Olive Cheese Balls

As I sat shivering inside my cold apartment wondering what ever happened to global warming, I tried to think of a tasty excuse to warm up the kitchen with an oven-baked treat. I finally settled on these baked olive cheese balls. Imagine a plump green olive nestled in a slightly spicy and crispy cheese pastry. For a maximum burst of flavor, I suggest you use an extra old Cheddar cheese. I'm quite certain you could substitute small sautéed button mushrooms for the olives. Better yet, double this recipe and make both.

Olive Cheese Balls

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on February 25, 2008 Plump green olive baked in a slightly spicy and crispy cheese pastry — a simple and perfect appetizer Preparation: 15 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Print this recipe Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 2/3 cup fresh grated old Cheddar cheese 1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup all-purpose flour generous pinch of cayenne 1 small egg, beaten 15 to 20 plump green olives, pitted Instructions: Preheat an oven to 400°F and grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, using a fork, combine the cheese, butter, flour, and cayenne. Stir in the egg until well combined. Flatten about a tablespoons worth of dough on the palm of your hand and enclose each olive with the dough. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese balls turn golden brown. Serve warm. Makes 15 to 20 appetizers