cheese ball {recipe & lore}

it really needs a different name,

but ball-o-cheese & cheese loaf are just not appetizing.

even holiday cheese ball sounds better.

here is my personal cheese ball history...

when i was growing up,

my mom would make various cheese balls

around the holidays.

for thanksgiving and also christmas parties.

i would have a little,

but i was just not that interested.

enter ned.

my third child.

born on thanksgiving day 2004.

i came straight home

{from mad river community hospital}

where my mom was

making thanksgiving dinner.

she parked me with newborn ned

in my plush new nursing chair

and fed me wheat thins

with cheese ball

and a little glass of chardonnay.

having given birth only hours before,

i was ravenous.

i was happy.

it was thanksgiving day 

and i had a brand new baby boy

and i was surrounded by everyone i loved most.

{and i hadn't had a glass of wine in nine months}.

something in me finally

:: clicked ::

:: shifted ::

:: aligned ::

with the cheese ball.

i was hooked.

as soon as i was on my feet,

i wanted to know the recipe ~

the how & the what

behind this simple yet substantial appetizer

i had long ignored.

i made cheese ball at every opportunity.

i would sometimes eat so much of it

that i coined a new term:

cheese-balled.

{as in, "ugh... i've been cheese-balled."}

during the cold weather months,

cheese ball is our cheese & crackers.

i make it to go along with popcorn & sodas

{& carrots & olives & dry roasted peanuts}

for movie night.

knowing how to make cheese ball

makes me feel like a bona fide grown-up.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:: cheese ball ::

mix together

1 lb. grated cheddar cheese

3/4 cup minced onion

3/4 cup mayonnaise

3/4 cup chopped pecans

and shape into a ball.

{note: i always roll the cheese ball in more chopped pecans to coat.}

top with good raspberry jam

and serve with wheat thins.

{note: it's not really necessary to measure... i just wing it.}

♥

p.s. emily is the only one of us

who doesn't get cheese ball.

just you wait, emily...

someday in the future,

when you are extra happy & extra hungry,

cheese ball might cast its spell on you, too.