Rayess - Cheese Balls

Text copyright 2018 by DENA RAYESS.

Photographs copyright 2018 by Chronicle Books LLC.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 9781452171401 (epub, mobi)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Names: Rayess, Dena, author.
Title: Cheese balls / Dena Rayess.
Description: San Francisco : Chronicle Books, [2018] | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017061271 | ISBN 9781452171364 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Cooking (Cheese) | LCGFT: Cookbooks.
Classification: LCC TX759.5.C48 R39 2018 | DDC 641.6/73dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017061271

Design by VANESSA DINA
Photographs by HEAMI LEE
Food styling by VICTORIA GRANOF
Prop styling by ASTRID CHASTKA
Typsetting by HOWIE SEVERSON

Chex is a registered trademark of General Mills. Old Bay is a registered trademark of OLD BAY, Inc. Nilla and Ritz are registered trademarks of Mondelz International, Inc. Nutella is a registered trademark of Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. SunChips is a registered trademark of Frito-Lay North America, Inc. Walkers Shortbread is a registered trademark of Walkers Shortbread Limited.

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Theres nothing quite like a cheese ball. No other food can gather people so quickly around the table or induce bigger smiles. Not just limited to holiday get-togethers, this little book of cheese in the round will guide and inspire you to live that cheese ball lifestyle all year long. From family-friendly balls to please a variety of tastes to lazy weekend luxuries, from fresh, light balls that give a break from the decadence to seasonal balls that get fancy, each no-fuss recipe is just the right amount of indulgent.

For most of the recipes, unless noted otherwise, it is easier to combine the dairy ingredients if they sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes or so to soften up. In addition, the stand mixer (or any sort of blending kitchen appliance, such as a handheld mixer or food processor) makes these straightforward recipes even easier to pull off. However, if you find yourself in a situation where your guests text that theyre five minutes away, you still havent hidden all your messy things, and you may or may not be wearing pants, dont overthink itjust use your hands.

Happy cheese balling!

Heres how to shape a basic cheese ball so you get that perfectly round shape. Its easier than you think.

Spoon the cheese mixture onto the center of a large piece of plastic wrap.

Gather the ends of the plastic and twist to close, forming a ball with the cheese mixture. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set. (The cheese ball can be refrigerated overnight.)

Quite a few recipes in this book call for nuts, either in the cheese ball or to decorate the outside. Toasted nuts take your cheese ball to the next level.

Preheat the oven to 350F [180C]. Spread the nuts into a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until toasted and fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Not all cheese balls, despite the name, must be round to be enjoyed. The following shaping and decorating ideas range from simple to more daring, involved projects. For the best results, all of these shapes should be made after making any of the cheese ball recipes in the following chapters, but before adding the toppings.

This shape is perfect for cheese balls that feature a topping that is drizzled .

1 cheese ball, without the topping

Remove the cheese ball from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Do not discard the plastic.

Using the palms of your hands, push down on the ball to create a flat top. The wheel should be about 3 to 4 in [7.5 to 10 cm] wide and 1 1/2 in [4 cm] tall.

Rotate the cheese wheel and use the plastic wrap to smooth out the sides. Continue with the chosen recipe or re-cover in plastic and refrigerate if not immediately using.

This classic shape is ideal for cheese balls that blur the lines between spread and ball, like Horchata .

1 cheese ball, without the topping

Remove the cheese ball from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Discard the plastic.

Tear off a large piece of clean plastic wrap, place it on a work surface, and place the ball in the center. Drape half of the plastic wrap over the top of the cheese ball.

Using the palms of your hands, roll the cheese ball back and forth, slowly pushing the ball outward to form a log shape thats approximately 7 to 8 in [17 to 20 cm] long and 1 1/2 in [4 cm] tall.

Gently press the ends until smooth. Continue with the chosen recipe or re-cover in plastic and refrigerate if not immediately using (simply reroll the bottom if it flattens).

These lend themselves to creating eye-catching presentations for parties: stack them on top of each other, distribute them randomly around your food spread, stick the suggested dipper or cracker into each ball. Try recipes that dont have complex mix-ins or toppings, like the Garden Herb , which will be easier to divide into mini balls.

1 cheese ball, without the topping

1 topping

Remove the cheese ball from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Discard the plastic.

Using an ice cream scoop, divide the cheese ball into small mounds, approximately 1 Tbsp each; you should get 12 to 15 mini balls from an 8-oz [230-g] cheese ball.

Using the palms of your hands, roll each mound into a smooth, even ball.

Continue with the chosen recipe or cover each mini ball in plastic and refrigerate if not immediately using. Roll each mini ball in the chosen topping just before serving.

The owl and hedgehog shapes are best with recipes that use nuts as the garnish, like the Classic , because theyll be easy to apply and have the biggest visual impact. For a more striking presentation, I recommend doubling the recipe (both the topping and cheese ball) so that you can make a large owl.

1 cheese ball, without the topping

1 topping

3 small nuts (such as pistachios or peanuts)

Remove the cheese ball from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Discard the plastic.