Jack-O-Lantern Cheese Ball

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 oz package cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup solid pack pumpkin
• ½ cup pineapple preserves
• ¼ tsp ground allspice
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 pretzel rod, broken in half
• decorations: dark rye bread, red pepper, black olive slices, parsley sprigs
• assorted crackers

Directions

1. Beat cheeses, pumpkin, preserves and spices in a medium bowl until smooth.
2. Cover; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or until cheese is firm enough to shape.
3. Shape mixture into a round pumpkin; place on serving plate.
4. Using knife, score vertical lines down pumpkin.
5. Place pretzel rod in top for stem.
6. Cut 2 small triangles for the eyes.
7. Small triangle of red pepper for nose.
8. Slice olives slices in half for the mouth.
9. Cover loosely; refrigerate until serving time.
10. Serve with crackers.