"The One with the Cheesy Kitschmas tree"
It may become your best Christmas party appetizer. Ever.
Remember all those Special Christmas episodes from Friends? The One where Phoebe learns the truth about her father? Or the One with the Routine? Or my favorite, “The One.” They are kind of kitschy, right?
These episodes are silly and trashy and charmingly nostalgic and fun. They make me smile. That’s the essence of kitsch.
And that’s why this special episode of Trusted Tables is “the One with the cheesy Kitschmas tree”.
This recipe is the perfect kitschy appetizer to bring to your holiday dinner; it’s trashy and nostalgic. It’s easy to make (about an hour start to finish, including 30 minutes resting time in the frig), fun to present, somewhat (ok, very) silly, and yet charming and delicious.
It’s essentially a cheese ball molded into the shape of a Christmas tree and decorated to your hearts’ content with stuff like parsley (to make it green), pomegranate seeds (to bring in the red) and other edible and decorative delights. Be as creative as you like.
Here’s the ingredient list
Two 8-ounce blocks cream cheese, at room temperature
4 or 5 cups shredded white Cheddar (about 14 - 16 ounces)
2 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
sprinkling of red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
Kosher salt - to taste
1 pretzel rod
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley, plus more for dusting
1/2 cup pretzel sticks
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (for the “snow” dusting”
Crackers, for serving
Directions
Start by making a good old fashioned cheese ball. This recipe calls for mixing the cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lemon zest, shredded Cheddar and 1 teaspoon salt. I used a food processor. A stand mixer works well too. And if you don’t like the cheese ball ingredients, modify them!
Build the tree around the big pretzel stick. I created a foundation for the tree with about 1/4 cup of the cheese. I stuck in the pretzel rod and worked the cheese mixture around the pretzel, shaping it with my hands. (I hope my next version will be a little more artful than this first try!)
Press the parsley (or other green herb of your choice) into the cheese to make it look like a tree. The more green the better.
Chill your tree for 30 minutes to firm it up.
Decorate the tree with everything else. I alternated the ingredients to add variety and depth. I didn’t have the sliced almonds but I did have some purple cauliflower and I like the look. Tuck the pomegranate seeds around. The tree definitely needs a topper. Maybe one sliced almond for the "star". Or a cookie shaped like a star.
Dust the edges with more finely chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan "snow". Serve with crackers on the side.
Eat and laugh while watching a rerun of one of the Friends’ Christmas specials. Remember this Christmas as “the one with the Cheesey Christmas tree!”
PS: If you try to make this tree, will you send me a picture? I’d like to see other people’s version.
PPS: if you want a sweet tree, make it out of cookie dough and decorate it with candy!
