Dec 18, 2012

Olives smell like...

The Husband passed through the kitchen while I was chopping green olives.  Making something à la muffuletta, no doubt.

I didn't turn around.  Didn't stop chopping when I said:

"Olives smell like New Year's Eve."

He didn't say a word.  Didn't stop walking.

At my back I felt the unspoken why do you have to be so dang weird?

But you, my foodie friends, know that certain foods make you think of and remember certain things.



Every year before heading to a family New Year's Eve party, we stopped next door to visit our elderly neighbors. Sometimes Ms. Hilda would set out a few snacks.  Like pickled cocktail onions that went untouched.  And olives.  Which I'd stuff myself stupid with while waiting for the adults to finish jabbering so I could move on to more important things. Like meeting up with my Texan cousins to shoot garage pool and blow up crap with fireworks.


By this logic...and I never said I had any, shrimp mold should smell like New Year's Eve too since it was often part of the spread.  But I fixate on the olives because as a kid I wouldn't touch the shrimp mold. The name gave me pause.

I've matured.
(Somewhat.)
Hearing "shrimp mold" no longer makes me think of fuzzy green shellfish.

But I'll save that for another time. The good shrimp mold.  Not the green fuzzy kind. I'm sure you can figure out how to make your own moldy shrimp.

In the meantime, make these Hot Olive Cheese Puffs so you can get a whiff of New Year's Eve.


They're addictive.  Cheesy.  Salty.  Good thing they're so cute because they're kind of a pain in the butt to make.  A bit tedious to form the dough around the olives.  They freeze well, though.  Make a double or triple (they go fast) batch when you have time to kill and keep them in the freezer for when company drops by.


This is an old school recipe I found in my cookbook From Woodstoves to Microwaves...Cooking with Entergy.

This post was featured @  The Chicken Chick's Clever Chicks Blog Hop
The Chicken Chick

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Hot Olive Cheese Puffs
slightly adapted from From Woodstoves to Microwaves...Cooking with Entergy

1 cup grated sharp cheddar
3 tbsp softened butter
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
pinch cayenne (optional)
about 26 small stuffed olives, well drained and patted dry

With an electric mixer, cream the cheese and butter.  Stir in the sifted dry ingredients.  Mix well.  Wrap 1 tsp dough around each olive, completely covering.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400 F for 10-15 minutes, or until golden.  Serve warm.

If freezing: place olives on a cookie sheet and place the pan in the freezer.  Once frozen, remove from the cookie sheet and place in a freezer bag.  Baking from frozen  Remove the desired amount and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 F for 15-20 minutes, or until golden.  Serve warm.


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12 comments:

  1. Oh I love olives and I have made similiar olive stuffed thingys too, it's the tedious part that got to me. But now those muffaletta pinwheels...gotta try those now! They sound good!

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  2. Love olive cheese balls. My favorite person in the whole world taught me about these. He uses Kraft Old English Cheese. We always spend New Years together, we heat a dozen at a time and usually have to heat more. I can't wait to try your recipe.

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  3. P.S. Try wrapping jalapeno stuffed olives for a spicy treat. I tried other varieties of stuffed olives too. Some good, some not.

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  4. These look gooood! I've never had them, but think I need to find some 'spare time' to whip up a batch for next Monday. Olives may very well smell like Christmas in New England. ;)

    Thanks for linking up with the Clever Chicks!
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick

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  5. I don't know that I have any food memory associated with almonds but I do love em. These puffs sound like the perfect bites!

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  6. I can't wait to try your Puffs, yummy! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  7. I used to put an olive on every finger tip and relish eating each one. My mom would always yell at me that I wasn't being polite.
    Love this idea of putting them in a cheese ball... thanks for sharing these on foodie friday and Merry christmas.

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  8. I will be featuring you on this weeks Clever Chicks Blog Hop! Feel free to grab my Featured Button.

    Merry Christmas!
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  9. My Dad makes a version of these. So good. Thanks for sharing on Thursdays Treasures

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  10. Oh my goodness your Hot Olive Cheese Puffs sound so good! I adore olives and this is such a wonderful way to serve them. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe with the Hearth and Soul hop.

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  11. These sound great, Michelle! I can imagine how tedious it would be to make them , but I bet they are worth it ;) Thank you for sharing at All my Bloggy Friends. Wishing you a Happy New Year!

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  12. I do have very clear food smells attached to memories and events. Great round up! Thanks for sharing it with the Gallery of Favorites.

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Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments.