Bacon Spinach Cheese Ball

BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok just had to get that out.

Today I'm participating in the Surprise Recipe Swap, and I was assigned to Heather's blog, Sugar Dish Me. 

I really had a hard time choosing a recipe. I narrowed it down to like 10 recipes and seriously wanted to make them all! So I decided to go with a recipe that I already had one of the ingredients for.... bacon.

I love the idea of her adorable Bite-Size Bacon Spinach Cheese Balls for little appetizers to serve at a party. So cute! I decided to just make one big cheese ball though out of laziness. And I was a little hesitant about the nuts so I left those out. A part of me was wondering how pine nuts would taste instead of pecans or walnuts, but I didn't do it. Bacon, spinach, cheese, and onions were stellar enough components.

Bacon Spinach Cheese Ball
slightly adapted from Sugar Dish Me

• 6 slices bacon
• 6 ounces fresh spinach
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup onion, finely minced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper     

In a large skillet cook the bacon until crisp. Set aside to cool and drain on paper towels. Chop when cool.

Drain all but 1 tablespoon bacon grease from the skillet. Add the spinach and cook over medium heat until wilted and cooked through. Sprinkle the spinach with salt and set aside on a cutting board to cool. Chop finely when cooled.

Add the onion to the skillet and cook until it's translucent and a tiny bit golden at the edges. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Place the cream cheese in a large bowl. Add cheese, onions, garlic, half of the chopped bacon, chopped spinach, and cayenne pepper and stir well.

Roll the cream cheese mixture into a large ball and then roll in the remaining chopped bacon. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.

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This was so good, we ate half of it in one sitting. Maybe next time I'll be brave and try it with some nuts!

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Peace, and bacon grease!