Yes, the title of this post says 2019. That’s because I never wrote about last year’s holiday party and I’m sure as hell not having one this year.
The Holly Ball takes an entire year to plan because I take note of any and all ball recipes I come across throughout the year and jot them down for the future (I also do this for Wiener Wednesdays).
Last year’s notes:
Maybe some of those will pop up at an upcoming Holly Ball!
In addition to the classic Spinach Balls and Italian Meatballs, I always like to try a few new recipes, which I will be presenting over the next few days.
First up, Rio-Vista Balls from Good Housekeeping’s Appetizer Book (1958).
IRRESISTABLE CANAPES, HORS D’OEURVES AND NIBBLERS, OH MY!
Why I picked this recipe:
Don’t know why a mix of bacon and egg and cheese would inspire the name Rio-Vista Balls, but I was not there in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen when they invented these things.
The Rio-Vista Balls refused to keep their shape. Bits of it would fall off as soon as it was moved.
If you look at the recipe there really isn’t any sort of binder. Was the mayo supposed to hold it together? Was the cheese intended to form a crust? (I just looked at it now and noticed that it called for “grated” cheese. Is that different from what I used? Who grates cheddar or American?)
I tried to freeze the Rio-Vista balls for a hot second to harden them, but they would inevitably lose their shape again. It just made them extra-cold.
How did they taste? Like a Bacon Egg & Cheese McMuffin.
That’s not a bad thing!
Regardless, I’m putting the Rio-Vista Balls in the FAIL column.
Full disclosure: I made this dish literally one year ago. No lie. 3/11/24 is scribbled…
If you are familiar with DiS1972, you know that this little cookbook is one of…
It's National Chocolate Mint Day! At least, according to one of the many "National Day"…
How cute is the cover of this early 1960s cocktail booklet? It never really occurred…
I don't know what inspired this flash of productivity, but I made this dinner in…
Today is National Corn Chip Day, so here is a tasty dish that's perfect to…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
British people grate cheddar! (but we don't generally make this kind of thing)
This festival of balls sounds delightful; everyone must be terribly bummed missing out this year. Only term more retro than ‘nibblers’ can recall is ‘nosh!’
Yeah, that's what I was thinking when I read this. What's keeping it from falling apart? Maybe stir it all together & call it Rio-Vista spread instead. If it tastes like an Egg McMuffin, I'm there!