Cheese Stuffed Pepper Christmas Tree Recipes

CHRISTMAS TREE CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, cayenne, Worcestershire, scallions, lemon juice and some salt and pepper to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth; you still want a few bits of cheese in there. Remove with a rubber spatula to a piece of plastic wrap and wrap up the cheese mixture. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Shape the cheese mixture with your hands into a Christmas tree/cone using the plastic wrap to keep it together. Mix the chopped parsley and dill together on a plate or work surface. Coat the shaped cheese in the chopped herbs.
• Transfer the cheese tree to the center of a platter. Decorate with the pomegranate seeds as ornaments. Serve with buttery crackers.

CHEESE AND CRACKERS CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Put the cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lemon zest, shredded Cheddar and 1 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed.
• Mound about 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture on a serving plate and insert the pretzel rod vertically (the pretzel will help to hold up the structure). Add more of the cheese mixture, forming it around the pretzel rod and into a cone shape about 6 inches wide and 10 inches tall.
• Press the chopped parsley into the surface of the cheese tree to make it green, making sure to cover all the white areas. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Insert the pretzel sticks, mini butter crackers and almonds all over the tree, angled downward to create "branches". Take care to alternate the ingredients to add variety and depth. As you decorate the top, break the pretzel sticks in half so they are proportional to the size of the tree. Top the tree with one sliced almond for the "star". Tuck the pomegranate seeds in between the branches for festive "lights". Dust the edges with more finely chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan "snow". Serve with crackers on the side.

CHEESE-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add peppers and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain and allow to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until slightly softened 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, ketchup, parsley, black pepper, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Allow to cool slightly. Mix in feta cheese and parsley.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Fill blanched peppers with feta mixture and place on a baking sheet. Brush stuffed peppers with olive oil.
• Broil peppers under the preheated broiler, turning frequently, about 15 minutes.

O CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Using a stand mixer or a bowl and a spatula, mix together the cream cheese, herbs, garlic, mustard, and salt until combined. Form the mixture into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Before serving, form the ball into a tree shape -- like an egg shape, but pointier on top. Roll the tree-shaped ball in the parsley, reshaping it with your hands as necessary. Decorate with bits of bell peppers and pomegranate seeds. Top with the slice of star fruit.
• Serve with crackers and crudites.

GRILLED CHEESE-STUFFED CHILE TACOS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for high heat. Halve the Cubanelle peppers lengthwise, trim the tops and remove the seeds. Drizzle the peppers, tomatoes and onion rounds with oil, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place the vegetables on the hot grill, cut-side down, and cook 6 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway through, to get some charred areas and dark grill marks. Set aside the grilled pepper halves.
• Put the grilled tomatoes and onion, garlic, chipotles, cilantro, juice of 1 lime and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a food processor, and pulse about 20 times for a chunky salsa.
• Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits and scoop out the flesh with a spoon into a medium bowl. Add the remaining lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mash the avocado lightly with a fork so that some large pieces remain.
• Stuff about 2 tablespoons of the Monterey Jack into each pepper half. Place a piece of aluminum foil, large enough to hold all the peppers, on the grill. Arrange the stuffed pepper halves on the foil. Cover the grill to melt the cheese, about 4 minutes.
• Heat the tortillas on the grill for about 30 seconds to 1 minute per side for light grill marks. Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil to keep them warm and soft.
• To assemble a taco, spread some of the avocado on a tortilla. Top with a stuffed pepper half, followed by a spoonful of salsa, a dollop of the sour cream and some torn cilantro leaves.

CHEESE TWIST CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with a silicone liner (such as Silpat®).
• Roll pastry into a 14-inch square, sprinkling with flour if necessary.
• Cut from the bottom corners up to the center top to make a triangle. Place the triangle on a prepared baking sheet and place in the refrigerator.
• Overlap the long edges of the 2 remaining pieces of pastry by about ½ inch to form a second triangle. Roll to flatten slightly. Place on the second prepared baking sheet and chill until needed.
• Remove the first triangle from the refrigerator. Lift the silicone liner and pastry off the pan and onto the counter. Trim about 1 ½ inches off the bottom of the triangle and cut a 2-inch piece from that strip. Tuck that piece under the triangle to make a trunk.
• Spread all but 1 to 2 tablespoons pesto sauce over the entire triangle, leaving ¼ inch exposed at the edges. Grate most of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over the pesto. Place the second pastry triangle over top; stretch and pull it to fit, and trim off any extra dough as needed. Lightly press the edges together to seal and pat over the whole surface of the dough.
• Use a pizza wheel to cut ¾-inch horizontal strips on one side of the tree going from the outside edge in to about ¼ to ½ inch from the center; leave the center part connected to form the trunk. As you move up the tree, it may be easier to place the pizza wheel at the trunk and cut out to the edge. Repeat on the other side, lining up the cuts with the first side.
• Lift up each strip and twist 3 to 4 times. As you get up to the shorter pieces near the top, twist as many times as you can, but don't worry if you can't twist the strips at the very top.
• Brush remaining pesto over the center of the tree and any other spots you feel need it. Transfer the silicone liner back onto a baking sheet. Grate remaining cheese over top.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until pastry is fully cooked and well browned, 30 to 35 minutes; do not undercook.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes before serving.