An easy recipe for the retro 1970 s party favourite a cheese log (sometimes a cheese ball). Just a few ingredients make a great veggie centerpiece to share with friends. Vegetarian or vegan.

SAVOURY CHEESE LOG WITH PARSLEY & PISTACHIOS

Do you remember these cheese logs from the 70s or perhaps you remember them as a cheese ball? 

If you're too young to remember them, read on.

1970s FASHION

The 70s were a time of living rooms full of wood and lots of earthy tones.

Think mustard and brown and purple, with heavy fabrics and big swirly patterns. 

We were wearing the same kind of colours too, but adding in lots of denim. 

We wore maxi dresses, mini skirts and mini dresses, flared jeans, cords, polo neck jumpers and shirts with big collars. 

Yes it was rather crazy.

1970s TRAVEL

It was a time when families started to fly abroad to sun themselves in places like Benidorm or take a ferry to France for a spot of oh la la. 

Many families still holidayed at home and British seaside resorts were still popular places to visit with Blackpool topping the charts. 

Caravan holidays were popular too and every weekend you could play count the caravans as you joined the queues of weekend traffic.

1970s PARTIES

Evening soirees were popular in the home too (just a posh name for getting dressed up and having your mates 'round). 

Sometimes these parties were for a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary or to celebrate Hogmanay, but often they were thrown just because it was the weekend.

I remember sitting on the stairs trying to get a look at all the guests at my parent's parties. 

I should have been tucked up in bed under my sad Pierrot (French clown) quilt cover fast asleep, but who can sleep when there's music, food and dancing going on downstairs?

1970s PARTY FOOD

Canapes were all the rage. 

Tables would be groaning under plates laden with sausage rolls, devilled eggs, vol au vents and half-grapefruit hedgehogs. 

The grapefruit would be pronged with cocktails sticks, each stacked with cubes of cheese, pineapple and pickled onions and of course there would be a cheese log. 

Served with oatcakes or biscuits to spread it on generously or if you were lucky there would be some crispy melba toast.

Dessert was invariably a luxurious black forest gateau that was whipped out of the freezer to defrost a couple of hours before the party.

SAVOURY CHEESE LOG

My savoury cheese log is made with cream cheese flavoured with spices and parmesan, then rolled in chopped parsley and pistachios.

It can be made with veggie or vegan cream cheese and parmesan (as you know I favour Violife for a dairy-free option). 

The flavour and texture of a vegan cheese log is pretty much the same as the veggie cheese log.

I also used salted and roasted pistachios for a bit of crunch, which I shelled and chopped. 

The cheese isn't salty, so the little salty hit from the nuts is perfect.

I couldn't believe how good the cheese tasted when gently spiced and rolled in herbs and nuts. I'll definitely be making this again, especially when have friends over for dinner.

STORING SAVOURY CHEESE LOG

The cheese log is best stored overnight in the fridge before it is served up.

It is shaped into a log shape in a double layer of clingfilm.  Covered, shaped and the ends twisted.

It's actually really easy to do and doesn't need to be perfect.

It can be kept in the fridge for 4-5 days.

If you don't think you'll use it all, just cut down the quantities.

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cheese ball, cheese log, party food, retro party food, 1970s recipe, 70s recipe, seventies recipe, cheese, party nibbles, party recipe

appetiser, appetizer, starter, snack, party

British

Yield: 12 large slicesAuthor: Jacqueline Meldrum

Savoury Cheese Log with Parsley & Pistachios

A retro canape from the 1970s. The cheese log could regularly be seen on buffet tables alongside sausage rolls, devilled eggs and vol au vents. It's easy to make but needs to chill in the fridge overnight before it's coated in herbs and nuts. This recipe can be veggie, vegan or dairy-free. Serve with oatcakes or crusty bread.

prep time: 20 minscook time: total time: 20 mins

ingredients

• 500g cream cheese (dairy or dairy
  free)
• 4-5 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan (veggie or vegan)
• 3 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp celery powder
• a generous pinch of smoked paprika
• a good grinding of black pepper
• a generous handful of flat leaf parsley
• 50g shelled roasted and salted pistachios

instructions

1. In a bowl mix together the cream cheese with the Parmesan, onion
   powder, celery powder and paprika, then season with lots of black pepper.
2. Place a double sheet of clingfilm on your countertop and scoop the cream cheese onto it in a log shape. cover the log in cling film and twist the ends, then gently shape the log.
3. Pop the log on a plate or cutting board and chill in the fridge overnight.
4. Chop the parsley and nuts and mix together, then sprinkle them across a cutting board. Carefully remove the cheese log from the clingfilm and roll it in the herb and nut mixture. Serve or chill until needed.
5. Enjoy!

NOTES:

Chill in the fridge overnight or for a few hours ahead of serving.

Calories and nutrition are per slice with 12 large slices. 16 slices bring it down to 149 calories per slice.

calories
199

fat (grams)
18.3

sat. fat (grams)
10.7

carbs (grams)
3

protein (grams)
70.6

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