Score BIG Points: Eagles Cheese Ball

The Super Bowl is THIS weekend!!

... and

I have been tasked with coming up

with fun football snacks for

Friday's Fox19 segment.

Visit FOX19 live on Friday at

9:45 AM and 10:45 AM for all the fun!!

Remember last year??

The snack-adium???  

 Oh, MY goodness...

That was quite a job!!

But SUPER-FUN...

and the whole team at

FOX19 was there helping...

Teamwork!!

If you want to learn more about

 how to make your very 

own Super Bowl stadium 

of snacks...

Including a fun time lapse video

of our stadium skills...

Click Here:SNACK-STADIUM 2017

This year...It's just snacks... 

Nothing fancy... 

(stadium is not included)

There's clearly no shortage 

of delicious recipes

when it comes to 
Super Bowl foods.

My biggest problem is narrowing

down the menu...

I thought a cheesy and fun

way to get things started

would be with some

team-themed foods.

Today... behold the Eagles Cheese Ball.

I joked with a friend that this 

majestic eagle cheese ball is

for the "Advanced Cheese Ball" class...  

Don't worry...

it really wasn't too hard... 

and if you feel like you need the 

"Cheese Ball 101" class...

I've got you covered with a SUPER-cute football.

For the Eagle....

Make whatever flavor cheese ball you like, using 2 softened 

Philadelphia cream cheese bricks.

(Garlic/Cheddar... Bacon/Ranch... 

whatever you like...
I'm sharing two cheese ball recipes at the bottom.) 

EAGLE ASSEMBLY:

Step 1. Put prepared cheese mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap.
Step 2. Make a volcano (cone) shape and set volcano shape onto platter.
Step 3. About 1/4 way down from top, make a neck by gently indenting the cheese, keep the plastic wrap on while shaping the eagle. With the wrap still on, fashion a crude eagle head with beak shape.  (See photo above)
Step 4. Remove wrap. 
Step 5. Decorate: Place pecans onto the bottom of the cheese. Add the pecans like roof shingles, slightly overlap the second row on top of the first row. Make 3 rows of pecans encircling the eagle body. (See photo above)  Press shredded white cheese onto the head (Monterrey Jack or Mozzarella)  If shredded cheese is reluctant to adhere, use the help of a fork to gently push cheese onto the head.
Step 6. Cut a triangle shape from a yellow bell pepper for the beak, insert into the cheese ball.  Add eyes, I used pecan pieces.

TIP: A friend suggested for nut allergies:

 Use pretzels in place of the pecans for the brown feathers...Great idea!!

Make Ahead: The Eagle Cheese Ball  can be created
up to two days ahead... 
Be sure to
cover well and refrigerate.
 (I love Press and Seal for something like this)
Keep chilled until 30 minutes before serving.
Serve with crackers, pretzels, celery and carrots.

Eagle Cheese Ball Recipe:

2 packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese-softened

2 scallions chopped fine- white and some green

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup dried Armour beef, chopped fine-found in the aisle near canned tuna

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 tablespoon sour cream

splash of Worcestershire sauce

pinch of black pepper

Directions:

Mix softened cream cheese, garlic, sour cream, pepper,  and Worcestershire.

Add the shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onions and chopped dried beef, mix until combined.

Chill until ready to serve

Beer Cheese for Pretzels/ Football Cheese Ball:

2 packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1 packet dry ranch seasoning ( Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning)

6 ounces-beer

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

Mix softened cream cheese and ranch seasoning until combined.

Add 6 ounces of beer, stir well. ** If making cheese into a football shape, add only 4 ounces-for a slightly thicker consistency.

Add the shredded cheddar cheese.  Cheese mixture will thicken.

Chill at least two hours. 

Football:

If desired, form cheese into a football shape, add small pepperoni to cover the surface, add string cheese for laces.

Serve with pretzels. 

 I have more menu items to share!!...

Don't forget to tune in LIVE on Friday!!

P.S. If you make a cheese ball...
an Eagle or a SUPER-cute football...
post your photos on the Blue Ribbon Kitchen Facebook Page...

I would LOVE to see your SuperBowl spirit!!

xo

Karri