid and pulse several more | | | | minutes prior to serving. |
| times, making sure that all ingredients are | | | | With a few simple ingredients and just minutes |
| uniformly combined. | | | | you can create these two delicious cheese |
| Transfer the finished spread to a one cup storage | | | | spreads. Enjoy in good health. |