Goose’s Goodies: Thanksgiving Cheeseball

This festive cheesy turkey is the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer. To create it, try this classic cheese ball, or use your favorite recipe!

1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 green onion, chopped ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon dried parsley ¼ teaspoon dried oregano Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste About 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped 2 candy eyes or craft googly eyes 1 Slim Jim 1 candy corn 1 Whopper candy A few teaspoons of melted chocolate melts to adhere the eyes and "beak" Pretzel sticks

In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese and cheddar cheese until smooth. Add in the green onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, parsley, oregano, and pepper and mix completely.

Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl and gather the mixture into one lump. Lightly grease your hands, or use a piece of plastic wrap, and form the mixture into a round ball. Cover and place in the fridge to chill for 20 to 30 minutes.

Place chopped pecans on a plate, and roll the cheese ball into the nuts on all sides, pressing lightly. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.

Cover the end of a Slim Jim stick with melted chocolate, and hold Whooper onto the end until chocolate cools and Whooper sticks.

Add melted chocolate to the Whopper for eyes and nose. Attach the two eyes and candy corn. Place the Slim Jim face in the fridge to cool completely.

Stick the Slim Jim face and pretzel “feathers” into the top of the cheese ball just before serving.

Laurie Silva Collins, known affectionately as Goose by her grandkids, is a nurse, mother and grandmother who is happiest when she’s in the kitchen, cooking and baking for those she loves. She learned to cook from her parents, and has perfected her recipes over the years while raising three daughters… and spoiling seven grandchildren.