Ranch Dip

 My sister sent me this recipe. It is simple and feeds a crowd. I just can't decide the vehicle - tortilla chips or Bugles?

Ingredients

1 package cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

1 package Ranch seasoning

2 cups cheddar

6 slices bacon, crispy and crumbled

sliced scallions

Process

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Chill and serve.

Christmas Cheese Ball from Cafe Delights

 

 I make this recipe every year. It is simply the best cheese ball ever. This year I am going to halve the recipe and make a ball instead of the tree. This recipe is from Cafe Delights.

Ingredients

For The Dip:

• 4 cups cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 cup red bell peppers (or capsicum
), diced
• 1/4 cup dill pickles, finely diced
• 1/4 cup chives, chopped
• 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• Salt, to taste (if desired)

For The Decorations:


• 1 1/2 - 2 cups pitted mixed olives (I use a variety of black, green and Kalamata olives) -- dried with paper towel
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (dried with paper towel)
• Rosemary leaves/sprigs to decorate
• Ritz, water crackers or pretzels for serving
• Salami slices, for serving
• Prosciutto slices, for serving

Instructions

• In a bowl combine all the ingredients for the dip and mix until the ingredients are well combined.
• Place a piece of non-stick plastic wrap on a clean bench top or work surface. Scoop the cream cheese mixture out onto the plastic wrap and completely cover with another piece of wrap (you may need two pieces to cover it). 
• Use your hands to mold the cream cheese into a tree shape. Then, carefully pick up the tree with one hand and peel off the plastic wrap on the bottom of the tree with your other hand. Place the tree straight onto a serving plate.
• Use a cake spatula to smooth the edges. Decorate with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary leaves/sprigs, lightly pressing each element into the cream cheese to ensure they stay on. Brush with some sun dried tomato oil from the jar (optional but adds even more flavor)!
• Top with a star cut out of a yellow or orange bell pepper OR a thick slice of cheese. 
• Serve with crackers of your choice, salami and prosciutto slices rolled up!ENJOY! Printable recipe : HERE
  

Meat Pie

 In snow making season, I try to make something warm and nourishing for the 4 to 12 shift SP works on. I recently thought of a Mexican Meat pie recipe that's on this blog and decided to make it. My first thought when I printed it out was, why is it called Mexican? There's nothing really Mexican about it in the slightest. My first observation of the recipe was why the heck had I written the proportions the way I did. My solution was to tweak it and fix it and update it. So here is my updated and revamped meat pie. Feel free to add more seasoning.

Ingredients

For the pie:

I pie shell - bottom only

1 egg

1 pound ground meat (beef or turkey)

1 can corn kernels drained

1/2 cup crushed saltines

1/2 cup chili sauce

2 Tablespoons pepper flakes, preferably Allepo pepper (our new favorite)

2 Tablespoons chopped onion

1/2 teaspoon Oregano

For the topping:

1 egg beaten

2 Tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

dash of cayenne

Process

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 

2. Mix all of the pie ingredients together in a bowl and use your hands to mix. 

3. Transfer ingredients into the pie shell and put in the oven on a cookie tray. 

4. While pie is cooking whisk together the topping ingredients. 

5. Bake the pie for25 minutes (if turkey) or 40 minutes in beef until its cooked thru. 

6. Remove from oven and top with the cheese mixture. 

7. Return to oven and cook an additional 10 minutes. Feel free to garnish with olives if you would like. 

Enjoy!

Welsh Rarebit Mac and Cheese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You had me at cheese Rachel Ray! This recipe is SO good.  I think next time I will make it even saucier. Yummo!

Welsh Rarebit Mac and Cheese