At home with Dolly

The country star teams up with her sister Rachel to share festive family favorites from their new cookbook

Tree’s a Crowd Cheese Ball

“We love a good cheese ball,” says Dolly. “They look so pretty, you almost don’t want to be the first one to try it!”

In large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, both cheddars, pimentos, Worcestershire and garlic. Using fork, mash ingredients together and stir until well combined. Turn cheese mixture out onto sheet of plastic wrap. Shape mixture

Servings: 10. Active time: 25 min.
Total time: 1 hr., 25 min.

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, at room temp.
1/4 cup (2 stick) butter, at room temp.
1 cup grated yellow cheddar cheese
1 cup grated white cheddar cheese
1 (4 oz.) jar pimentos, drained, patted dry, chopped
1½ Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced Sliced almonds Chopped fresh parsley leaves Pomegranate seeds
3 sprigs rosemary; 3"-long red bell pepper strips; red, yellow or green bell pepper; or cherry tomatoes (optional)
Assorted crackers and pretzels, for serving

In large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, both cheddars, pimentos, Worcestershire and garlic. Using fork, mash ingredients together and stir until well combined. Turn cheese mixture out onto sheet of plastic wrap. Shape mixture into ball; wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hr.

Unwrap cheese ball; turn out onto sheet of parchment paper. Roll and mold cheese ball into shape of Christmas tree. Garnish first with sliced almonds: Starting at top, insert them in spiral shape around tree shape to resemble garland, wrapping around “tree” about 3 times. Using fingers, press in chopped parsley all around tree. Last, press pomegranate seeds into tree in spiral pattern as you did with almonds.