A Different Fiesta Cheese Ball

A coworker brought this to a potluck and I had to have the recipe. I looked at other similar items on Zaar but this one's unique! Give it a try!

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 20
• Yields: 1 cheeseball

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups  chopped pecans
• 1 (1 ounce) envelope  taco seasoning, divided
• 16  ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1  tablespoon Tabasco jalapeno sauce
• 1  tablespoon  seeded and diced  jalapeno pepper
• 1  tablespoon  diced red onion
• 1  cup  seeded and diced red bell pepper
• 8  ounces  shredded colby-monterey jack cheese

Directions

1. Preheat over to 300 degrees F.
2. Place pecans on a small baking sheet and toast in oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and toss with 2 tablespoons taco seasoning; set aside.
3. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, remaining taco seasoning and Tabasco sauce until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add jalapeno, onion, bell pepper and Colby-Jack cheese. Stir to combine. Using a rubber spatula, shape cheese into a large ball.
4. Place a large sheet of plastic wrap on counter top, sprinkle reserved seasoned nuts over plastic. Roll cheese ball in nuts, coating entire outside of ball.
5. Bring sides of plastic wrap up around ball to seal. Wrap in additional layer of plastic wrap to seal. Place cheese ball on a plate and refrigerate several hours until firm.
6. Serve with crackers.