Easy Cheese Ball

 Happy ALMOST Christmas friends!  Can you believe it has snuck up on us already?  I am so ready.  Ready to celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior, ready for family, ready to enjoy simple things and great food.

Speaking off......

Last weekend we had Christmas at my dad's house.  One of my sisters brought these cheeseballs from a little grocery store in Tilden, NE.  WOOHOOO for Tilden!  I was tempted to call them, give them my best sappy story to get the recipe, but that is no fun.  I wanted to try and recreate it myself!

Here is what I came up with!

1, 8oz block of cream cheese

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, DIVIDED

1/2-1 tsp all purpose seasoning (I used adobe)

Salt and pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, add in all ingredients (only 1 cup of the cheese for this part).  Start with 1/2 tsp of seasoning, you can always add more.  Use a hand mixer as it allows you to break down the shredded cheddar into smaller bits, making a more cohesive mixture.  Use remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar, and sprinkle on a sheet of plastic wrap.  Add your dip mixture to the top, wrap it around, twist the ends and refrigerate for 1 hour at least.  This can be done the day before easily!  Take out of the fridge 15 minutes before serving!

Serve with club crackers, or any cracker.  Maybe even some crostini!

ENJOY!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

 (Adapted from 12 Tomatoes)

Here we go with these delicious Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Bars!

2 sticks, (1 cup) melted butter

2 eggs

2 TBSP vanilla extract

2/3 cup peanut butter (heaping)

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter chips (keep a few out to sprinkle on top)

3 cups brown sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix melted butter, eggs, vanilla and peanut butter together.  Add in brown sugar, flour and chips.  Place into a parchment lined or non stick sprayed 9x13 and back for 35-45 minutes.  Let cook in the pan for 15 minutes and lift out and cut!

DELICIOUS!

ENJOY and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Fudge

"Oh Fudddgggeeee"

Yep, I said it.  Youi know it is our famiies favorite holiday movie and my husbands dog is named after Ralph.  Yes it is true, his best little buddy is named Ralph (Ralphy)!

Can I tell you this recipe was a happy accident?  I was look at a recipe by 12 Tomatoes.  I didn't screenshot the ingredients and had closed the tab, so I took a guess at how much I needed of what.  WRONG.  I came up 2 bags of something short, one of this short, and blah blah blah.  So, I used what I had at home, and got this amazing fudge recipe.  I mean it is AHMAZING.  If you love cream cheese and/or white chocolate this one's for you!

You Will Need:

2- 14oz bags of white chocolate chips

1- 8oz brick of cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup powdered/confectioners/icing sugar

1 TBSP half and half or heavy cream

Semi-sweet chocolate OPTIONAL

Beat cream cheese for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.  Melt white chocolate in 30 second increments in your microwave until all melted.   Add to your cream cheese mixture.  Mix to combine with your hand mixer. Add in vanilla, and powdered sugar.  Again, combine ingredients.  Add in half and half and mix until completely combined.

In a parchment paper lined 8x8 inch pan, pour the mixture.  It is a different texture and needs spread out.  You can wet the utensil you are using or use another piece of parchment on top and use your hands to smooth.  Let sit for at least 4 hours, overnight is best.

OPTIONAL.....Melt 1/3d cup of semi-sweet chocolate and drizzle on tiop.  Use 1 cup and spread a layer of chocolate on top.

Goofballs!

 Here is a DELICIOUS treat/cookie/goodie, called Goofballs!  I got this one from my sister Patty.  Completely perfect for her, she IS a goofball!  ENJOY!

1 box Rice Krispies

1-2 bags of LARGE marshmallows

14 oz caramels (Kraft)tf 

1 cup butter

1 can sweetened condensed milk

In a medium pot place caramels, sweetened condensed milk and butter.  Stir until melted, it might take a bit.  I used a skewer but you can use a fork as well.  Whatever works.  Dip the marshmallow in the caramel, and let the excess drip off.  Then, drop into the cereal.  Coat completely and place on a cookie sheet.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat!  These freeze great and are DELICIOUS frozen!

Chris

Coconut Clouds

 I hope you enjoy this recipe 

COCONUT CLOUDS

1/4 cup of butter, softened

1 cup shortening

1 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp coconut extract

1 cup sour cream

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp salt (I used 1/2 tsp)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup flaked coconut

FROSTING:

1/3 cup butter, cubed

3 cups confectioner's sugar

3 TBSP evaporated milk (I used 5)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp coconut extract

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  Use parchment paper, please, for the love of Christmas use parchment paper!

Cream sugars and butter together.  Add eggs and beat until well combined.  Add in extracts and sour cream.  In a separate bowl combine, flour, baking soda, and coconut.  Add into your wet mixture and mix until combined. 

Using a teaspoon or cookie scoop, please cookies approx 2 inches apart.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Let sit on cookie sheet for 5 minutes and then remove to cooling rack.  

When all cookies are baked, in a heavy saucepan, melt b. utter, let it cook until it is a dark amber color.  It will be browned but not burned Remove from heat and add in extracts, milk and powdered sugar.  Mix to combine.  Frost each cookie on top and dip the frosting into your coconut.  Place back on cooling rack to set. 

This recipe is supposed to make 5 1/2 dozen cookies but I got 3 dozen!

Adapted from Taste Of Home (Donna Scofield)