Shelly's Recipe

APPETIZER CHEESE TREES

Category: Cheeseballs

3 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (16 oz)
2 tbsp pesto
1 tbsp grated onion
1/4 tsp dry ground mustard
2 – 3 drops hot pepper sauce

Assorted crackers
Garnishes: Parsley or cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 tbsp bell pepper, chopped

Mix cheeses; divide in half. Mix pest into 1/2 and remaining ingredients in the other half. Cover each half and refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape. Place cheese mixtures on cookie sheet, shape each half into trees. Roll trees in parsley, pressing evenly into trees. Press pine nuts into trees as string for garland and pepper pieces as ornaments. Top each tree with star shape cut from lemon peel, if desired. Serve with crackers.