Pretzel Pumpkin Cheese Ball

Okay, ladies, here’s a mahjong night snack that’s almost too cute to eat: a little pumpkin made of pretzels. It’s a ball of Boursin with pretzel flats standing up all around for the ribs and the top of an orange pepper for the stem. Fill in the board around it and you’re done.

You’ll need

Serves 4 to 6 players.

• 1 package Boursin, garlic & herb (5.2 oz)
• 1 bag of pretzel flats (you’ll use about 20)
• 1 orange bell pepper
• For the board: pretzel rods, cherry tomatoes, strawberries and more orange pepper strips

Make it

1. 

   Unwrap the Boursin and roll it into a ball with your hands. Set it in the middle of your board.

2. 

   Press pretzel flats into the cheese, standing up, all the way around. Those are your pumpkin ribs.

3. 

   Slice the top off the bell pepper and set it on top for the stem. Cut the rest of the pepper into strips.

4. 

   Fill in the board with pretzel rods, pepper strips, tomatoes and strawberries.

Lady M’s tips

• Let the Boursin sit out for about 10 minutes first. It rolls more easily and the pretzels push in without cracking.
• No Boursin? Any soft herbed cheese spread or a plain cheese ball works.
• Pretzel flats are sometimes called pretzel crisps or pretzel thins.
• Make the pumpkin up to an hour ahead and keep it chilled, then add the pretzels right before your friends arrive so they stay crunchy.

On my table

Build it on a pumpkin-shaped wooden board so the whole thing looks like a little pumpkin patch. Line pretzel rods along the edge for scooping.

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

— Lady M