Sydney Odle, Junior
The joyous holiday season is upon us, which calls for fun and festive appetizers to eat! Instead of having your traditional starters, spice up your holiday by making savory appetizers that will cause the guests to come back for more! Cheese ball bites and fried mashed potatoes are starters that will make you and your guests in a compelling food coma.
Cheese Ball Bites
Serves: 18
Time to make: 1 hour and 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
8 slices bacon
1 1/2 oz. (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese, softened
1 c. shredded cheddar
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/3 c. chopped chives
1/3 c. chopped pecans
18 pretzels sticks
DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy, or about 8 minutes. Drain on paper, then chop. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and paprika and season with salt and pepper. Use a cookie scoop to form the mixture into 18 small balls and transfer to a parchment–lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, or about 1 hour.
In a shallow bowl, stir together bacon, chives, and pecans.
Roll balls in bacon-chive-pecan mixture, insert a pretzel stick into each, and let come to room temperature 15 minutes before serving.
Enjoy!
Fried Mash Potato Balls
Serves: 5
Time to make: 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS
3 c. mashed potatoes
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2/3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. thinly sliced chives
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 egg, beaten
1 1/3 c. panko bread crumbs
Vegetable oil, for frying
DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, combine mashed potatoes with cooked bacon, cheddar, chives, and garlic powder and season with salt and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated.
Place eggs and panko in separate shallow bowls. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop 1-2 inch balls of mashed potato mixture. Roll into a ball in your hands, then dredge in egg and panko. Repeat until all mashed potatoes are used.
Heat 3 inches of oil in a large cast iron skillet until the candy thermometer reads 375°. Fry potato balls in batches until golden on all sides, or 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and season with more salt.
Dig in!
Sources: Abraham, Lena. “Fried Mashed Potato Balls.” Delish, Delish, 12 Nov. 2019, www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a22566735/fried-mashed-potato-balls-recipe/.
Funston, Lindsay. “Cheese Ball Bites.” Delish, Delish, 6 Nov. 2019, www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a50204/cheese-ball-bites-recipe/.
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