Double cheese wheel

24 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1poundsCheese; *
3ouncesCream Cheese; Softened, 1 pk
¼cupMarinated Artichoke Hearts**
¼cupPine Nuts; Toasted, 1 oz
teaspoonFresh Basil Leaves; OR ***
½teaspoonBasil Leaves; Dried.***

Directions

* You should get 1 whole wheel of Chicuahua Or Monterey Jack Cheese ** Artichoke Hearts should be drained and chopped. *** Fresh Basil Leaves should be snipped OR Dried Basil Leaves should be ~------------------------------------------------------ ~----------------- Remove any wax coating or rind from Chihuahua cheese. Hollow out cheese with knife or spoon, leaving a ½-inch thick shell on the sides and bottom; reserve cheese shell. Finely chop enough of the scooped-out cheese to measure 1 cup (reserve any extra for another use). Place 1 cup chopped cheese, the cream cheese, artichoke hearts, 3 T of the pine nuts,and the basil in the workbowl of food processor fitted with the steel blade, cover and process until well mixed. Pack mixture into cheese shell. Sprinkle with remaining 1 T pine nuts; press lightly. Cover and refrigerate until filling is firm, about 3 hours. Cut into thin wedges. Serve with assorted crackers if desired.