Blue Christmas Brie

This is a beautiful cheese ball to decorate any holiday table.  I am using a Saga Blue Brie cheese.  Don't be alarmed if you are not a fan of blue cheese.  This is mild and sweet.  The pepper jelly you can use the regular red, but if you can find the Red Raspberry pepper jelly by Robert Rosthchild this will work as well.  You will need the following:                             Plastic wrap or Press n seal            regular spoon
wide flat icing knife                            Knife for slicing brie                       Food processor w/metal blade
Saga Blue brie                                  8oz.  Mascarpone Fresca               Red pepper jelly
1c dried cranberries                          1c dried apples                              Monet or Cabaret crackers
optional:  pecan  pieces                     fresh rosemary twigs for garnish on top or around the bottom
Note: Brie is easier to handle if it is very cold.  Mascarpone cheese will spread better at room temp.
Slice the chilled Saga Blue Brie into to layers.
Use food processor to chop the apples and cranberries.  Pour mixture into medium bowl. Now add jelly and nuts stir until mix.
Cut the Saga Blue Brie into two layers.
Use Mascarpone cheese as icing.  Ice the bottom layer cut side up.  After you have iced the top half of the bottom layer add a layer of the fruit jelly mixture.  Gently place top layer cut side down and finish icing with Mascarpone cheese.  Make sure the Mascarpone is not to thin.  On the very top dump the remaining Mascarpone cheese.  There should be enough to create a dome one the top of your cheese ball.
Now tear sheets of plastic wrap three should cover your hands and two to completely cover cheese ball.  Plastic wrap edges should stick to your stove or counters edge.  This way you will not need to handle and tear plastic packaging while covering the ball with sticky covering. Cover one hand with plastic while dipping jelly mixture with the other.  Drop gooey mixture on to the plastic you can use another sheet of plastic to cover your open hand or use the spoon to flatten out the the jelly.  Now place the jellied and fruit on to the sides until completely covered.  Change plastic on your hands as needed.  Now cover the top, use the large plastic sheet to cover and your hands to even out the dome top.  Presto Cover completely, top and bottom with largest plastic wrap.  Refrigerate or freeze until that special day.  When you set out to serve place decorative rosemary around the bottom or on top.  Your Blue Christmas Brie should be completely thawed and soft at serving time.