Pomegranate-Goat Cheese Ball

Let the bidding begin!!

Today at 7am EST, Steph’s Bite By Bite online bake sale benefiting Team in Training began! Please check out my Stuffed Oatmeal Raisinet Cookies and bid on them and many other great items HERE.

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Now for something new!

I was so excited when Ryan from POM Wonderful contacted me about sending a case of their 100% pomegranate juice. I had never actually had anything with pomegranate that I can recall, so once it arrived and chilled in the refrigerator I cracked open a bottle and took a sip. (You have to know what something tastes like before you can make anything with it after all.) This may not be news to anyone, but it’s so good!! Immediately ideas starting forming in my head of what to make with the juice. Unexpectedly, the first thing that I came up with is this pomegranate-goat cheese ball – perfectly paired with the homemade wheat thins!

I actually made a syrup from the pomegranate juice first, in order to get the right consistency once added to the goat cheese. Using the juice straight out of the bottle would’ve created more of a dip, which would’ve been tasty too I am sure. But I envisioned it rolled up in sliced almonds. And that vision turned into a tasty spread fit for any of your favorite crackers. I think it may be good on veggies too, but I somehow didn’t have any around to try it out myself.

But my story of this pomegranate creation isn’t over. After I snacked on this for a little while yesterday, I went to the gym for a quick 30 min jog. While stretching afterwards, I noticed a rash on my legs. Upon further examination, the splotches spread all the way up my legs to my hips. Now, I have no known food allergies of any kind but here I am the next day, and the rash is not going away. (Actually it is getting worse – it’s now on the top of my feet, going up my back a little, and intensified on my knees.) I really hope I am not allergic to pomegranate. I just discovered it’s tastiness! But it is the only new thing that mingled with my daily adventures yesterday. Although I did take that sip of it the day before and it did nothing to me, and I find it strange that a food allergy would react on my legs and not my throat/stomach. I may conduct an experiment on myself by drinking more POM once this rash goes away, to see if it returns.

Sad day.

CHEESE BALL

Ingredients:

8 oz goat cheese, softened

1 Tbsp pomegranate molasses/syrup

Honey, to taste

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, blend the goat cheese and pomegranate syrup together. Add honey to taste (I used two drops).Place in refrigerator until firm.
2. On a flat surface place a piece of plastic wrap. Spread out the sliced almonds in a single layer.
3. Once firm, form the goat cheese into a log (or you could do a ball). Roll in the almonds until covered and gently press to ensure they stick. Wrap in the plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy with your favorite crackers.

POMEGRANATE SYRUP/MOLASSES:

Ingredients:

1 cup POM 100% pomegranate juice

2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

Source: Pomegranate-Goat Cheese Ball is a Spiffy Cookie original. Pomegranate Syrup/Molasses adapted slightly from Simply Recipes.