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Savoury Cheese Log with Parsley & Pistachios

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.

1970s Cheese Log


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.

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.

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 caravan with girl and dog

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 car picnic

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?


Savoury Cheese Log with Parsley & Pistachios

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.



Retro cheese log served with oatcakes, grapes & olives


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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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.



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 slices

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
Created using The Recipes Generator












26 comments

  1. Wow that is a fun post - have not thought about pierrot the clown for some time - I might have had a poster. My mum was a master of vol au vents. Cute pics of you in the 70s. I like the sound of that cheese log too. Want it for my Christmas in July starter!

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    Replies
    1. Haha I forgot about your Christmas in July. Perfect, but maybe as the cheese course at the end?

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  2. Well, I love the 70s of course, and I'm just about to have a trip with PandO so this was fun! Will need to look out my dungarees!

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    Replies
    1. I know this should really have been on your blog. I am sure Fanny would approve. Have a good trip! I want photos of you in those dungarees mind!

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  3. I don't think I've ever had a cheese log. It looks really tasty though; especially the crunchy pistachios with the creamy cheese, yum!

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    Replies
    1. You are probably too young lol!

      It was really good.

      Delete
  4. Love this cheese log and it's updated reincarnation! I have some brilliant memories and even a few photos of 1970s pastries. my family started traveling to France in 1971 and the ferry was part of the adventure. The 70s was totally my era as I went to High School at the start and graduated at the end of the decade. Mum did all the canapés and I oftren helped put cheese and pineapple on sticks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's all coming back to us. We never had pasties, but we did have the canapes and the cheese and pineapple on sticks. It was a fun more carefree time.

      Delete
  5. I love a cheese log and I always remember my parents putting one out at parties and that was in the 80s. I love the idea of pistachios with the cheese.

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    Replies
    1. I am glad people are remembering it. It's a great party piece and yes the pistachios are wonderful with the flavoured cheese.

      Delete
  6. Ah, 70s were before my time but have seen some cookbooks with dodgy gelatinous recipes. The cheese log looks good though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OK, OK, don't rub it in and yes I know the ones you mean. Luckily I never had those inflicted on me and thanks yes it is good.

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  7. I'm a sucker for cheese, it's a weakness in our house. The idea of pistachios with cheese is genius.

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    Replies
    1. Oh it is so good and adding the flavours to the cheese is a revelation!

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  8. This sounds so delicious - what a lovely idea to add pistachios! I enjoyed reading all your stories about the 70s too! Thanks for sharing xx

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  9. This got me giggling. Somewhere in California, I was the wee girl with the orange and brown plaid overalls (dungarees?) and the pimento cheese balls! I haven't thought of cheese balls/logs in eons but Mom's were, indeed, vegan, made of raw, soaked, ground cashews and pimentos with bits of roasted and smoked nuts on the outside. They were so good; they never lasted around the house, and now I'm going to have to see if I can nag her into making it for me again.

    (Get the recipe and make it myself, you say? What, and deprive her???) Yeah, my mother was a cool vegan before vegan was a Thing. ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your mum was obviously super cool Tanita. I wish you still had your food blog to share recipes like that. I always enjoyed reading it.

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  10. I think the 80s must have been an extension of the 70s, as far as food goes - I was a child of the 80s and remember some of these things very fondly! My Mum and Gran were a big fan of cheese balls/logs, usually with dried fruit in the mix. Great nostalgia :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes you are pretty much right there, they did merge into one another. Dried fruit is certainly something to think about and that was probably the inspiration for the cheese you can buy now with apricots or ginger in it.

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  11. Oh my gosh, this post brought back so many memories. I had the Pierrot clown quilt cover too!!! I had it for years (probably my entire childhood lol!) and I loved it so much!
    Your cheese log is so pretty and I can just imagine serving it at buffets, picnics or even the Christmas Day supper. It's great that you included a vegan option too. Thank you :o)

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    Replies
    1. Haha, I am glad I was not the only one and that I brought back some nice memories for you. The vegan version is super simple and tastes great. I hope you try it Sharon :)

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  12. Lovely 70s memories and what's not to love about a cheese log! I'm now gutted that I don't remember much from the 70s.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well you can have a taste of it if you make this log :)

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  13. Ha ha ha! You must be a couple of years younger than me..... I remember the 70's well..... but you forgot the delightful (she says sarcastically) orange and brown combo that also adorned so many living rooms and bodies too..... formica tables and chairs..... cork tiles..... rainbow wedges..... the list goes on..... Trip down memory lane for sure..... x

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    Replies
    1. Oh yes I remember all the orange and brown too. I never had rainbow wedges. Too young for that. Bet they were super cool at the time.

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