by Elizabeth
First things first, we hope you had a very Merry Christmas weekend full of joy, bubbly, and baubles!
Since resolutions don’t start until next week, it’s time to add another delicious cheese spread to your light bite repertoire. Besides, there are bowl games to watch and New Year’s Eve parties to host between now and then, and an updated twist on the retro favorite cheese ball is never a bad thing.
Jalapeno Ranch Cheese Log
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 ounces white cheddar, grated
1 fresh jalapeno, minced
2 – 3 tablespoons minced pickled jalapenos
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
1 teaspoon minced fresh dill
dash of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Paprika
Mix the cheeses together with 3/4 of both kinds of chopped jalapenos. Add the garlic, fresh herbs, seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce and stir until the cheese is well mixed. Taste and season if necessary.
Spoon the cheese onto a sheet of plastic wrap, trying your best to get it into some sort of log shape. Fold the plastic wrap around the cheese, and roll it into a log. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Carefully remove the plastic wrap from the cheese log, sprinkle all over with paprika, then roll it in the remaining chopped jalapenos. It is usually best to serve at room temperature so that the cheese is easily spreadable onto crackers of your choice.
