Cheese Ring With Balsamic-Strawberry Preserves

• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 (8-oz.) blocks sharp Cheddar cheese, finely grated*
• 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup strawberry preserves
• Assorted crackers
• Garnishes: chopped toasted pecans, fresh strawberries, strawberry flowers

1. Preheat oven to 350u0b0. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool 15 minutes.
2. Stir together mayonnaise and next 2 ingredients. Stir in pecans and cheese.
3. Spoon mixture into a plastic wrap-lined 4-cup ring mold with a 2 1/2-inch center. Cover and chill 2 hours.
4. Bring balsamic vinegar to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 18 to 20 minutes or until reduced to about 2 Tbsp. Let cool 10 minutes. Stir in strawberry preserves.
5. Unmold cheese ring onto a serving platter. Discard plastic wrap. Fill center of ring with preserves. Serve with crackers. Garnish, if desired.
6. *Sharp white Cheddar cheese may be substituted.

pecans, mayonnaise, hot sauce, garlic, blocks sharp, balsamic vinegar, strawberry preserves, crackers, pecans

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cheese-ring-balsamic-strawberry (may not work)