Jack-O'-Lantern Cheese Ball

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree

• 1/4 cup pineapple preserves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 large pretzel rod, broken in half

• 4 ounces softened cream cheese

• dark rye bread

• red pepper

• sliced black olive

• parsley sprigs

• assorted crackers

Method

Beat cheeses, pumpkin, preserves and spices in medium bowl until smooth. Cover and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours until cheese is firm enough to shape. Shape mixture into round pumpkin shape, place on serving plate. Using a knife, score vertical lines down pumpkin. Place pretzel rod in top for stem. Cut bread into triangles for eyes, cut red pepper into triangle for nose and cut olives in half to make the mouth. Surround with parsley. Serve with assorted crackers.

Yield: 8 to 10

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