Favorite Cheese Ball

Today has been one of those days! I decided I needed to blog to make the day a little better. Plus, it's about time I post a recipe or two.

This cheeseball/spread/dip (or whatever you want to call it) is such a hit for any gathering. We always serve it during Christmas time, and then again for any baby shower, bunco night, or anything else my family is in charge of.
You can use any kind of meat, I just like ham so I use it.

Ingredients:
2 packages of 8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 small packages of sliced deli meat chopped up in little squares (if you want to layer the outside with the meat then grab an extra one)
1/2 green pepper, chopped
green onions, half a bunch or so chopped
garlic salt, to taste
onion salt, to taste
pepper
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp Worcerstershire sauce

Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, saving one package if you decide to cover the outside. Mix well. Form into a ball and the cover the outside with squares of meat, if desired.
Serve with your favorite crackers.

Caesar Chicken Salad Wraps

This is another recipe I got from my lunch recipe exchange group. I changed it to accommodate the tastes and needs of our family. If you're looking for a quick and easy lunch or dinner recipe, this is it. 

 

Ingredients:
Salad Mix
Caesar Dressing
Tortillas- corn or flour
Cooked chicken, I use rotisserie
Corn
Tomatoes
Olives
Croutons
Cheese

Directions:
Heat your tortillas up so it can bend and fold without tearing. Mix your salad and croutons with Caesar dressing. Any amount is good, just do it to your liking. Add the desired add ins to your warm tortilla. Roll up into a wrap.

We make it gluten free by using corn tortillas and omitting the croutons. You can add any other desired things to this to make it good.

Italian Chex Mix

Ingredients:

3 cups Wheat Chex cereal

3 cups Rice Chex cereal

1 cup pretzel nuggets

2 cups cheese flavor crackers

1 /2 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

3 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 teaspoons garlic salt

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 300 degrees.

In large bowl mix cereals, pretzels, and crackers

In small bowl mix oil, vinegar, garlic salt and Italian seasoning.

Pour over cereal mixture, stirring to coat.

Spread in ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake about 30 minutes, stirring twice, until toasted.

Sprinkle with cheese, toss to coat.

Cool about 45 minutes.

My Grandma’s Banana Bread

Ingredients:

5 large bananas

4 well beaten eggs

1 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:

Beat bananas until liquid. Add eggs and mix thoroughly; set aside. Cream together shortening and sugar, then add banana and egg mixture and beat thoroughly. Add flour that has been sifted with baking soda and salt, and then fold in nuts. Bake in well greased loaf pans at 300 degrees for 2 hours, or until done.

Almost Thin Mint Cookies

Ingredients:

1 package of Ritz crackers

Semi-sweet baking chocolate

¼ teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions:

Melt chocolate according to package. Mix the peppermint extract until well incorporated.

Dip the Ritz crackers into the chocolate mix until entire cracker is covered. Place on baking sheet with wax paper. Top with crushed candy cane for decoration. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Oreo Balls

Ingredients:

1 package of Oreos

1 bar (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

Baking chocolate, milk and white chocolate

Toppings: crushed candy canes, crushed nuts, coconut

Directions:

Crush entire package of oreos into fine crumbs. Mix with softened cream cheese until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Roll mix into small balls. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Melt chocolate according to package. Dip rolled balls into chocolate mixture. Place on baking sheet with wax paper. Quickly top with desired topping. Drizzle white and milk chocolate over balls to desired look.

My Grandma’s Brownies

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1 square butter or margarine softened

4 eggs

½ cup cocoa

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ¾ cups flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Add dry ingredients and combine thoroughly. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. No longer. Cool and frost.