Name: Date & Blue Cheese Ball
Yield: Makes about 1 1/2 cups (360 ml)
Ingredients: 8 oz/225 g of low-fat cream cheese (bar style), at room temperature; 1 cup/115 g crumbled blue cheese, at room temperature; 1 tbsp reduced-fat buttermilk; 3 tbsp minced Medjool dates (5 to 6 pitted dates); 1 tbsp minced shallots; 1 tsp grated lemon zest; 1/4 tsp kosher or sea salt; 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper; 2 tbsp minced fresh flat-leaf parsley; 2 1/2 tbsp finely chopped toasted walnuts; Crostini, Baked Pita Chips, Baked Bagel Chips, Marbled Rye Toasts, celery and carrot sticks

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Date & Blue Cheese BallSheri Giblin

Cheese balls were all the rage in the 1970s, an easy, tasty, fab party food for any occasion. What's old is now retro-chic—this lightened-up cheese ball seduces with the sweetness of dates, the savory bite of blue cheese, a hint of shallot, and a teasing whiff of lemon zest.

Dip Do-Ahead:

The cheese ball can be prepared up to 2 days in advance. Cover and refrigerate.

Recipe notes

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