As you all know by now, I am totally about the simple (but kudos to those of you who have done olives in multiple ways this week). And when I saw olives, I thought about a really simple small bite that one of our faculty members, Sr. Harriett, brought to an office potluck last holiday season. These were so tasty, a combination of rich and salty, that I asked her for the recipe. I have to admit I was not totally surprised when she brought me a copy of a page from the Betty Crocker Cookbook, yes that very one with the red cover and binder rings. When I looked in my own copy, circa my 1975 wedding, there it was, in a section called "Nibbles". And indeed that is what these are, nibbles, think martinis, think rumaki, think 1962.
Olive Cheese Balls
Olive Cheese Balls
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour (not self-rising)
½ cup butter or margarine, melted
About 36 pimiento-stuffed small olives drained
- can use larger olives, but plan on fewer balls
Mix cheese and flour. Add butter and mix thoroughly (if dough seems dry, work with hands). Mold 1 teaspoon dough around each olive; shape into ball. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Cover; chill at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 15 – 20 minutes.
from Sr. Harriett SSND, and the Betty Crocker Cookbook, circa ‘60’s.
Mixing the dough
Shaping dough around olive
Out of the oven
It was not part of my original plan, but since last night was Halloween, and many of my neighbors were taking advantage of the balmy evening to sit outside and pass out candy (and have a glass or two or wine, another LaFrance Avenue tradition), I ending up passing out some of these treats to them - the olive cheese balls were a big hit.
Thanks, Jerry, for choosing the olive, and for the history lesson, too. Your olive spread looked amazing. Next up is the mushroom, and since we are going away for the weekend, at the moment I have no mushroom plan, but hey, it's only Sunday.
Comments (5)
These olive cheese balls bring back huge memories. They were(are) served at almost every party in my southern state.
I could travel for years if I had dollars for everyone I have made.
I checked my mom's pre-1962 Betty Crocker Cookbook and they were not in that one. My Betty Crocker had them. We were married in 1964.
Thanks for the great blog.
mstoddard
Posted by mstoddard | November 1, 2009 5:13 PM
Posted on November 1, 2009 17:13
I haven't had these in years!
Posted by Baked Alaska | November 1, 2009 5:44 PM
Posted on November 1, 2009 17:44
I remember those! And I loved them then too!
Thanks, Marcia.
Posted by nancyhol | November 1, 2009 6:35 PM
Posted on November 1, 2009 18:35
Thanks for this one Marcia. Rumakis and that cookbook remind me of parties my mom would give. I'll make this in her honor.
Posted by Barb Cabot | November 3, 2009 10:58 PM
Posted on November 3, 2009 22:58
These are great - I have a similar recipe that I whip up every Christmas and it is always a great hit. Sometimes the simple things are by far the BEST things!
Posted by Jerry | November 6, 2009 3:35 AM
Posted on November 6, 2009 03:35