Time for another recipe my dudes

For today's recipe I figure it might be nice to go with something simple. So we'll go with my Cream Cheese Ball/Spread. Like the last one this is based off of a family recipe that I have toyed with. I find it pairs really well with Ritz Crackers but just about any brand should do.


Ingredients:

16 oz Cream Cheese
3 Green Onions
6 oz of Ham lunch meat(you could use bigger pieces but this is already nice and thin)
2 tablespoon Horseradish
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

What You Need:

1 Medium sized Mixing Bowl (I usually use the same bowl to store it in)
1 Chef's or Paring Knife(I suggest a Chef's Knife just because it is easier to use and more versitile)
1 Rubber Spatula (You could also just use a fork but its a bit harder to mix)
1 Cutting Board
Plastic Wrap if your bowl does not have a lid
1 Butter Knife to serve
1 Microwave to speed up the whole process

Directions:

1. Start by emptying your cream cheese into the mixing bowl. If it is cold and hard, put in the microwave for 30 second bursts until you can easily manipulate it with a fork or spatula. You don't want it to be a liquid, but a soft pliable solid akin to the spreadable cream cheese you would put on a bagel.

2. Wash you green onions and remove any parts that seem slimy or rotted depending on how fresh they are. Use your knife to remove the root end of the plant. Then slice the green onion into small 1/3-1/2 inch slices. Once all the green onions are in small pieces add them to the mixing bowl with the cream cheese.

3. Rinse off your knife and use it to cut your ham into similar sized pieces as the green onion. I usually stack a few pieces of lunch meat, cut in half, restack, and then cut again. You ideally want small squares of the ham that are very thin. If you are using lunch meat then you don't have to worry about the thinness as much. When all the ham is cut up; add it to the medium mixing bowl.

4. Add Horseradish, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder to the mixing bowl and proceed to mix thoroughly with your rubber spatula or fork. You really want to incorporate all the elements evenly throughout the spread. Once the mixture is combined well, cover with plastic wrap or lid and place in the refrigerator for roughly 1 hour to chill.

5. Optional ball forming stage. Take the chilled mixture and slowly gather it with the spatula. Begin rounding the mass until it forms a ball. I personally usually leave it in the bowl as a spread but you do you.

6. Remove from refrigeration and serve with your choice of crackers using the butter knife.


I hope you all enjoy this recipe. I wanted to pick something lighter that you can use as a snack. This was always a favorite of mine growing up.