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Lady Mahjong
Nibbles

Little Pumpkin Pungs

Cheesy little Boursin pumpkins on crackers, served in threes. About 20 minutes.

3 min read

Six little cheese pumpkins with pretzel stems on crackers, lined up on a dark wooden rack on a pink cloth

It’s mahjong night, ladies, and these little pumpkins come in threes. Three of a kind? That’s a pung! They’re little balls of Boursin rolled in cheddar, scored like pumpkins and set on butter crackers with a pretzel stem and a sprig of rosemary.

You’ll need

Makes about 12.

  • 1 package Boursin, garlic & herb (5.2 oz)
  • 1 cup finely shredded cheddar
  • 12 round butter crackers
  • A few pretzel sticks
  • A sprig of fresh rosemary
  • A toothpick

Make it

  1. Illustration: cutting a small wedge from a wheel of Boursin beside a row of crackers

    Cut a small wedge of Boursin, about 2 teaspoons, and roll it into a ball.

  2. Illustration: rolling a little Boursin ball through a bowl of shredded cheddar

    Roll the ball through the shredded cheddar until it’s covered.

  3. Illustration: pressing a toothpick into a cheddar-covered cheese ball to make pumpkin lines

    Press a toothpick into the sides to make little lines, so it looks like a pumpkin.

  4. Illustration: tucking a rosemary leaf beside the pretzel stems of little cheddar pumpkins on crackers

    Set it on a cracker, snap off a short piece of pretzel for the stem and tuck in one rosemary leaf.

  5. Illustration: two wooden mahjong racks with butter crackers standing upright in the tile slots and the little pumpkins in threes on the flat back shelves

    Repeat with the rest. Stand extra crackers up in the tile slot of a mahjong rack and set the pumpkins in threes on the flat shelf behind them.

Lady M’s tips

  • Finely shredded cheddar sticks best. If yours is thick, chop it a little smaller.
  • Chill the rolled balls for 10 minutes if they get soft, then score the lines.
  • Set them on the crackers just before serving so the crackers stay crisp.
  • No Boursin? Whipped cream cheese mixed with a pinch of garlic and herbs works too.

On my table

Line the crackers up on mahjong racks. It’s the cutest way to serve them, and the little pumpkins sit in neat rows of three.

That’s it, and you’re ready for game night. Bird Bam Cheers! ...and happy mahj-ing!

— Lady M

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