ROQUEFORT CHEESE BALLS

Roquefort Cheese Balls image

Provided by Amanda Hesser

Time 20m

Yield About 24 cheese balls

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1/2 pound Roquefort or other good blue cheese
6 tablespoons softened butter
1 1/2 tablespoons minced chives
2 tablespoons finely minced celery
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Cognac
1/2 cup fine stale white-bread crumbs
2 tablespoons very finely minced parsley

Steps:

Crush the cheese in a bowl with 4 tablespoons of the butter and work it into a smooth paste. Beat in the chives, celery, seasonings and Cognac. If mixture is very stiff, beat in more butter by fractions. Check seasoning carefully, adding salt if necessary (probably not). Using two teaspoons, shape into quenelles or roll into balls around 1/2 inch in diameter.
Toss breadcrumbs and parsley in a wide shallow bowl. Roll the cheese balls in the mixture so they are well covered. Chill. Serve as is or pierced with a toothpick.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 62, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 114 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams