Jack-O'-Lantern Cheese Ball

This tasty Halloween-themed, spiced pumpkin purée, pineapple and cheddar cheese ball is shaped like a pumpkin and decorated as a Jack-O'-lantern.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup pumpkin purée
1/4 cup pineapple preserves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 large pretzel rod, broken in half
4-ounces cream cheese, softened
Dark rye bread
Red pepper
Black olive slices
Parsley sprigs
Assorted crackers for accompaniment

Cooking Directions:

1. Beat cheeses, pumpkin, preserves and spices in medium bowl until smooth. Cover refrigerate 2 to 3 hours until cheese is firm enough to shape.
2. Shape mixture into round pumpkin, 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.
3. Serve with assorted crackers.

Makes 8 appetizer servings.