Cheeseball question

SWBs Wifey

Ok... I've never made one before... because I don't like cheese.  blech.  I'm using Paula Deen's recipe.  Anyway... our party is fairly unscheduled... we said 2PM-whenever.  So I have no idea when people will or won't show up. 

We'll probably light the grill at 5 or so for the chicken and hot dogs, and I won't put out the potato salad and fruit salad until then. 

Would you just make the one big cheeseball and let it sit out the whole time?  Or should I make the full recipe, but make it into two smaller balls and set them out one at a time, to prevent spoilage?  The rotel dip is easy since I'll keep it in the crock pot, it'll be fine all day, just turn it off regularly to keep it from burning.

sophabelle

i'm not sure what kind of cheese you're using, but i think i'd probably make the 2 smaller balls instead of one big one just in case.. 

i think generally they'd be fine out at room temp for 1 hour, maybe 2... but i think longer than that is kinda pushing it... at least in my opinion lol.  

SWBs Wifey

cream cheese, blue cheese and sharp white cheddar... and bacon, pimientos, pecans and onion... and probably some other stuf too, but I can't recall... That'll probably be the last thing I do today.

CeltiCutie

I have never made one myself, but personally I would do the 2 just because I am so funny about stuff sitting out... I'd rather have another to place out than risk it all going to waste.

sophabelle

bc of the cream cheese, definitely no more than 2 hours.  sounds yummy though!!