Fabulous Fruit Dip!

There are several different recipes for fresh fruit dip, and I think all of them are good, but this one is one of the best. 

Here is what you will need:

Cream cheese, whipped cream, strawberry yogurt, brown sugar, and red food coloring.

Soften cream cheese, with mixer whip together cream cheese, brown sugar and yogurt, fold in whipped cream and add a drop of red food coloring.  Mix together and chill in the fridge for at least an hour.

Ingredients:

8 oz. softened cream cheese (can use light cream cheese)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup strawberry yogurt

8 oz. whipped cream

1 drop red food coloring

Fabulous Fruit Dip!

Layered Black Bean Taco Dip!

 

 

 

This is a really easy "Layered Black Bean Taco Dip" that's great to serve during the big game or for your card party or even for the kid's sleepovers or parties.  I like that this can be made the night before also and then brought out about 30 minutes before the party.  

Here is what you will need:

 

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 cup sour cream

1 pkg. taco seasoning mix

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (10 oz.) Rotel tomatoes and green chilies, drained

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Monterrey Jack/cheddar blend

3-4 green onions, chopped

 

Beat the cream cheese and sour together with the taco seasoning mix until well blended.  Spread into a shallow dish like a pie plate or a 9"x9" baking dish.  Top with the black beans, Rotel, and then sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top.  Sprinkle the green onions on last.   You can also add sliced black olive and jalapeno slices if you like for additional flavor.  I left those off because some don't like them at my house, but I think it's good with them.

 

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours just so the flavors blend.   I like to take this out about 30 minutes before serving so that it's a little softer and dips out easily. 

 

Serve with tortilla chips, Frito scoops, or various crackers!  

 





Chicken Club Ring!

This "Chicken Club Ring" is a recipe that I originally saw at a Pampered Chef party, but I have modified it quite a bit to suit the tastes of my own family!   This looks impressive to serve, but it's actually very easy!  It makes a great party appetizer or it's good to serve along with soups or with salad for  lighter supper or for a luncheon.   I also do this in a Beef Taco Ring,  which is very good as well.  I think I might like the chicken one better though!   Here is what you will need: 

2 cups cooked chicken breast meat, chopped fine

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 Tbs. dry Ranch dressing mix

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

4-5 slices crisp cooked bacon, crumbled

1/4 cup sliced green onion, including some of the green blades (optional)

8 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese slices, cut in half

2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls

Dice the chicken in a fairly small dice.  Not as fine as for chicken salad, but small.  In a bowl mix the mayonnaise, mustard, cream cheese, and Ranch dressing until smooth.  Mix in the chicken.  Stir in the cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon and green onion.  Mix just until blended. 

On a pizza pan or large oven proof platter, arrange the crescent roll dough in a circle with the pointed ends outward and overlapping the wide ends somewhat. I like to spray it lightly with nonstick spray.  With an ice cream scoop, scoop mounds of the chicken mixture evenly around the ring.

Place a half slice of the Swiss or Provolone cheese on each mound of chicken mixture.

Bring the crescent roll dough up and over the filling and press to sort of lightly seal it.

Place in a 375 degree oven for approximately 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cut between the crescent rolls with a pizza cutter to serve!  I used a large square Temptations platter, because you can put it in the oven, so my ring took on a slightly more square shape, but I liked it!

If you are serving this for a party or special occasion, you can dress up the platter with some lettuce, watercress and cherry tomatoes, which looks really pretty!  I just put some honey mustard dressing in the center!  You could also used ranch dressing!



Tropical Snowballs!

This is an old recipe we have put a little different twist on by using sugar cookies for the base!  Some of you might remember this from your mother or grandmother making them back in the day!  

They are delicious little individual cookie desserts that would be perfect for a special occasion, such as a wedding or baby shower!  These are also great for holidays and are equally good both in summer and winter months!   Since this is a cold dessert, I think it's really best in the summer.  

 Here is what you will need for these:

1 pkg. or roll of refrigerated sugar cookies, baked and cooled

1/2 cup or 1 stick of butter, softened to room temperature

2 cups confectioner's sugar

1 (20 oz.) can of crushed pineapple, do not drain

1 (3.4 oz.) pkg. instant vanilla pudding

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

12 oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed

2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

maraschino cherries

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Mix in the pineapple, instant pudding mix and nuts.  Stir well and refrigerate for about 2 hours. 

With a large cookie scoop, place a scoop on each cookie.  This mixture will make about 12 the size shown in the picture or you can make 24 mini sized ones! 

Frost each one with the whipped topping, spreading it to the edges to seal.

Sprinkle each one with coconut and top with a cherry!  Refrigerate until ready to serve!

Not only do these make a pretty presentation, they are delicious also!





Cheesy Toast Points!

 

 

 

These "Cheesy Toast Points" is a recipe my mother has made for years!  She doesn't even remember where she got it!  These are a perfect little last minute party appetizer or snack or they are also great served with soups or salads! 

 To be so simple, these are so delicious, but I will warn, they are a little addictive, so make a lot of them!   It's a good one to make when you need something quick, because the ingredients are usually things you have on hand.  

 Here is what you will need:

 

3 cups shredded Swiss cheese

10 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled or 1 cup REAL bacon bits

2 tsp. fined minced onion

1 cup mayonnaise

10 -12 slices white bread, crusts removed

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

 

Mix the cheese, bacon, onion, and mayonnaise in a bowl until blended.

 

Spread each bread sliced with the cheese mixture and cut diagonally and then in half again to make triangle.  Place on a cookie sheet lined with foil.  I like to use Reynolds Wrap nonstick foil.  

 Place in a preheat 375 degree oven and cook for about 15 minutes or until bubbly and just starting to brown.  Lift the corner and the bottom should be browned.   

 

Serve immediately!  These won't last long!

 





Derby Day Dip!

  

This "Derby Day Dip" is just perfect to serve for your Derby party!  This is a layered dip, served chilled, but it has the components of the Kentucky Hot Brown...you know turkey, cheesy goodness, bacon and tomato!   It is delicious and sort of addicting!

 You can serve with chips or spread it on crackers.  If you want it to be even more like a Hot Brown, serve with toasted banquettes.  

Here is what you need for this yummy dip:

 

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp. chicken bullion (the powdered type)

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (use an 1/8 if you don't like the heat)

1/2 cup diced turkey breast ( I used a good deli turkey)

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

3 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

1 tomato, seeded and diced

 

In a mixing bowl, blend the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise until it's smooth.  Add the chicken bullion and cayenne pepper and blend.  Set this aside to give the bullion time to dissolve while you prepare the other ingredients. 

 

When you have you other ingredient ready.  Spread the cream cheese mixture in a 1 quart serving dish or you can spread it in a pie plate.  Next, sprinkle with the diced turkey breast.  Now put the shredded Parmesan cheese and then the shredded Swiss cheese.  If you are preparing this the day before, I would stop here and refrigerate. 

 

Then right before serving sprinkle with the bacon and diced tomatoes!

 

This is really good on crackers or with chips like Frito scoops or Ruffles!

Derby Day Dip or whatever day you want something different to snack on!

 

 





Ten Great Super Bowl Party Recipes!

Super Bowl is coming up and it has to be one of the biggest snacking days of the year!   Whether you are hosting a Super Bowl Party or you are going to a party you are taking an appetizer or snack food to, here are ten great recipes to choose from.  They are easy and relatively inexpensive and they will serve a crowd!  If it's a big crowd, just double the recipe! 

 All of these can be prepped ahead of time, which is key to a good party!  Nobody wants to be in the kitchen all day and miss the fun and time spent with your guests!  If you are taking an appetizer to a party, these all travel well also!  Click on the title of each recipe under the picture to go to the actual post and recipe! 

 

Bacon Wrapped Smokies!

 

 

Redneck Caviar!

 

Baked Bacon Cheese Dip!

 

Ssausage Pinwheels!

 

French Onion Soup Dip!

 

Jalapeno Popper Dip!

 

Cajun Stuffed Mushrooms!

 

Three Cheese Sausage Balls!

 

Cheesy Hot Shrimp and Crab Dip!

 

Nana's Pepperoni Rolls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Mini Jalapeno Popper Crescents!

These "Mini Jalapeno Popper Crescents" are a yummy little appetizer you can put together with a few ingredients you probably usually have on hand.   These can also be made up earlier in the day and refrigerated on a cookie sheet until ready to bake so they are perfect for parties.  These would be so good for your Super Bowl party!

 Here is what you need:

1 (8 oz,) can refrigerated crescent rolls

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1/3 cup pickled jalapeno rings, diced

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

5 strips of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Separate the crescent rolls into the precut triangles then cut each triangle in half lengthwise.

I a bowl mix the cream cheese, diced jalapenos, and garlic powder.  Place the dough on a sheet pan covered with nonstick foil or you could use parchment paper.  Spoon about a Tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on the widest part of the dough.  Sprinkle each one with some of the crumbled bacon.  Sort of press the bacon into the cream cheese.

Roll up like you would a crescent roll.  Bake in a 375 degree oven on the center rack for 13 -15 minutes or just until golden brown! This makes 16 appetizers.  For bigger parties, you can easily double the recipe!

These are so tasty, hot right out of the oven!  Make plenty because they will go fast!

Three Cheese Sausage Balls!

Sausage balls have been around since at least the 1970's as a yummy appetizer for parties, tailgating and such.  They are really great if the mixture of ingredients and cooking time is just right. However, they can be a little dry if you aren't careful and usually are really best when first out of the oven.  This recipe adds an ingredient that makes these sausage balls a little more tender and moist.  Cream cheese does good things to most recipes and it isn't any less impressive in these cream cheesy sausage balls.  I also added just a touch of Parmesan along with the traditional cheddar cheese.  Try them and I think you will decide they are much better. Who would think you could improve on a sausage ball? Here is what you will need:

1 1lb. roll of breakfast sausage, hot or mild

1  8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1  1/2 cup baking mix (like Bisquik)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

dash of garlic powder

1/4 tsp. Cajun seasoning like Tony Cachere's (optional)

dash of Tabasco sauce (optional)

Mix uncooked sausage and cream cheese.  Mix in all of the other ingredients until well blended.  Roll into 1" balls about the size of a small walnut. 

Place on a cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. I use the nonstick Reynolds Wrap.  Place in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes.  Don't overcook.  Remove and serve.

Funeral Sandwiches!

These yummy little bundles of goodness got their unusual name, because in the South, when someone dies you can guarantee that some sweet person will show up either at the funeral home or at the families house with  a warm pan of these little sandwiches.  Actually, the first time I had them, years ago was at the funeral home.   Of course, these are also great to serve for parties and other events.  They disappear fast! 

 Here is what you will need:

12 Kings Hawaiian Dinner rolls (could substitute another good dinner roll)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
12 slices thinly sliced deli ham (Black Forest or Honey Ham is best)
12 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. yellow mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. poppy seeds

Cut the rolls in half with a serrated knife.  Spread each half with mayonnaise.  Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss cheese on each roll and cover with the other half.  Place in a 9"x13" baking dish. 

In a bowl, combine the butter, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and poppy seeds.  Pour over the tops of the sandwiches.  Cover the dish with foil.  Allow to sit and soak up the sauce on the counter for about 15 minutes. 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Place the baking dish on the center rack and bake for 15 minutes.

Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes or until lightly browned.  The cheese will be melted and ooey gooey and they are yummy!  Double the recipe if you are making for a larger party or crowd!

Layered Taco Dip!

This yummy "Layered Taco Dip" is a delicious and easy dip to put together.   It's great to serve for summer parties, cookouts, or potlucks!   You can make this and snack on it all week long.  The kids and adults will love this one. Also if your family doesn't care for some of the toppings, leave them off or change them. 

  Here is what you will need:

1 (15 oz.) can refried beans

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

1 pkg. taco seasoning mix

1 (10 oz.) can Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, drained well

2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack Cheddar cheese blend

1/3 cup sliced black olives

3 green onions, sliced thin including some of the green blades

Spread the refried beans in a  1 1/2 quart casserole dish or a deep pie plate works well for this.   With an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, sour cream and the taco mix until smooth.  Spread this over the refried beans.  Top this with the drained Rotel.   Drain it really, really well.  If you leave too much of the liquid it can water down the dip eventually.  

Sprinkle with the cheese evenly over the top, then the olives and green onions.  You can serve immediately or chill until time to serve!

 

Serve with Frito Scoops or tortilla chips! 







Pizza Dip with Homemade Breadsticks!

This is one of those recipes that is really simple, but so delicious it is ridiculous!  I originally saw the pizza dip on one of the best Internet sites ever invented, Pinterest!  My niece, Whitney introduced me to Pinterest and I loved it the first time I got on and saw what it was all about.  It just has the most creative thoughts of people from all over in one place...amazing! 

This dip is such a good party food or great if you have to feed a bunch of teenagers (double the recipe for that though)!  The bread sticks are something I have been making for  a while, because I love Olive Garden's bread sticks and for a long time we didn't have an Olive Garden here in town  (for some reason they closed it), but now we do have a new one only five short years later...go figure, only in corporate America are such decisions made...lol.

Here is what you will need for the dip:

 

Ingredients:

4 oz. cream cheese softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup pizza sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried basil
sliced pepperoni (about a cup)

Mix the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese and 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese. I added the garlic powder and the basil to this mixture and also chopped about half of the pepperoni and mixed it with the cheese mixture.  Spread this mixture in a pie plate.  Top with the cup of pizza sauce, the other 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, the other 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, and the rest of the pepperoni.   You can add any pizza toppings you like at this point.  The recipe called for black olives and chopped green peppers.  My family doesn't care for those, but I think it would be really good.  Some chopped mushrooms would also be great or some jalapeno slices.  Add whatever your gang likes. 

Place in a 350 degree preheated oven and cook until hot and bubbly... about 20 to 25 minutes.


The bread sticks are even easier.  This all you will need for them:

1 loaf of Rich's Frozen bread dough  (this is the loaf not the rolls) or any frozen yeast bread loaf
1 stick butter
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Thaw the bread dough on your counter until it is pliable but still fairly cold.  Cut it with a very sharp knife or kitchen shears (the handiest thing ever) across the loaf like you are slicing a loaf of bread, not longways.  You should be able to get about 9 or 10 pieces.  Take each piece and roll it between your palms like you did when you made Play-doh snakes...lol.  Roll it into a long piece about 9 inches long.  This sometimes takes some rolling and stretching. 

Melt your butter in a shallow dish, like a pie plate and mix in the garlic powder and Parmesan cheese.  Roll each piece of dough in this mixture and coat well.  Place on a large cookie sheet.  Space these far enough apart to allow them to rise, because they will almost triple in size.  Put your cookie sheet in a warm place, I usually put it on the stove top at the back.    Let these rise for about 2 hours to get the complete rise out of the dough.  Place on the middle rack of your oven and bake at 375 degrees until they are brown.  Different ovens take different amounts of time, but mine usually takes about 13 - 15 minutes.   Keep an eye on them though because the bottoms will brown first and can get too brown quickly.

These are perfect for dipping in the pizza dip.  They are also great with spaghetti, lasagna or any pasta meal and they are so much better than the premade frozen bread sticks.  You will never want those again!