Ingredients:
16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup chopped green onions
2 medium size jalapenos, deseeded. Cut one of the jalapenos into medallion rings for the garnish. Remaining jalapeno chopped.
6 medium size slices of fully cooked crispy bacon, chopped
Directions:
1. Using the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, add cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. Mix on medium speed until combined.
2. Add 1 3/4 cups of cheddar cheese (set aside 1/4 cup for later), green onions (set aside 1 tablespoon for later), chopped jalapeno (set aside medallion rings for later), chopped bacon (set aside 1 slice of chopped bacon for later). Mix on low speed until combined.
3. Remove the cheese mixture from the bowl, shape into a ball and place it on a cutting board or large plate. Scrap the paddle attachment and the bowl of any extra cheese mixture and add it to the cheese ball.
4. Sprinkle the extra 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon green onion, medallion jalapeno rings and the chopped bacon over the top and sides of the cheese ball. Press down on the ingredients to help hold in place as needed. No worries if a few ingredients fall off onto the cutting board or plate, it just adds to the look and presentation for serving.
5. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, Fritos, bagel chips or toasted sliced French or sourdough bread.
Notes: You can make this the night before serving. Wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap, place the garnish ingredients in a plastic Ziploc bag and refrigerate. When ready, remove cheese ball from refrigerator 20 minutes prior to serving to let it soften up. Then remove cheese ball from plastic wrap to a cutting board or plate and add the garnish ingredients.
Leftovers ideas: Serve over the top of a baked potato. On top of hash browns for breakfast. On top of French or waffle fries. Spread for a regular or grilled cheese sandwich. Great on a toasted bagel to spice it up a notch.