Mini Cheeseball Pumpkins with Caramelized Garlic

Ingredients and Weight:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 24 pretzel sticks
• 12 small chives
• 1 cup caramelized garlic (see recipe below)

Caramelized Garlic:

• 1 head of garlic, cloves separated
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation Time:

• 30 minutes

Cooking Time:

• 10 minutes

Difficulty Level:

• 2/5

Preparation Method Steps:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, walnuts, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
2. Shape the mixture into 8 small balls.
3. Insert a pretzel stick into the top of each ball to resemble a pumpkin stem.
4. Trim the chives and insert 6 chives into each ball to resemble pumpkin ribs.
5. Place the pumpkins on a serving platter.
6. For the caramelized garlic, peel and separate the garlic cloves.
7. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant and golden brown, about 5 minutes.
8. Stir in the honey, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the garlic is caramelized and sticky.
9. Spoon some caramelized garlic on top of each pumpkin.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 150 per pumpkin
• Fat: 9g
• Carbohydrates: 12g
• Protein: 8g

Dish Characteristics:

• Creamy and flavorful cheeseballs
• Festive and eye-catching pumpkin design
• Sweet and savory caramelized garlic topping

User Comments:

• "These cheeseball pumpkins were a hit at our Halloween party! They were so cute and delicious." - Sarah
• "The caramelized garlic added a wonderful depth of flavor to the cheeseballs. I would definitely make these again." - John
• "These pumpkins were the perfect appetizer for our Thanksgiving dinner. They were easy to make and everyone loved them." - Mary

Special Precautions and Tips:

• To make the caramelized garlic ahead of time, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat before using.
• If you don't have pretzel sticks, you can use celery sticks or carrot sticks for the stems.
• To make the cheeseballs smoother, use a food processor to mix the ingredients.