Having a party? Attending a party? Sitting at home in front of the telly or neatly tucked away behind that excellent novel? Whichever way you intend to usher in the new year, this favourite needs to be factored into your plans. It’s so beautiful to look at, so much so that initially you will hesitate to cut into it, but once you do, all inhibitions will melt away, and an insane desire to stuff your face with crackers doused with cheese will supersede better judgement.
This recipe is from a magazine called Ideas which I picked up in South Africa, earlier this month. The recipe is sufficient to fill 15-20 mouths, which is why it makes such an amazing party plate. It also has another advantage- no matter which point of the night you look at the log, it still looks intact and appetising.
Ingredients:
- 230gm Cream Cheese, softened
- 250gm Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 2 tbs sesame seeds
- 75gm chopped dried cranberries
- 75gm chopped pistachio
Method:
- Mix together the cheeses and leave to firm up in the fridge, roughly for 2 hours.
- Toast the sesame seeds till fragrant (not till black), and the pistachios, and leave to cool. Once cool, mix with the cranberries.
- Once the cheese has become firm, shape into a log using parchment paper. Spread out the nut mix in a large plate and roll the log in the mix, to coat evenly.
- Cover in parchment paper, along with any balance mix, and leave to cool in the fridge till ready to serve.
- Serve with crackers.
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Feedback:
- This can be made up to a day or two in advance.
- Because of the sweetness of the cranberries, and the use of the pistachio, this elegant dish can also be served up as a desert course.
- For plated serving, you can slice the log and serve with the traditional cheese board fare, or over a green salad.
