Game Day Dips & Spreads

I meant to get this out just before Christmas for everyone to enjoy for their holiday entertaining.  I thought I was being clever and had successfully managed to pre-enter the post to be posted automatically December 23.  Alas, I was not as clever as I thought as it clearly did not post automatically.  Although I found these recipes in Josephine's spiral notebook along with all the holiday recipes, I think they'd be equally handy as game day treats!  Some of them are from magazine's, some do not note origin - I have taken out the brand references, for the most part, to simplify them a bit (plus I think some of those brands are no longer available in our area).  I hope you try them and enjoy them all the same.

Holiday Cheese Tree Football

1 8 oz container Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Spread
1 8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
2 Tbls finely chopped pimento
1 Tbls finely chopped green pepper
1 tsp grated onion
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp lemon juice
chopped parsley
chopped nuts

Combine cheeses, mixing until well blended.  Add 1 tbls pimento, green pepper, onion, Worcestershire sauce & juice;  mix well.  Chill.  Drop six 1/3 cup measures into triangle football shape on serving platter.  Drop remaining mixture at base of triangle (tree trunk); smooth to form tree.  Top with parsley, nuts and remaining pimento.  Serve with crackers.

Holiday Ham & Chili Cheese Ball

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 can deviled ham
2 tbls finely chopped scallions
3 tbls chopped green chilis
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a small bowl, combine cheeses, deviled ham, scallions and chilis;  mix well.  Shape mixture into a ball.  Roll in chopped nuts.  Wrap in plastic wrap; chill.  Remove from fridge to soften slightly before serving.  Serve with crackers. 

Chris' Note:  smoked almonds work really well for the ham & cheese ball.

Shrimp Dip

1 envelope Lipton's tomato soup mix
1 pt. sour cream
2 tbls Italian dressing
1 cup chopped, cooked shrimp
Blend soup mix and sour cream.  Stir in Italian dressing & shrimp.  Chill.  Serve with potato chips or crackers.