Festive Cheese & Almond Pine Cones

This snack, shaped like pine cones, will add a festive touch to your table. Prepare these cones for Christmas, because they are very easy to make and very beautiful. Small cubes of hot pepper give the overall taste of the dish a spicy kick. You can replace the ham with bacon if you like, and choose your favorite cheeses, or use my version.

The result is visually striking and easy to serve on platters. Ideal for holiday gatherings, cocktail hours or as part of a celebratory buffet.

• 
  Place all the almonds on the baking tray, spreading them evenly, and bake for 20-22 minutes at 150 degrees.
• 
  Chop the ham and jalapeño pepper. You can chop the ham into small cubes with a sharp knife or grate it with a coarse grater, as I did. Remove the seeds from the peppers, remove the stem, and chop them into small cubes.
• 
  Place the cream cheese in a large bowl and mash it well with a fork.
• 
  Add the chopped ham and jalapeño pepper to the cream cheese.
• 
  Add the grated cheese, ground black pepper, and salt to taste. Be sure to taste it, as the cheese and ham are quite salty and you may not need to add any salt at all.
• 
  Mix all ingredients with a spoon until you obtain a smooth paste-like mixture. Place the bowl with the cheese mixture in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours (overnight).
• 
  Then divide the cooled cheese mixture into two equal parts. Use your hands to shape each part into a cone.
• 
  Then we will begin to place the almonds on the surface, pressing down slightly, imitating the scales on a cone.
• 
  Place the prepared cones on a plate, garnish with rosemary or thyme sprigs, and serve. Serve this elegant and delicious appetizer. Enjoy!