Introduction: Cheese Ball Checkers
This is 'cheese ball' in two ways: It's NERDY, of course, and it has the cheesy deliciousness of cheese ball! But either way it's super fun to play and eat!!
I have recently started teaching my son how to play checkers on my computer. Since I don't have an actual game board I thought I would make one that we could eat as a fun and tasty snack! I figured it would definitely be a memorable experience and he might remember the rules of the game better this way. He's five....and learning quickly but loved, loved, loved being able to eat the 'checkers' after he jumped mine.
Of course the rest of the family jumped in after a few moves to munch the 'checkers' and the game board too! It would be a fun appetizer for a party since one can't really disappoint with cheese ball!
You will need the following to make cheese ball checkers yourself:
- cheese ball - recipe follows
- olives - green and black (kalamata)
- triskets or other square crackers
- pumpernickel bread
- toothpicks
- large surface for the playing board
Step 1: Cheese Ball Recipe
Cheese Ball
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. sour cream
1/4 medium onion, finely chopped
1/4 red bell pepper, finely chopped
4-6 thin slices hard salami, diced
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c. finely chopped walnuts
1/2 c. finely chopped chives
-16 green olives and 16 black olives - you will only need 12 of each for the 'checkers' but you will need a few extra in case you get 'kinged'. Then you can just add an extra olive to the top of the toothpick!
-toothpicks
In a medium mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, onion, bell pepper, salami and cheddar until ingredients are well incorporated. Refrigerate 20 minutes.
Once mixture is cold (and slightly firmer) press the mixture onto a piece of waxed paper and form into a rectangle keeping the thickness the same throughout. Cut into 24 equal sized pieces and roll into balls.
Roll 12 of the balls in chopped walnuts and top with a green olive securing with a toothpick.
Roll the other 12 balls in chopped chives and top with a black olive securing with a toothpick.
Refrigerate until it's assembly time.
Step 2: Cut Pumpernickel Bread
You don't have to use Trisket crackers and pumpernickel bread (I bought the pre-sliced cocktail bread) for the board but if you don't try and get items of contrasting colors and something that will taste great with cheese ball.
The bread slices were larger than the crackers so I used a cracker as a pattern and cut the bread slices to be the same size.
Since a checker board is 8 squares by 8 squares you will need 32 crackers and 32 pieces of bread.
Step 3: Assemble Board
I used a large cutting board to assemble my checker board to make it easy to move but any sort of platter or board should work fine.
Start with the first row and place every other one, bread, cracker, bread, cracker, etc. The next row would then start with cracker, bread, cracker, bread, etc. Making the classic checker board pattern. Continue until you have an 8 by 8 square.
Retrieve cheese ball bites from the fridge and place only on the first three rows of each side of the board and only on either the crackers or the bread to set up the game. You decide.
Youngest player goes first, of course, and so begins the game!
If you don't know the rules of the game of checkers you can google it to quickly learn. I assume most people know how to play the game or maybe I am just getting old!! :)
Again, if you get 'kinged' add an extra olive like in picture #5.
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29 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
Oh my gosh, this is such a fabulous idea!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thanks, and tasty too. Great for parties!
8 years ago on Introduction
Well done on your 1st place! Now for some Chess treats the next time ...;-)
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thank you. I will post a chess set if I can come up with an edible one. I have been thinking about it since my son has figured out checkers. He needs to move on to the next challenge. Let me know if you make one first!
8 years ago on Introduction
Congratulations and good luck! :-) Loved your 'instructable' from the very start of this contest!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thanks and congrats to you too!
8 years ago on Introduction
This is an awesome idea! I love it.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thanks!
8 years ago on Introduction
I love it! So cute and looks tasty too. Will make it for my grandchildren..ages 6 and 3--they will love it too. And teach them how to play checkers to boot!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
They will surely love it as my boys did. Have fun!
8 years ago on Introduction
I wonder how hard it would be to make a more complex game... Such as Monopoly? also, you could make chess using this:
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Monopoly would be hard. Chinese checkers would be tempting though. I love the ice chess! You should do that for the water challenge!!
8 years ago on Introduction
Now this is how you make checkers SO FUN! And so pretty that I would feel like I was eating art! What a clever idea. :)
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thank you! Do you remember in Overboard when Goldie Hawn loses her memory and is so mad she tells that guy to eat his checkers? I kept hearing that line when I was making this!!
8 years ago on Introduction
Clever idea!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thanks!
8 years ago on Introduction
That is SO COOL I might make it some time.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thanks! You should definitely try it. It's really easy!
8 years ago on Introduction
Now when your pieces get kill or whatever YOU CAN EAT THEM!! yay for food
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Yes! That's the fun of it!!