Cheese Pumpkins

[Karen]

[align=center]Cheese Pumpkins
Guests will enjoy clever edible pumpkins, whether served as an appetizer or used as a garnish. What a treat!
Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 30 min
Makes: 8 pumpkins

8 tablespoons smoked Cheddar cold pack cheese food (from 8-oz container), well chilled
2 teaspoons finely chopped peanuts
4 butter-flavored pretzel spindles or sticks, broken in half
16 tiny pieces fresh parsley leaves [/align]

1. Line small serving plate with waxed paper. Roll each level tablespoon cold pack cheese food into a ball; place on waxed paper-lined serving plate. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes for easier handling.

2. With end of toothpick, draw ridges around balls to resemble pumpkins. Dip bottoms of cheese balls in chopped peanuts.

3. Just before serving, insert pretzel halves into cheese balls for pumpkin stems. Decorate with parsley for leaves. Store in refrigerator.

Make the Most of This Recipe With Tips From The Betty Crocker® Kitchens

How-To:
Turn the pumpkin making into a family affair! Have one person roll the cheese into balls and another shape the balls into pumpkins, while someone else can dip the pumpkins in peanuts and insert the pretzel. It's easy to double the recipe, so make as many as you'd like!

Did You Know?
The texture or firmness of cold pack cheese food can vary from brand to brand. Buy two brands, use the firmer one for pumpkins and snack on the softer one while making them!

Nutrition Information:
1 Pumpkin: Calories 60 (Calories from Fat 35); Total Fat 4g (Saturated Fat 2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 270mg; Total Carbohydrate 3g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 2g); Protein 3g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 8%; Iron 0% Exchanges: 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 High-Fat Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 0
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.