I’m going to be straight with you guys. I have never watched a Super Bowl. Not even for the commercials. Generally, the only reason I even know the Super Bowl is coming up is because the grocery ads take a turn from the Greek yogurts and granola bars that herald in the New Year to highlighting family sized bags of potato chips. The year our son was a baby and sleep deprivation had rendered us even more oblivious than usual, we innocently decided to go to Costco the day before the Super Bowl and were puzzled by why it was difficult to find a parking spot in the gigantic Costco sized lot. When we noticed everyone was buying giant TVs and vats of chicken wings we finally put two and two together. No joke, and we even live in Bronco country. And yes, I know the Broncos aren’t in the Super Bowl this year. I try to google these things now and again so as not to look like  a complete idiot, or at least know when to avoid Costco. Regardless of whether you’re going to watch the game this weekend or are as ignorant to the world of professional sports as we are, you should make this cheeseball. My grandmother, Sirpa (it’s a Finnish name so don’t be alarmed it you have no idea how to pronounce it), would make this cheeseball for every family get together and I generally spent a good portion of the evening standing next to it, crackers in hand, slowly whittling the ball away to nothing. The cheeseball has a pure, traditional flavor. No ranch packets or anything like that to flavor it, just good old fashioned oregano and parmesan.

 Sirpa’s Cheeseball

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 C parmesan or parmigiano regiano cheese, grated
  • 1/4 C mayonnaise
  • 3 TBSP crushed oregano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 C chopped nuts (I always use pecans since that’s how grandma made it.)
  1. Put your chopped nuts on a plate and set aside.
  2. Mix together all the ingredients except the nuts. You can do this in a stand mixer or with a bowl and a spoon.
  3. Do your best to scrape the sides and gather all the mixture into the center of the bowl. Pick the mixture up with your hands and pat into a ball. (Note to any neat freaks: You will get some of the cheeseball on your hands, but it will only be for a moment and then you can wash them!) Gently drop the ball into the center of the nuts and roll around until all sides are covered.
  4. Wrap in plastic wrap or put in a tupperware and refrigerate until the cheeseball has firmed up. Serve with crackers.

 

Written by Audrey

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