A Christmas Giveaway, A New Wreath and a Cheese Ball Igloo


The winner of this past weeks giveaway is: Jenny Please send me your mailing info and I will ship it right out. This week's giveaway is for a basket of Christmas goodies. It includes: Chocolate bars, chocolate covered blueberries and cherries, shortbreads, Holiday Jam from Stonewall Kitchen and all sorts of fun items. To enter, leave a comment on this post. If you are not already a follower, sign on to follow. This will be the last giveaway for a while. I need to restock the giveaway larder!!!



December 18th......one more week!




I have a wonderful cheese ball recipe and when I am invited to holiday parties, I think it is fun to dress it up a bit. So, I make a cheese ball igloo.

The recipe:

  • 2 - 8 oz.packages cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup chutney
  • 1/4 cup onion diced
  • 1 tsp. granulated garlic
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 cup Colby cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded

directions

  1. Mix together the cream cheese, chutney , onion, garlic, salt and pepper.
  2. Fold in the Colby and Monterey jack cheeses.
  3. Line a small bowl with plastic wrap and press the cheese into the bowl.
  4. Chill overnight.
  5. Turn the cheese mixture out onto a serving plate.
  6. Spread cream cheese around the cheese ball and then cover the cheese in a layer of cream cheese too.
  7. Score the cheese ball with a toothpick to resemble an igloo.

Cut several blocks from a block of cream cheese and form the entrance to the igloo. Add sprigs of fresh rosemary for trees.


Cut red pepper boxes to place under the trees. Using small and jumbo black olives, split the jumbo olive and fill with cream cheese to make the penguins. Fill the small olive with cream cheese for the head and sit it on top of the jumbo olive. Form the penguins feet from carrots and cut a small triangle of carrot for the nose. Stick a frilly toothpick down through the head to make the plume. Cut a carrot flag and attach it to the top of the igloo with a toothpick. Kids love these cheese balls. Serve it with crackers.



I made another retro wreath from things I found at the thrift shop.


The grapevine wreath was 99 cents.


I covered it with tinsel I found for 59 cents.


When you are done with the tinsel you can no longer see the grapevine.


I found bags of these balls for 99 cents.


I glued on a circle of different colored balls.


Then I filled in around the circle with smaller balls.

Back to cookie baking. I have about a million more to bake!

Comments

Unknown said…
First I need to say I am so making one of those gorgeous wreaths next year! Second that cheese ball is yummy and fun to look at I am making that for our next party! Third I know I am the first to leave a comment so winning is unlikely but I so want to try chocolate covered blueberries!

Happy Holidays
ohhh i can already taste the chocolates. i would love to be entered please.

i love oyur wreaths, and the cheese igloo recipe is amazing
thanks for sharing
bb
Leanna said…
First, you had me at CHOCOLATE dear. So please enter me. I have to try that cheese ball recipe and I love that wreath to death.
Sea Gypsy said…
Those olive penguins are adorable and quite ingenious! Too cute!!

I would love to throw my hat in the ring for this lovely Christmas basket. It looks quite filled to the brim with yumminess!

Have a holly jolly day!

~frogshell@mac.com
Thmini2 said…
I love the wreath! Your basket as always looks delicious!!
brokenteepee said…
You are too clever for words. I love the little penguins
Tournesol said…
The cheese igloo is just adorable! Great idea. Also I am loving all your retro wreaths, so pretty!
Amanda said…
Oh i just love that wreath, i keep telling myself to go get some stuff to make one, but never do :( I love to look at your creations!! Please enter me in the drawing!! Have a good weekend!
Anonymous said…
Congratulations to Jenny!

What a wonderful idea! I love that Igloo :-) :-) :-)

That wreath looks as winter cold as it is over here right now! Perfect for the season!

Have a great day!
Christer.
Carapace said…
You know, I just packed a gift for this year in the wonderful basket you sent me last Christmas! I hope someone (else! please don't enter me, I'm trying to be good on my diet...) gets to enjoy this basket just as much!

See you at the ovens- I've got about fifty pounds of treats to make, too!
The igloo cheese ball is fabulous. As only you can do. I do believe the retro wreath is the most beautiful todate.

Hang in there, just a few more days of this cookie, candy, cake, etc., and I think we might just make it.
AmyB said…
Thanks for all the giveaways you do!
Lila said…
Oh my goodness, I LOVE that cheeseball igloo and those super cute penguins!! My toddler is obsessed with penguins right now~~in fact, he asked Santa for one!! Happy Saturday!!!
**I bought my ham yesterday~~cheap, bone-in and pumped full of water :) Today I'm headed to the market to get the mustard and marmalade!! Thanks so much for all of your help~~I will let you know how my first ham goes over with the family on Christmas Eve!!
Anonymous said…
Chat a giveaway, you are too generous. I love the cheese ball igloo, what a cute idea and your retro wreath with those pink bulbs, as yummy as your recipes. xox Corrine
Love the cheese igloo. its cute, I'd have never thought to make an igloo out of cheese. The penguins look great to.
Watcher said…
Oh that Igloo is ADORABLE!!
Sparkless said…
That is the cutest igloo! Love the olive penguins.

How do you get your balls to stick to the tinsel without being floppy? Did you glue the tinsel on first or just wrap it around the grapevine?
TMCPhoto said…
I love the combination of the pink, green, gold and amber on that wreath. It's simply delightful.
Cheryll said…
The olive penquins...how clever! I'll be looking for the stuff to make that wreath.
I would love to be in this giveaway. I can never pass up chocolate! :) You DO have the most delightful giveaways!
One of my most favorite blogs!! Absolutely!
Mona
BennuBird said…
I love your blog and read it every day but I always wonder which army you are feeding all these delicious looking huge meals you make to. hehe Happy Holidays!
Love this wreath and the igloo cheese ball is so cute! Great idea. Thanks for the chance as always to enter your giveaways. Have a very Merry Christmas.
Mystica said…
I like the cream cheese receipe very much. Even without the igloo stuff it has to be very good eating.

Do not enter me for the giveaways as food is a tricky win getting thru Customs!!!
Congratulations to Jenny, winner of the latest "Teddy's Treat".

Great recipe as I love cream cheese. Clever decoration!

Wonderful wreath! You are such an inspiration.

Have a great weekend.

xoxo to "Teddy Twinkle Lights".
Deborah said…
Thanks for the directions for the wreath. I will be making one. It's just beautiful. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
Jennifer Rose said…
really pretty coloured wreath!
Divaeva said…
*giggles* your cheese ball igloo I think is the cutest holiday snack I have ever seen - definitely stealing this idea! The wreath is also FABULOUS! <3
Judith said…
sign me up for the giveaway, and the wreaths are fantastic. I remember my mom having ones like that when I was a kid!
Aimee Jeffries said…
Looks like another great giveaway!

Going to have to try this recipe, cause the ones in the store don't seem to be the same as when I was young.
Texan said…
Okay that cheeseball is just cuteness girly! Your giveaway basket looks wonderful but don't toss me in this one. :O). Someone will be a lucky winner to get it for sure :O).
Texan said…
PS
I am about to put yet another loaf of the no kneaad bread in the oven, in about 20 more minutes! We are simply addicted to it!
Ann said…
well isn't that just he cutest cheese ball. how clever. I just love stopping by here and seeing all the Christmasy cheer. Another gorgeous wreath also.
William Bezek said…
Oh, how I wish to live in a Cheese Igloo on the continent of Lobster Tail in the valley of Cabernet!
Anonymous said…
I have never seen anyone do something like that with a cheese ball. How creative! Your wreaths are just beautiful. Thanks so much for offering all of these generous giveaways.
I spied that Walker shortbread in the basket and couldn't get here fast enough!
Merry Christmas, dear October Farm
xx
Millie said…
That cheeseball igloo is just too cute! I don't know where you get all those great ideas.
Sharon Day said…
I'm a cheeseball freak and that recipe is soooo adorable!
Scrap Vamp said…
I love the cheese ball igloo, so cute! And that wreath is beautiful! I must make one of my own!!! Happy Holidays!
Tristan Robin said…
cheese log igloo with penguins!

ONLY YOU!

love, Love, LOVE, LOVE it!
Rue said…
Love the cheese igloo! So clever - and those penguins are too cute!

I've loved all of your ornament wreaths - but this pink/silver/gold one has to be my favourite!
that is the cutest cheese ball. I love the penguins.

-Lauren
Jennifer said…
I love the wreath, so pretty! Also the cheese igloo, what a unique idea, love it! I had planned on making a snowman cheese ball for our family Christmas dinner but I never thought about an igloo. Will have to try that sometime. Maybe I could build an igloo on the plate next to my snowman? (-:

That might be too much cheese (is there such a thing?)for the number of people that will be there though.
AkasaWolfSong said…
Love the Cheese Ball recipe Jazz! And what a cute idea! The Penguins are adorable.
I think I like this Christmas Wreath the best of any you've done so far, and mainly cuz I love the colors?
Please enter me in this drawing, I'd love to win the goodies!

Congrats to Jenny on the win!

Happy Holidays and come up for air now and then in that baking mode...I'm doing fudge today!

Blessings to You and Yours...
Debbie said…
Hi Joyce!...Great idea....the igloo! And I love the wreath....nice job. Merry Christmas my friend...
Chris said…
Cheese ball igloo with penquins and little rosemary christmas trees! Just about the cutest, cleverest...is that a word? thing I have ever seen. They are probably now being made all over the country...one will sure be made at my house!
And I love that wreath! You need to get a glass of egg nog..spiked...and rest by the fire for awhile...it's all so wonderful! Thanks for everything you do...from all of us!

xxx ooo to Teddy Christmas Cookies! :)
SharleneT said…
That cheese ball is adorable! But, who has leftover olives, once you open the can??!?!?! Gonna have to try this, if only to be one up on my daughter! Thanks for sharing...

For a special holiday memory of mine, check out my other blog. Click on the Rockin' Chair Reflections picture and read about: Christmas Miracle - 27 Puppies and Teddies
julie has me laughing...i spied the walkers shortbread too...we both LOVE it...

LOVE that igloo...how cute is that?

and the wreaths...well, i LOVE anything vintage..these are wonderful......

teddy says HI !!!!!

kary and teddy
xxxx
Birgit said…
I just love your retro wreath, Joyce! And that igloo -- you never cease to amaze me.

I hope it's okay to play for the Christmas goodies. They look so tempting in the Christmas basket -- thanks for the chance. :)

Hugs,
Birgit
Ronda Kisner said…
Oh so cute! I want to make the igloo!
Shai Williams said…
I just love that cheeseball recipe. I know that what will be taking to holiday gatherings next year. Thanks for sharing!
Unknown said…
I don't even have words for how awesome that igloo is =)
Yippee! New basket! One of these times I'm going to win darnit! Happy Holidays!
I'm a follower of your blog also!
Unknown said…
I only just found out I won and I am so absolutely excited! I couldn't thank you enough! I really needed a Christmas spirit pick-me up, and a surprise like this really did wonders! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Onto the subject of today's post...OMG those penguins are adorable! You have got to be one of the most creative and ingenious authors I've ever experienced!

Of course I must decline entering this week's giveaway; I would love for someone else to experience the childlike joy I did when reading my email!
Rusthawk said…
Yum! Thanks for including me.

I'm a follower. Merry Christmas!
audrey said…
You are SO creative in every way. I must make one of those wreaths ~ SO pretty! And thank you for the recipes that you post. They are appreciated.
I would love to be entered for the Christmas Goodies Basket ~ everything sounds delicious!!
I wish you blessings and happiness this week before Christmas Day!!
♥ audrey
SpiritWings said…
Oh..please do enter me into your drawing! The basket full of goodies looks so very yummy!!
Your cheese ball would go great for our new years company! And your retro wreath?? Well that is amazing. =]
bison61 said…
please sign me up for the giveaway-I love the retro wreath

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
Katherine said…
Oh my that basket looks yummy!!!
Sugar said…
Oooh that igloo is adorable!!!
I would love to be entered to win the basket, I've had a rough week with my dad in the icu and this would really perk up my mood.
You are so fabulous!
Haley J said…
Great giveaway!

Those wreaths are beautiful!
Pattie said…
Count me in! Yum!
Anonymous said…
Ooo, the igloo looks great! I would love to have one of those wreaths, but the goats would probably eat it!
Lois said…
I'm a sucker for an olive penguin. Yummy. Lois
Heather said…
How cute is that igloo! I wouldn't want to eat it!

That basket looks awesome too. Thanks for the chance.
CathyH said…
You are so talented! Igloo is so cute! Funny story. Many years ago had a party and wanted to make cheese balls. I thought a clove of garlic was the whole bulb..lol! Yuck!!
I'll take an entry. Love reading your blog, keep on writing.
Corrine said…
That wreath is so cool, I think I'll have to try one myself. merry Christmas to you and your family on your side of the world.