Homemade Cheeseball with Seasonal Spices

If not there already the season of holiday parties is very near, while there are many questions of what to serve a memorable appetizer can be a big one. Each and every family will have their own signature dishes, and having a Swiss element to my background cheese is always on the menu. A simple cheese tray can suffice but every now and again creativity sparks and something new comes to mind. Combining the traditional with some creativity can make for some spectacular surprises.

Cheese trays can be as simple as having some sliced mozzarella, cheddar and marble cheeses served alongside crackers and some kielbasa or salami however there is a myriad of choices when it comes to cheeses available to us in southern Ontario today; edam, gruyere, gouda, blue, and goat cheese are just a few. The creamy light perfection of goat cheese is something that has caught our attention this week.

Goat cheese is typically a high moisture cheese with a creaminess that is hard to match. This particular cheese can often be found both plain and spiced varieties, especially this time of year. For our purposes a cranberry goat cheese is needed this week, and is typically easily found when searching the cheese aisles of a good supermarket. Combining a cheese, or a spiced cheese with fruit or other flavours can be a very enjoyable treat if you know what to shop for and what goes well together, so here is the list of what we decided to pickup in preparation for our party this week.

2 packages or 300 grams of plain or cranberry spiced goat cheese

Seeds from ½ a pomegranate

1 baguette

2 Lb. of gala apples

This simply sweet cheese appetizer is easy to prepare and a joy to serve. Combine the goat cheese, spices and pomegranate seeds in a large bowl and stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed. Cut the baguette into medallions and toast in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F. remembering to flip the bread half way through. Cut the apples into slices and be careful to remove the core. Plate and serve.

Cheese trays are often available this time of year, as are cheese balls. Taking the 10 minutes to prepare your very own spiced goat cheese can offer a sense of ability and not to mention the bragging that comes along with saying I made it myself. The recipe above offers up all the spices of the season in an appetizer for those who may not be able to stay for the meal or would like a chance to dig into the season upon arrival. So when putting an appetizing spread for your guests do not forget the cheese, and put this seasonally spiced cheese on display.