
Here he is! My turkey cheese ball. I am so happy with how it turned out! My friend told me about one that her sister-in-law makes every year. I was having a hard time picturing it. She said that she formed the head with the cheese and it was more flat with the crackers coming out of the sides and she used veggies for the face and feet.
I thought that by just making a ball and adding a face to it that it would work too, and it did! I made a felt face and attached it with a skewer. Then put crackers and pretzels in it for the feathers and loaded up the platter with more crackers.
I don't like cream cheese (I know I'm nuts) and won't be eating the cheese, just the crackers, but I wanted to make it anyways because all of the kids at our Thanksgiving dinner will enjoy picking it apart.
I found a recipe online and tweaked it. This makes a lot! But since it is made from cream cheese, it will store for a while in the refrigerator. I realize that it is late for anyone else to try this for Thanksgiving, but you could easily make this for a Christmas potluck, as a ball or shape into a snowman :)
Easy Cheese Ball
3 packages of cream cheese
1 package of dry ranch mix
3 1/2 c. shredded cheese, whatever you like
1/3 c. diced green onions
2 c. almonds (toasted)
Mash cream cheese in a bowl. Add next 3 ingredients. Form into a ball shape and roll in nuts. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 8 hours (to allow ranch to distribute evenly...otherwise it'll be too salty).
Serve with crackers.