Cheese Balls (AKA Party Magnet) – Nonnie's World Famous

Ingredients

• 4 oz (1/2 cup) log goat cheese (or 2 oz each goat cheese and blue cheese), at room temperature
• 3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped dates (see note)
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped scallions (white and green parts)
• 1/3 cup Salt-and-Butter-Roasted Pecans, roughly chopped (recipe follows; alternatively, use store-bought roasted salted pecans)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley