Avocado Cheese Ball

Cheese balls are great party dips because not only are they delicious, they look fun! Today I am sharing a rare breed of cheese balls – avocado. I served this along with the taco bar I talked about yesterday, and it tastes like a creamier version of guacamole due to the use of cream cheese. But it wasn’t just any old guacamole ball because I threw in corn, cotija cheese and chipotle peppers. This cheese ball also made an appearance at my friend’s bachelorette party/weekend in Toronto and everyone was hovering around it until it was all gone. Would definitely be great for the upcoming July 4 holiday as well!

Speaking of bachelorette parties, I actually attended two on back to back weekends which is why I’ve been a bit MIA from social media. The first was in Columbus, OH. We went swimming/diving/water sliding at an Olympic size pool because it was a gorgeous day to be outside and hot enough to find a large bowl of water very appealing (it was like I carried the heat of Memphis up with me), then afterwards had a casual dinner and a fun night out just like the old days in our undergrad years. Yet somehow I failed miserably at getting many photos – so unlike me :-(.

The following weekend was a bit more involved. I hauled myself up even further north to Toronto where we toured a distillery, learned Bollywood dancing, shopped around some markets, flew on a trapeze (video on FB), and finished the weekend off with a nice dinner out and a VIP table at a club downtown. Then I got to drive allll the way back down to Memphis to my attention-deprived cat.

If that wasn’t enough, the week in between those two weekends I started writing the into to my dissertation. Talk about lots of work that needs to be done. After the past week and a half, I think I could sit down in front of this cheese ball and eat just that for dinner. Then again, I may never fit into those bridesmaid dresses if I keep eating like I have this past week!

One year ago: Red, White & Berry Shortcakes

Two years ago: Mojito Fruit Dip

AVOCADO CHEESE BALL

Makes 1 cheese ball

Ingredients:

2 (8 oz.) packages reduced fat cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese

1 lime, juiced

2 large avocados, peeled and diced

1/3 cup corn kernels

2 chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce, minced

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 clove garlic, minced

Salt and pepper

1/3 cup finely chopped cooked turkey bacon

1 Tbsp chili powder

Tortilla chips

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, blend together the cream cheese, cotija cheese and lime juice.
2. Stir in avocado, corn, chipotle chile peppers, cilantro and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Form into a ball with hands (refrigerate first if too soft). Wrap in plastic wrap, place in a bowl to hold it’ shape and refrigerate.
4. When ready to serve, mix chili powder and chopped bacon and place in a shallow dish.
5. Roll cheese ball in mixture and serve with tortilla chips.

Source: Adapted from La Fuji Mama and Nibbles & Feasts.