CHRISTMAS CHEESE TREE APPETIZER

Christmas Cheese Tree Appetizer image

Provided by Wildflour

Time 45m

Yield 10-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

12 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (12 oz.)
1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped tiny
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/4 cups chopped fresh parsley, more if needed
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
15 -20 pimento stuffed olives
15 -20 slices cheddar cheese, stars cut them yourself from cheddar or buy them bagged and pre-cut about 1-inch in size
1 lemon, rind of, cut peel into long thin strips letting them curl
assorted cracker

Steps:

In bowl, combine well the first 6 ingredients.
Place on plate and with hands shape into an 8" tall cone-shape.
Press chopped parsley on "tree" all over to make it green.
With small star-shaped cookie cutter, cut approximately 1" stars out of slices of cheese. (You can make some of them bells or circles if you want.).
Stick about 40-50 or so toothpicks halfway (or a little more)all over evenly spaced into tree.
Stick "decorations"(cheese stars, cherry tomato halves round side out, and olives) onto toothpicks.
Drape lemon peel around tree, spiraling downward, to resemble garland.
Cut a larger cheese star for top of tree.
Place assorted crackers in stacks around base of tree for "presents".

Nutrition Facts : Calories 436.7, Fat 37.2, SaturatedFat 23.5, Cholesterol 117.1, Sodium 594.3, Carbohydrate 5.3, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 1.5, Protein 22.1