Date, Walnut, and Blue Cheese Ball

Ingredients

• 0.3 teaspoon pepper black
• 4 ounces cheese blue crumbled
• 5 ounces cream cheese fat-free softened
• 0.3 cup flat-leaf parsley fresh minced
• 0.3 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 0.5 teaspoon lemon rind grated
• 3 tablespoons medjool dates minced pitted (2 to 3 dates)
• 1 tablespoon nonfat buttermilk 
• 1 tablespoon shallots minced
• 2.5 tablespoons walnuts toasted finely chopped

Equipment

• bowl
• blender
• plastic wrap
• spatula

Directions

1. Place first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed 2 minutes or until smooth and creamy.
2. Add dates, shallots, lemon rind, salt, and pepper; beat at medium speed until well blended, scraping sides of bowl as necessary.
3. Spoon cheese mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Form into a ball, using a rubber spatula. Wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap; chill overnight.
4. Combine parsley and walnuts in a shallow dish. Unwrap cheese ball; gently roll in nut mixture, coating well.
5. Place on a serving plate.
6. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.