Bacon Cheddar Cheese Balls

It's been quite awhile since I've gotten around to posting a new recipe.  Since it is Christmas time I thought I'd try to get some appetizers posted. We loooove appetizers around this house.  Why?  They can be quick easy snacks to bring out if you have company, are in a rush, watching a movie, football or having a date night with your sweetie.  Even better if made ahead and frozen.  Steve and I still have date night every Friday.  It started when our kids were still at home.  Friday nights they got their own supper.  It could be cereal, toast, a sandwich anything as long as it didn't involve the stove.  And they took it to the rec room so we had the upstairs to ourselves to share some quiet time.  Now that the kids are no longer at home and we have grand kids, (and two hounds) life seems even busier than before.  So we have kept our date every Friday night.  Sometimes it's wine and appetizers, but lately it's been a cocktail or three; preferably a good dirty martini.  There's nothing better than sharing a few nibbles and cocktails with my best friend and relaxing!

So here is my  cheese ball Recipe, it's quick, easy to throw together and very hard to stop eating once you start!

Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball
(printable recipe)

2 packages (8oz.) cream cheese
1/2 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup chopped green onions
6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 clove of garlic, minced
3 tbsp. green olives with pimento, chopped fine
3 tbsp. minced fresh parsley or 1 tbsp. dried

First get all your ingredients ready.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or Kitchen Aid  with paddle attachment and blend well.  I used marble cheese because that's what I had on hand.

With clean hands, form into balls.

I usually make six. It all depends on how big or small you want them.
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow flavours to blend.

To this batch I also added 3 tbsp. of chopped pickled jalapenos to half of the mixture and topped them with a jalapeno piece to label them.