Italian Cheese Ball

Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
• 3 tablespoons snipped fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces fontina cheese
• 2 ounces finely chopped hard salami
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped roasted red peppers
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper (to taste)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• water crackers or baguette, slices

Recipe

• 1 in a shallow dish combine 1 tablespoon of the chives, 1 tablespoon of the basil, and the parsley; set aside.
• 2 in a medium bowl beat cream cheese and fontina cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
• 3 beat in the salami and finely chopped roasted red sweet pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons chives, remaining 2 tablespoons basil, the pepper, and garlic.
• 4 form into a ball (or log).
• 5 roll ball in herb mixture. wrap and chill cheese ball for 4 to 24 hours.
• 6 serve with water crackers or baguette slices, and a nice bottle of italian wine or sparkling spumante!
• 7 makes twelve 2-tablespoon servings.