goat cheese & date ball

All you need:

1 (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, room temperature

1 (10.5 oz.) log plain goat cheese, room temperature

1 tablespoon milk

6 pitted medjool dates, finely chopped (a food processor works well for this)

1 small shallot, finely chopped

Zest of 1 lemon

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

½ cup finely chopped toasted walnuts

Buttery crackers, for serving

All you do:

1. Place cream cheese, goat cheese and milk in a stand mixer and beat until smooth, about 1 minute.

2. Add chopped dates, shallot, lemon zest, salt and pepper and beat again to combine.

3. Transfer the cheese mixture to a large sheet of plastic wrap and form into a ball. Wrap tightly and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

4. Place thyme and chopped walnuts in a large bowl and stir to combine. Unwrap the cheese ball from the plastic wrap and roll in the nut mixture.

5. Transfer the cheese ball to a serving platter. Serve immediately or keep cold until ready to serve. Serves 10.

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By Jen Plaggemars, private chef, registered dietitian and owner of Chef Jen LLC