mini smokehouse cheese ball bites

It’s that time again.

No, not Christmas.  Although yes, it IS that time too.  Gah, I have a billion things to do before now and the 25th.

I’m talking FOOTBALL here.

Sitting around during those cold winter months, yelling at your TV and eating snacks off your coffee table.

(We don’t have one.  A coffee table.  I sold it after we decided that the living room/kitchen made the perfect running circle for the kids.  Coffee table = busted shins in our house.  Running in circles = naps are needed.)

Back to football….

Travis loves it…I’m impartial.  I’ll sit there with him and watch but the highlight for me is definitely the SNACKS.  Today I’ve paired up with Blue Diamond Almonds to bring you the perfect “game changing” snack.

MINI-CHEESE BALLS!!

I basically took a shrink gun and miniaturized your beloved grapefruit-sized cheese ball.  Please tell me I’m not the only one who loves cheese balls.  You often see them at holiday parties or baby showers (typically cozied up right beside the crockpot full of cocktail weiners….do people in the North put their weiners in crockpots??  Do people use the word “weiner”?  I do.)

These bite-sized balls make the perfect little mouthful snack and are packed with protein and flavor.  I made two different flavor combos – Wasabi & Soy Sauce and Smokehouse (recipe below)– but you could easily try these with any of the BD almond flavors (I’ve got my eye their Sriracha next).  Try these out at your next football get-together and let me know what you think!

 

(scroll over to pin)

MINI SMOKEHOUSE CHEESE BALL BITES

Loosely adapted from Five Heart Home – yields approximately 3 dozen balls

Ingredients

8 ounces high-protein greek yogurt cream cheese (I use the Green Mountain Farms brand)

3/4 cup finely shredded sharp cheese

3/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped

1 1/4 cups Blue Diamond Almond Smokehouse almonds, finely chopped

Pretzel snaps

Bring cream cheese to room temperature.  In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese and dried cranberries until smooth.  Using a teaspoon, form cream cheese mixture into approximately 36 balls and place on wax paper (the mixture will be super sticky so wet hands work best).  Refrigerate for at least two hours or until firm.  Roll chilled cheese balls in finely chopped almonds.  Keep cheese balls refrigerated until ready to serve.  Just before serving, place each ball atop a pretzel snap.  Enjoy!

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This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. Ditch the chips and grab some Game Changing Flavors this football season! Enter for a chance to win the Ultimate Football Party Prize Pack, get great savings and ideas for delicious snack hacks at GameChangingFlavors.com.

QUESTION:  What is your favorite game day snack?  Favorite Blue Diamond Almond flavor?  <- I love them all but my all-time favorite will be the classic Roasted Salted.  Goes with everything – chocolate, string cheese, pretzels, everything.

splendid…lindsay