Praline Cranberry Dip

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup finely chopped almonds
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. butter (no substitute)
8 oz. pkg. mascarpone cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. orange juice
1/3 cup dried cranberries
Preparation:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a heavy skillet, cook almonds, sugar and butter over medium heat until the sugar begins to melt. Do not stir during this time, but shake the skillet occasionally. When the sugar starts to melt (it will look syrupy around the edges), turn heat to low and cook until sugar and almonds are golden, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
Immediately spread mixture onto the parchment paper and let cool. Break into chunks (here's where it's candy!). For the recipe, process in a food processor or place in plastic bag and pound with a rolling pin until crushed.
Beat together the cheese and orange juice in a small bowl until fluffy and well blended. Stir in the crushed toffee and cranberries. Chill, covered, up to 3 days.
Serve this dip with plain cookies, like sugar cookies, pirouette cookies, and gingerbread cookies, and fruits like pear and apple slices. Dip the pear and apple slices into lemon water so they don't turn brown.

Cheese Balls Three Ways

Yields: Makes three 4-inch cheeseballs; serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

Base Recipe:
1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 package(s) (8 ounces each) cream cheese
2 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon(s) Worcestershire sauce
5 dash(es) hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
1/2 teaspoon(s) coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground white pepper

Cheddar and Cranberry:
8 ounce(s) sharp orange cheddar cheese, finely shredded
2 tablespoon(s) store-bought chutney
3/4 cup(s) dried cranberries, finely chopped
Water crackers, for serving

Roquefort and Walnut:
6 ounce(s) Roquefort cheese
1 shallot, minced (1 tablespoon)
2 teaspoon(s) brandy (optional)
1 cup(s) toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
Vegetable chips (such as Terra Chips Sweets & Beets), for serving

Goat Cheese and Scallions:
8 ounce(s) goat cheese
2 tablespoon(s) finely chopped scallions
1/3 cup(s) fresh curly-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 English cucumber, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices, for serving

Directions

Put butter, cream cheese, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, and pepper into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until combined. Divide equally among 3 medium bowls.

Stir cheddar cheese and chutney with base mixture in the first bowl. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Roll cheese ball in cranberries to coat before serving. Serve with crackers.

Stir blue cheese and shallot with base mixture in second bowl; add brandy, if desired. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days; freeze up to 1 month. Roll in walnuts to coat before serving. Serve with chips.

Stir goat cheese and scallions with base mixture in remaining bowl. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Roll in parsley to coat before serving. Serve with cucumber slices.