This was always one of my favorite treats growing up. Mom made them anytime we had “company” coming over. Today she makes them all the time for our friends and family.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 (2.5 ounce) package thinly sliced smoked beef, chopped
- 1 small Vidalia or other sweet onion, minced (optional)
- 3-5 tbs of a garlic salad dressing or Italian depending on taste ( I use Caesar, mom uses Henry’s Sweet and Savory)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Directions
- Mix the cream cheese, beef, onion, and salad dressing together in a bowl until evenly blended. Keeping the mixture in the bowl, scrape it into a semi-ball shape. Cover, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
- Place a large sheet of waxed paper on a flat surface. Sprinkle with walnuts. Roll the cheese ball in the walnuts until completely covered. Transfer the cheese ball to a serving plate, or re-wrap with waxed paper and refrigerate until needed.
Very interesting… cream cheese and chopped beef? This is one of those recipes that you look at and say, “Who would have thought?” But I think it could really work!