A Cheeseball

I have an overwhelming desire to make a cheeseball.  So, first question is 'should I make one?' and second question is 'does anyone have a good um, recipe for rolling cheese into a ball?'  But with ingredients I can find here of course. 

I have an overwhelming desire to make a cheeseball.  So, first question is 'should I make one?' and second question is 'does anyone have a good um, recipe for rolling cheese into a ball?'  But with ingredients I can find here of course. 

I'll answer the first question!

YES!  You should make one!  Hello, it's cheese!
 

You're questioning whether or not you should make A BALL OF CHEESE?!?! Of course you should, silly!

I just read Amy Sedaris's book, and she spends a great deal of time extolling the virtues of the cheese ball - and rightly so.

Here's her basic cheese ball recipe:

Amy Sedaris' Li'l Smoky Cheese Ball Recipe
2 8 oz. packages cream cheese
2 cups shredded smoked Gouda
1 stick butter (Amy uses unsalted for everything)
2 tbsp. milk, cream, or half-and-half
2 tsp. A-l steak sauce
2 cups crushed nuts, any variety (Amy likes walnuts)
crackers for serving

Allow ingredients to soften to room temperature.
Beat them all together in a mixing bowl and form into a ball, or form into several small balls to suit your function/needs. Roll in crushed nuts and refrigerate. Remove from refrigerator and allow to soften about 20 minutes before serving. Spread it on a Ritz.

2 tsp. A-l steak sauce

Hmmm.  I can get this at the farm shop for like £5.  Is a ball of cheese worth five extra pounds?

I'd say no. I looked up the ingredients of A1 and they're: Tomato puree (water, tomato paste), distilled vinegar, corn syrup, salt, raisin paste, crushed orange puree, spices and herbs, dried garlic and onion, caramel color, potassium sorbate, xanthan gum.

So, basically, you want something with a bit of a tang. I might substitute Worcestershire sauce which, while not exactly the same, would provide the tang.

I have an overwhelming desire to make a cheeseball.  So, first question is 'should I make one?' and second question is 'does anyone have a good um, recipe for rolling cheese into a ball?'  But with ingredients I can find here of course. 

Do it do it do it do it. I was thinking about these recently and had a hankering. Go for it!

I'd say no. I looked up the ingredients of A1 and they're: Tomato puree (water, tomato paste), distilled vinegar, corn syrup, salt, raisin paste, crushed orange puree, spices and herbs, dried garlic and onion, caramel color, potassium sorbate, xanthan gum.

So, basically, you want something with a bit of a tang. I might substitute Worcestershire sauce which, while not exactly the same, would provide the tang.

Maybe a mild-flavored BBQ sauce if you're not exactly looking to replicate the A1 flavor but just want to add a little something.

Maybe a mild-flavored BBQ sauce if you're not exactly looking to replicate the A1 flavor but just want to add a little something.

Yeah, that would work too. Anything with a bit of ZIP to it!

Hmmm.  I can get this at the farm shop for like £5.  Is a ball of cheese worth five extra pounds?

Try brown sauce, it's pretty much the same thing minus the putrid anchovies (I believe this is actually an urban legand).

I have a good recipe with cream cheese, walnuts, chopped maraschino cherries (trust me! I would NOT have thought it either!) and chopped pineapple. Mix together, then roll in crushed walnuts on the outside and chill. It's particularly good with wheat thins, but I imagine you can't find those there... Simple and I promise, you will be fighting not to eat the whole thing!

I just always make mine using cream cheese, grated cheddar or whatever type of cheese I feel like using, sometimes a bit of blue cheese thrown in, some finely chopped green onion, a dash of worcestershire - smoosh it all together and shape it into a ball and roll in chopped walnuts and it's done!

I think you should make sausage balls instead. 

Thank you, Mindy!  You reminded me of one of my New Year's traditions!!  Now, I'm off to buy the ingredients.

Thank you, Mindy!  You reminded me of one of my New Year's traditions!!  Now, I'm off to buy the ingredients.

Yay! Join the cheese fun!  Everybody make cheeseballs!

mmmm this is making me VERY hungry. I've never made one before, but maybe I will tonight!