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Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball

Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball is a fun Halloween appetizer made with cream cheese, bell pepper, shallot,  jalapeño and garlic powder rolled in crunched up Nacho Cheese Doritos and shaped into a pumpkin. 

I made a Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball many years ago for a Halloween lunch with co-workers and it was one of those recipes I just sort of forgot about for a while. I do remember this appetizer being a huge hit and super tasty so it was time to recreate and share! I love that this recipe is kid-friendly and adds a lot of character to a Halloween party spread with the fun pumpkin shape. Bonus that these cheese ball is easy peasy! 

You may also enjoy this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate great for trick-or-treating and Halloween parties!

Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball

Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball is creamy and smooth with a slight sweetness coming through from the shallot and yellow bell pepper. Jalapeño adds that little spicy kick inside and the crunchy, nacho cheesy outside layer brings in great flavor. 

Tips & Tricks

Shaping the Pumpkin

The only part of this cheese ball that could be potentially frustrating is shaping the mixture into something that resembles a pumpkin. Utilize the plastic wrap to help you get it into a nice round ball to start. Gently patting the mixture into place is a great help. Place the rubber bands around the ball once you are happy with the roundness. Don’t worry about being perfect because real pumpkins aren’t perfect either. Just place them around the ball as even as possible and just go with it! 

 

Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball, Halloween recipes, Halloween party ideas, Halloween cheese ball, spicy cheese ball, Doritos cheese ball
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Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball

Pumpkin Shaped Cheese Ball is a fun Halloween appetizer made with cream cheese, bell pepper, shallot,  jalapeño and garlic powder rolled in crunched up Nacho Cheese Doritos and shaped into a pumpkin. 

Course Appetizer, snacks
Keyword cheese, cheese ball, halloween, Holiday
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 3 hours
Servings 16 servings
Author Amber

Equipment

  • rubber bands
  • plastic wrap
  • Hand Mixer

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Doritos Nacho Cheese, crumbled
  • 12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 16 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 shallot, finely diced
  • 1 jalapeño, finely diced**
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped (save stem)
  • tortilla chips

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add shredded cheese and garlic powder. Beat again.
  • Finely dice the shallot, bell pepper and jalapeño. Stir into cream cheese. Remember to save the stem from bell pepper for later.
  • Place mixture onto some plastic wrap and form a ball. When a nice circular ball is formed, close up the plastic wrap around the ball.
  • Place 3 rubber bands around the ball to make indention that looks like a real pumpkin.
  • Place in fridge and chill for about 3 hours.
  • Remove the rubber bands ad plastic wrap. Crunch up Doritos and lightly pat it around the cheese ball.
  • Place the bell pepper stem on top of cheese ball and serve with tortilla chips.

Notes

** can remove seeds from jalapeño or leave seeds in for a spicier cheese ball. For extra flavor use 2 jalapeños. One without seeds and one with. 

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda are a delicious appetizer perfect for a crowd made with crescent roll dough, cocktail sausages, Gouda cheese and poppy seeds paired with a honey mustard dipping sauce.

The holidays are HERE and that means there are many gatherings with friends, family and coworkers right around the corner. I’m not sure if any gathering is complete without some delicious Pigs in a Blanket as a simple appetizer that everyone loves. These Pigs in a Blanket are just like the original but we added in some Gouda cheese for extra flavor and sprinkled some poppy seeds to the top.

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

I usually don’t get excited over sausage links (there are a few exceptions) but there is just something about Pigs in a Blanket. They are additive and it is that dish you will see me hovering over at parties.

 

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Unroll the the sheets of crescent and cut along the perforated edges. Cut each of those 8 sections in half.
  3. Roll a mini sausage and a small slice of Gouda in each of those triangular sections and place onto a baking sheet. Your slice of Goua should be thin and the same length as the cocktail wiener.
  4. Melt some butter and brush onto the top of each roll.
  5. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
  6. Bake for 12-15 minutes of until golden brown.

 

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

  1. As the Pigs in a Blanket bake, make the dipping sauce using 1/4 cup of both Dijon and mayonnaise, plus 3 tablespoons honey. Mix well.
  2. Serve the Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda as an appetizer warm out of the oven with honey mustard sauce on the side.

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda
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Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda cheese and honey mustard dipping sauce, feed a crowd, cocktail sausages, party recipe, appetizer, crescent recipe

Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda are a delicious appetizer perfect for a crowd made with crescent roll dough, cocktail sausages, Gouda cheese and poppy seeds paired with a honey mustard dipping sauce. 

Yields: 32

  • Pigs in a Blanket with Gouda
  • 2 crescent rolls containers
  • 12 once package mini sausages (cocktail wieners)
  • 8 ounce block smoked Gouda cheese (you only need about half the block)
  • poppy seeds
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup whole-grain Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Unroll the the sheets of crescent and cut along the perforated edges. Cut each of those in half to make 32 triangles among the 2 containers.
  3. Roll a mini sausage and a small slice of Gouda in each of those triangles and place onto a baking sheet.
  4. Melt the butter and brush onto each roll.
  5. Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
  6. Bake for 12-15 minutes of until golden brown.
  7. As the Pigs in a Blanket bake, make the dipping sauce using 1/4 cup of both Dijon and mayonnaise, plus 3 tablespoons honey. Mix well.
  8. Serve as an appetizer warm out of the oven with honey mustard sauce on the side.
  • Preparation time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes

Are Pigs in a Blanket one your go-to appetizers also? Have you ever tried them Gouda or do you have another way you like to bake yours? Let me know in the comments below.

Chocolate Hummus Platter

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boar’s Head for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Chocolate Hummus Platter with pretzels, tomatoes, grapes, pistachios, strawberries, blueberries, dried bananas, pomegranate, smoked gouda cheese and a  Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus for a beautiful snack or appetizer solution while hosting.

This time of year I do a lot of hosting at the house from Sunday football with friends to big holiday events like Christmas dinner with the family. A hummus platter is a really great way to feed the masses a healthy, delicious, filling snack that is zero guilt but still full on indulgence. Plus, the platter is quite stunning with all the different textures and colors throughout.

The Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus Platter really pulls people in and is an instant invitation to eat and be merry. Place it in the room where you want people gathering and watch everyone flock to this platter as they “ooh” and “aah”. I promise every single person will ask about this Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus because it is incredible so be prepared with answers.

Boar’s Head’s has a line of nine premium hummus flavors that are available year-round, however, the dark chocolate hummus is for a limited time available October 2017 through February 2018. They could run out earlier so grab it early! Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus is made with high-quality ingredients – steamed chickpeas are blended with cocoa powder, organic sugar, and real vanilla to produce an extraordinary tasting, healthier indulgence crafted with all Non-GMO Project verified ingredients.

Want more information on Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus?

Click HERE !

Boar’s Head wants to see your own creations with Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus! Snap a photo, share your story on Instagram and Facebook tagging @boarshead_official and the brand may even repost a share!

Have questions or need help locating the Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus? Contact the wonderful people over at Boar’s Head Customer Service and they will happily assist you. They are available M-F, 8a- 5p EST, at (800) 352-6277.

Chocolate Hummus Platter

Let’s start putting together our Chocolate Hummus Platter!

Wash all your fruits well before beginning and find a platter to use. I like to utilize serving trays for my platters because it holds everything in, looks fantastic and you can move it from room to room easily. Wash the serving tray and line with parchment paper.

Creating a Chocolate Hummus Platter is really simple. Place the Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hum-mus and Boar’s Head Smoked Gouda Cheese towards the center and then grab the other larger ingredients to place around those. Think about how colors are distributed. You don’t want one side heavy on a single color or texture. For example, don’t place the strawberries next to tomatoes alongside the pomegranate because the balance will be off. Distribute all those reds throughout different sections for a more visually appealing platter.

Once the largest ingredients are placed, dice the Boar’s Head Smoked Gouda Cheese and fill in the open spaces with the remaining fruits.

The last items to place are the pistachios and sage. I added sage to complete the look of the Chocolate Hummus Platter and it gives off a nice aroma.

Don’t be afraid to make some swaps that work for you! Crackers, pita chips, oranges, kiwi, rosemary, almonds, raspberries would all be great options for your Chocolate Hummus Platter. Even try some crispy bacon!

Chocolate Hummus Platter
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Chocolate Hummus Platter, #ad, Boar's Head Dark Chocolate Hummus, #AllFlavorNoGuilt, #ChocolateHummus, hosting

Chocolate Hummus Platter with pretzels, tomatoes, grapes, pistachios, strawberries, blueberries, dried bananas, pomegranate, smoked gouda cheese and a Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus centerpiece.

  • 8 ounces Boar’s Head Smoked Gouda Cheese
  • 8 ounce container Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1 pomegranate
  • 1 cup dried banana chips
  • 1.5 cups pretzels
  • .5 cup pistachios
  • 3/4 quart strawberries
  • 1 pint blueberries
  • 2 bunches grapes of choice
  • 3 sprigs basil
  1. Wash all fruits well.
  2. Clean the platter or serving tray being used and line with parchment paper at the bottom.
  3. Place the Boar’s Head Smoked Gouda Cheese and Boar’s Head Dark Chocolate Hummus onto the center of the platter.
  4. Arrange the grapes, pretzels and dried banana chips in each corner.
  5. Dice the Boar’s Head Smoked Gouda Cheese and place back onto platter.
  6. Arrange the cherry tomatoes, blueberries, and strawberries on the platter in open spots.
  7. Cut the pomegranate in quarters and place 2 on the platter. Remove the arils (seeds) from the other 2 quarts and you can place them into a small bowl to the side.
  8. Fill in any open spots with the pistachios and decorate with a few sprigs of sage.

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Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers

Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #Chardonnation,#NotableSummer #CollectiveBias

Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers are a classy but simple appetizer for many occasions. Cream cheese and goat cheese fills a fresh jalapeno with crisp, delicious bacon. Today, I am having just a few friends over to the house for a little get together to enjoy some food and taste a bit of wine. I found Notable’s buttery and oaky chardonnay and their fruity and crisp chardonnay at my grocery store that pair beautifully with my jalapeno poppers.

A successful wine tasting party starts with the hostess knowledge of the wine they are serving. Wines vary in style, region and taste. One of the really great things about Notable Wines is the flavor profiles are defined on the front of the label making the wine aisle less confusing. Even if you don’t have a ton of knowledge on wine, you can still have a wonderful wine tasting party because all the information you need is right on the bottle. These wines are accessible, refined and expressive. Just the type of wine I am looking for to make this party amazing!

I am featuring two wines today:

  • Notable California Chardonnay : Oaky and buttery with flavor notes of butter, oak and vanilla.
  • Notable Australia Chardonnay : Fruity and crisp with flavor notes of citrus, melon and peach.

That is the basic information you need to share with your guests! Ask for opinions. See if there are any other flavors people are tasting. I also like to give food pairing ideas with the wines. This way, they can purchase the wine and have a great meal in the near future in their own home.

The oaky and buttery chardonnay will pair well with grilled salmon or a light chicken dish. A dish with toasted nuts is a phenomenal pairing. Perhaps a Pistachio Crusted Salmon.

The fruity and crisp chardonnay will pair well with seafood, even sushi. I also enjoy the fruity and crisp chardonnay to sip while relaxing on the deck after a long, hot summer day.

Visit Notable Wines online for more details!

Follow Notable Wines on Social Media :

Facebook | Instagram

Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers

I chose the Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers for an appetizer today because it is delicious and light in flavor. Plus, cheese always pairs with wine. Why does wine pair so well with cheeses you ask?

Astringent drinks like wine create a natural balance  in your mouth when combined with fatty foods like a cheese. You get a perfectly balanced mouthful! I always try to remember the basic principle that mild cheese pairs well with fruity wine. Goat cheese is considered a mild cheese. My days of waiting tables and cocktail serving supplied me some life knowledge after all.

You have a bit of wine knowledge now and a great recipe for Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers, what else do you need to make this wine tasting party a hit?

The finishing touches. Notable Wines have a beautiful label with music notes so I played off the design to inspire my all around feel and look of the party. A simple tablecloth with music notes, calming music playing in the background, gorgeous wine glass tags to add a touch of glam and a really fun guitar cutting board to serve as an appetizer platter is all it took. Invite your guests to dress up. You don’t have to do a suit and tie event but summer dresses for the woman and a button up for the men will help set the tone. Plus, as a mom, I literally never get the opportunity to dress up and have a nice night with friends so I am taking full advantage.

Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers
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#ad, #Chardonnation, #NotableSummer #CollectiveBias , Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers, Wine Party, Wine pairing, appetizer

Yields: 8 poppers

  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 ounces goat cheese
  • 3 tablespoons diced bacon
  • 4 jalapenos
  • salt
  • pepper
  • honey(optional)
  1. Pre heat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. On the stove top, cook your bacon until crispy. (3 slices per 4 jalapenos)
  3. Dice bacon. Set to side.
  4. Slice the jalapenos in half and remove all the seeds.
  5. In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese and goat cheese. Use a hand mixer to blend until creamy.
  6. Add 2 tablespoons of bacon and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well.
  7. Fill each jalapeno with your cheese mixture. (I use a frosting bag and large frosting tip to fill)
  8. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped bacon on top.
  9. Place in oven for 16-17 minutes.
  10. Serve.
  11. You may drizzle a bit of honey on top before serving for an extra note of flavor. Give it a try!

What will you be pairing with Notable California and Notable Australia Chardonnay? These Goat Cheese Jalapeno Poppers or do you have something else in mind for your fabulous wine tasting party?

Visit Notable Wines for inspiration and to locate a store near you!

Lamb and Feta Nachos

Lamb and Feta Nachos with marinated slow cooked lamb, feta cheese with fresh ingredients like  tomatoes, olives, and avocado topped with a tzatziki sauce drizzle.

 

Lamb and Feta Nachos

 

Recipe Swap Club is a food bloggers group that began last October and I have been tasked with some amazing food blogs and this one is no different! I was tasked to recreate a recipe from Simply Delish Eats for February and when I came across these Lamb and Feta Nachos on her site I had a major craving for some Greek inspired nachos. 

I did not follow the original recipe as much as took inspiration from it. Check out the original HERE.  Plus, Luca from Simply Delish Eats makes her own tortilla chips and has a great recipe to do so on her site.

 

Lamb and Feta Nachos

 

The 2 main components that make these nachos special are the feta and marinated lamb. It is just so darn good! The rest of the ingredients you can really swap and play with to customize to your own taste preferences.

The lamb is marinated overnight in a very simple marinade and then slow cooked all day in the crockpot. The lamb shreds so easily and is tender with really nice flavors with nothing overpowering the lamb itself.

 

Lamb and Feta Nachos

 

The tzatziki sauce is optional but really helps give these nachos that Greek flare I was going for with the fresh cucumber and dill.  Try our homemade Tzatziki Sauce recipe from here at Simply Made Recipes.

The Lamb and Feta Nachos are also topped with fresh diced tomatoes, avocado, dill, Kalamata olives and lemon slices that really balance out the saltiness of the tortilla chips and gives the dish an amazing freshness.

 

Lamb and Feta Nachos

 

Lamb and Feta Nachos
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Lamb and Feta Nachos
  • 2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder or leg
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • .5 onion
  • salt
  • pepper
  • I bag tortilla chips
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
  • 1 cup Kalamata olives, sliced
  • 1- 2 cups tzatziki sauce
  • 12 ounces feta cheese
  • lemon slices to garnish (optional)
  1. In a large Ziploc bag, place lamb, 4 garlic cloves minced, squeeze the juice from one lemon, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon oregano, .5 sliced onion and a dash of salt and pepper. Place in fridge and let marinate for minimum of 2 hours. I let it marinate overnight.
  2. Place the marinated lamb in the crockpot on low of 8 hours with the onion.
  3. Shred the lamb. I removed the onion but you can keep it for the nachos if you would like.
  4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  5. Diced tomatoes, avocado and slice olives.
  6. On a baking sheet, spread out your tortilla chips.
  7. Layer the tortilla chips with the shredded lamb, feta cheese and olives.
  8. Let bake 10-12 minutes.
  9. Layer the diced tomatoes, avocado and drizzle your tzatziki sauce.
  10. Garnish with sliced lemon if you wish.
  11. Enjoy!

 

Lamb and Feta Nachos

 

Find out more about Recipe Swap Club and how to join if you are a food blogger- HERE.