Party Food: Delicious Cheese Cake Dip

I am a fan of cheesecake. When I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it out and I had just the event of family Guinea pigs to try it out on! It was a hit and I have had several requests to make it again since, and to pass on the recipe. As I made this I realized that it made a LOT of dip. I did not double the recipe and I was able to make two platters for the luncheon... I considered all the options that could be made too... and I wished I had thought of it sooner to give some variety...

Think about it! What is your favorite cheesecake topping? Turtle (chocolate and caramel swirled on the top), mix some Nutella in for a chocolate/hazelnut cheesecake, any variety of pie fillings could be used too. My personal favorite happens to be raspberry... so that is what I used.

Ingredients:
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese- softened
1 (7oz) jar marshmallow fluff
2 (8oz) tubs Cool Whip {I opted for the light stuff... just to make myself feel a little better...}
2 (21oz) cans pie filling of choice
1-2 packages of graham crackers

Directions:
1. Mix softened cream cheese and marshmallow fluff by hand until smooth
2. Fold in Cool Whip one container at a time
3. Spread into dish, pan, or onto platter {as I stated before, I ended up spreading it onto two platters}
4. Cover with pie filling and refrigerate
5. Break crackers into sticks for dipping. {I looked all over for grahams made small because I'm lazy and I had other things to get ready that day... but I ended up using the trusty graham cracker "Scooby Snacks"}

Enjoy!

Halloween: Deviled eyeballs

This year was the first annual Witch's Tea Party. We had a "best dressed" witch contest and we voted on the best witch's hat. Everyone was also asked to bring a Halloween treat to compete in one of three categories. Cutest, Creepiest, and Tastiest. It was fun to see what everyone brought and they were all tasty. While there are plenty of things that I am going to tweak for next year's event, it was a lot of fun to have a break from busy life to just enjoy some girl time.

My party contribution came as inspiration from a magazine in my mom's pile of Halloween recipe ideas... I just can't remember which one. The recipe was originally for deviled eggs, but I took the idea and ran with it a little. I also found a delicious deviled egg recipe that I thought I'd try... So here it goes. My own little twist...

sorry... not the best of pictures... but the best my camera can do...

 Deviled Eyeballs.
{ingredients} I doubled this recipe for the yolk stuffing...

6  eggs

1-2 tsp gel food coloring {the original recipe called for black, which I used for our annual Halloween dinner, but for the Tea Party I used red to create the "eyeball" look.}

4 Tbsp mayonnaise

1 tsp mustard 

¼ cup mashed cocktail shrimp (rinse and drain very well before mashing)

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced fine {I used parsley flakes and they worked fine}

1/2 tsp lemon juice

Salt & pepper to taste

Sliced olives for garnish

{directions}

1. place eggs in one layer in a pot and cover with water (barely cover them) add food coloring and bring to a rolling boil. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, take the pot off the heat and set aside (covered) for 15 minutes. {This is how you make the perfect hard boiled eggs.}

2. After 15 minutes use a slotted spoon to fish out each egg (they are still hot) and tap each egg a few times with the handle of a wooden spoon to crack the shell. When all are cracked, place in a bowl and cover with the colored cooking water. Place in the refrigerator and let cool for at least 2 hours. 

3. When you are ready to assemble, peel the eggs carefully and cut in half lengthwise. Pop out the yolks and mix it with the rest of the ingredients. Add the shrimp last and do not mash further. Fill the empty egg white shells with the mixture and garnish with a sliced black olive.

Serve chilled or store covered in refrigerator for up to one day before serving. Yum! 

Hearty Casserole

{I'm not quite sure where my mother stumbled across this recipe, but she made it once before I left home. Since then, I'm not sure she has made it, but I fell in love with it and will get random cravings for its delicious flavors. Making it is super easy and you will feed and fill quite a few (as the name suggests)! Sorry, I don't have a picture... but I hope you enjoy!}


{ingredients}
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. onion- chopped{i never measure onion, i just look to see if its as much as i would like...}
3/4c. milk
8 oz. (1 pkg) cream cheese {you can soften it a little by putting it foil wrap and all on the rack in your oven as you preheat it. leave it in there for about a minute}
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. green pepper- chopped
8 oz (4 c.) noodles- cooked
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 can corn- drained

{directions}
1. Brown meat
2. Add Onion and cook until tender.
3. Stir in milk and cream cheese until blended.
4. Add remaining ingredients
5. Pour into 2 quart casserole dish.{i fit it into a 1.5 quart dish but it was a little... overflowing}
6. Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes

{we use just a little green pepper cut very small. it really adds flavor but we don't really like big chunks}

Pizza Puffs

{have you ever been in the mood for a pizza, but knew ordering a pizza from the nearest card-board-box-pizza-place would be a boring... cop-out for dinner that will end up leaving you feeling sort of guilty? i have, and let me tell you, this recipe is a delicious solution to such dilemmas! puffy, yet tastes like a pizza with any topping that you want on it! all this in a simple recipe?! prepare to be amazed.}



{ingredients}
1 lb ground beef {if you like a little less meat in your sauce, use less. it does make it rather thick. or you don't have to put meat in at all, however, its not quite as good...}
1 can (150z) pizza sauce
2 cans (7.5oz) biscuit dough {the ones that blow up when you open them... they don't have to be the fancy kind either. just get what is on sale.}
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese {for the cheese i just use what i have. the mozzarella does make a difference, but when i made it tonight i only used 1c. and about 2 c. Monterrey Jack that i had floating around... so really, its up to you!}

{directions}
1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Brown ground beef
3. In a bowl mix the pizza sauce and the ground beef together and set aside
4. Cut the biscuits into 4 pieces and place into a greased 9x13 pan
5. Spread sauce mixture over the top of the biscuits
6. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes
7. sprinkle cheese over top {and add any other toppings you desire}
8. Bake 3-7 minutes more, or until cheese is melted.

{topping suggestions: peperoni, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, Canadian bacon, olives, pineapple, etc.}

{this recipe makes quite a bit and is rather hearty, so if there is not many eaters, expect some leftover.}

**Here's a recipe card: