The After School Kids Thanksgiving Treat

Yesterday was the last day I cooked for the after school kids until after Thanksgiving break.  I am so busy getting ready for Thanksgiving that I decided to make them a huge meat and cheese platter since I can whip one up fast.  It is always one of their favorite things and for this one, I made them something special.  A turkey cheese ball!  This platter is almost 3 feet long so they had plenty to snack on.  This is the recipe for the cheese ball:

ingredients:

• 1 pound bacon
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves, divided
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1 (1-ounce) package Ranch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix 
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  
  

Directions:

1. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
2. In a food processor,pulse all but 6 pieces of the cooked bacon, half of the pecans and 2 tablespoons parsley; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, cheddar cheese, goat cheese, Ranch Seasoning, Worcestershire and 6 pieces of diced bacon and parsley on medium-high until well combine.
4. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. Shape the mixture into a ball and roll in the prepared bacon-pecan mixture.
5. Serve with crackers.

I sent along apples to be sliced and served with it and some different flavored mustards and lots of additional crackers and pretzels.

Make the turkey head by using a Slim Jim and attaching a piece of candy corn to it with royal icing.  Make the eyes using two dots of royal icing with a black peppercorn in the center.  Ritz Crackers are the nest and pretzel sticks are the tail feathers.

I hear that the kids were thrilled with this though they weren't sure what it was.  None of them had ever seen a cheese ball before.  Really something, eh?