If you want to spread cheer or are trying to come up with a simple, homemade holiday gift, try feta cheese balls. This zesty appetizer is a welcome addition to any holiday gathering and can be whipped up in a snap in your food processor.

The cheese balls are best when refrigerated overnight. Wrap up a cheese ball and a sleeve of crackers for a delicious holiday hostess gift, or as a treat for neighbors and friends.

Feta Cheese Balls

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1/2 cup coarsely chopped, oil-packed, drained, sundried tomatoes

2 large cloves garlic, sliced

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

8 ounces crumbled feta cheese

2 teaspoons Greek seasoning (Cavander's Greek seasoning used for testing purposes)

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste

1 cup toasted pine nuts

Crostini or crackers

Combine the onions, tomatoes and garlic in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until tomatoes are finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients except pine nuts. Pulse until smooth. Spread into a bowl and chill for 1 hour. Shape the mixture into 2 balls and roll in the toasted pine nuts. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Allow to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Makes 2 small cheese balls.

Coming next week: Ham rolls, deli ham rolled around a spinach and corn bread stuffing and topped with creamy cheese sauce, can be served at brunch, lunch or dinner.

Reach Karin Calloway in care of The Augusta Chronicle Newsroom, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903, or at karin.calloway@comcast.net.