A Recipe to Share.....

So as many of you know, (and hopefully tried) I shared my Stuffed French Toast recipe with you all last year. WELL...after sharing with you all, I had several recipes sent to me from many of you all. One of such recipes is listed below, it's a Holiday Cheese Ball with Cranberry Chutney. She swears by it, and says that if you are going to make it, be sure to make two....because one will be gone too fast!

Here are the directions she sent me:

CREAM CHEESE BALL INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg. 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 can 8 oz. crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups chopped pecans
¼ cup chopped green pepper
3 tablespoons chopped onion
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
2 tablespoons cranberry chutney (See recipe below)
1 ½ tablespoons Maker’s Mark Bourbon


CRANBERRY CHUTNEY:
4 cups fresh whole cranberries
2 Granny Smith apples – pealed, cored, and diced
1 pear – peeled, cored, and diced
1 cup golden raisins
¼ cup minced onion
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (can use ground nutmeg from spice jar)
¼ cup fresh orange juice
3 tablespoons Maker’s Mark Bourbon (optional or reduced amount)

In a heavy 3-quart saucepan, combine all ingredients except the Bourbon. Bring to boil over high heat; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until thick. (the cranberries will pop and get very soft. Do not dice them) This will usually take 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. Stir in Bourbon*, cool, and store left over chutney in the refrigerator. This will make 3-4 cups of chutney. *Adding the bourbon is your choice. I added 3 tablespoons to the mix before it was cooked. I did not detect any alcoholic taste. Perhaps that’s because it had cooked out or maybe it added a slight pleasant taste.)

DIRECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLING CREAM CHEESE BALL:
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese slightly. Gradually stir in all the other ingredients, reserving 1 cup pecans. Shape into ball and roll in remaining 1 cup of pecans. Chill until serving time. Serve with assorted crackers. Make the cream cheese ball a day ahead before serving to let the flavors mix well. (I only used ½ tablespoon of bourbon. The flavor was good. Use more at your discretion)

Note: Serve chutney over the cream cheese ball as appetizer or put it in a decorative jar for a quick hostess gift.