Ingredients

1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese
1 pound cream cheese
1 pound bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
1/2 pound Roquefort cheese
Pinch of garlic salt
Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Bacon-cheese Ball Directions

With all ingredients at room temperature, mix well. Shape into 2 medium balls or 4 logs.

Serves 20.

Ingredients

1 (15 1/2 ounce) can Red Alaskan salmon,
    well-drained, boned and skinned
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated onion
1 teaspoon horseradish
Chopped parsley or chopped pecans

Salmon Ball Directions

Blend first 6 ingredients. Shape into a ball or pack into a mold lined with plastic wrap. Chill several hours or overnight. Unmold.

Before serving, coat with chopped nuts or parsley. Serve with crackers and garnish, if desired, with parsley, lemon wedges, black olives and Salmon Pinwheels. May be frozen.

Yields 1 1/2 cups and serves 24.

Ingredients

16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, well drained
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Pineapple Cheese Ball Directions

Mix together all ingredients except pecans. Chill until easy to handle. Form a ball and roll in chopped pecans. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup milk
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup finely minced green onions (white part only)
1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimiento, drained
10 slices bacon, cooked, drained, finely crumbled and divided
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans, divided
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Nutty Bacon Cheeseball Directions

Beat cream cheese and milk on low speed in large bowl with electric mixer until blended. Add cheeses. Blend on medium speed until well combined. Add green onions, pimiento, half of bacon and half of pecans. Blend on medium speed until well mixed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Transfer half of mixture to large piece of plastic wrap. Form into ball; wrap tightly. Repeat with remaining mixture. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.

Combine remaining bacon and pecans with parsley and poppy seeds in pie plate or large dinner plate. Remove plastic wrap from each ball; roll each in bacon mixture until well coated. Wrap each ball tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 24 hours.

Ingredients

1 (8-count) roll refrigerated crescent rolls
8 teaspoons raspberry jam
4 ounces Brie cheese, cut into 4-inch long strips

Raspberry Brie Crescents Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Unwrap crescent rolls; separate into triangles. Lightly spread 1 teaspoon jam across wide end of each triangle. Place cheese strip on wide end of each triangle on top of jam.

Roll each from wide to narrow point into crescent shape. Place with open cheese side up on prepared baking sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until crescents are golden brown. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

Nutrition per serving: 174 calories, 15 g carbohydrate, 5g protein, 10g fat, 0g fiber, 14 mg cholesterol, 309mg sodium

Ingredients

1 pound shelled pecans
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup Kahlua
1 (16 ounce) round Brie cheese, at room temperature
Assorted crackers

Coffee Pecan Brie Directions

Place Brie on large plate with a lip.

Coarsely chop the pecans and place them in the oven to toast lightly.

Place brown sugar and Kahlua in large frying pan over medium heat. Stir until the mixture becomes thick and bubbly (brown and on the verge of caramelizing). Add toasted pecans, bring back to a boil, and remove from heat. Pour mixture over Brie. Heat for 10 seconds in microwave or for approximately 30 seconds in a 300 degree F oven.

Serve with crackers.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon rum extract
1/2 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 (8 ounce) round Brie cheese
2 tablespoons chopped pecans
Assorted crackers or ginger snaps

Cranberry Rum Brie Directions

In small bowl, combine brown sugar, rum extract, cranberry sauce and nutmeg. Stir to blend.

Scrape or cut off the top rind of the cheese, leaving 1/4-inch edge by scoring or making a circle on the top 1/4-inch from the edge with a small knife. Using a teaspoon, simply scrape off the top of the rind, exposing the cheese. Top Brie with cranberry mixture and sprinkle with pecans.

Bake at 500 degrees F for 5 minutes, or until cheese is softened.

Using a large spatula, place Brie round on serving plate and surround with assorted crackers.

Serves 8.

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) round brie cheese
1/2 pear, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chopped walnuts

Caramelized Pear Brie Directions

Place pear slices in overlapping concentric circles to cover surface of brie. Sprinkle with brown sugar, then top with walnuts. Bake in preheated 400 degree F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until soft in center. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Ingredients

Source: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

1 (15 ounce) wheel Wisconsin brie cheese, chilled
2 tablespoons red raspberry jam
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Brown sugar (for topping)
Sliced almonds (for topping)
Wafer or shortbread cookies

Caramelized Almond Raspberry Brie Directions

Slice brie in half horizontally. Place bottom half of brie on 10 x 15-inch jellyroll pan.

Combine jam, brown sugar, honey and almonds; spread over cut side of brie. Replace top half of brie, rind side up. Sprinkle with brown sugar and almonds.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to12 minutes or until soft. Then broil 3 inches from heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until brie is bubbly and almonds are caramelized.

Serve with cookies.

Tip: Instead of baking, Brie can be microwaved for 2 to 4 minutes or until softened.

Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon brandy
1 (6 ounce) round Brie

Caramel Brie Directions

Mix sugar, nuts and brandy. Cover and chill.

Place cheese on pie plate at bake at 500 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes.

Place sugar mixture on top of Brie. Bake an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until sugar melts.

Serve with apple slices, pear wedges or table water crackers.

Yield: 6 servings