Loaded Mini Cheese Balls

These bite-sized balls make fun, easy party appetizers. You can pre-make the cheese balls ahead of time, then simply roll in the nut and bacon mixture and pop in the pretzel sticks when ready to serve.

INGREDIENTS

250g Hutchinsons Roasted Garlic & Herbs cream cheese

100g Tasty cheese, grated

Salt and pepper, to taste

70g FreshLife Pistachios, finely chopped

50g FreshLife Pecans, finely chopped

6 slices Hellers streaky bacon

Pretzel sticks

Delmaine Pitted Colossal Green Olives

METHOD

• Preheat the oven to 160°C (bake) and line a baking tray with baking paper.

• Blend together the cheeses and season to taste.

• Using dampened fingers, mould the cheese mixture into 3 cm-sized balls and place on your tray. Refrigerate until firm, approximately 1 hour.

• Place chopped FreshLife pistachios and pecans onto a lined baking tray and toast for 8 -10 minutes in the oven. Set aside to cool.

• In a large non-stick frying pan, cook the bacon until crispy.

• Transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Once cooled, finely chop and set aside.

• Combine the nuts and bacon in a bowl. Roll the cheese balls in the nut and bacon mixture and store in a sealed container in the fridge until ready to serve.

• To serve, remove from the fridge, insert a pretzel stick into each ball and place on a serving platter.

   

  Tip: Use any leftover nut and bacon mixture to liven up your summer salad.