Party Recipes

Well good morning everyone!! I hope everyone is doing alright today =]]. Hubsie is home sick today so I'm taking care of two babies! =PP I'm planning on making some cookies or homemade cereal today so I will post pictures and recipes for that later on! But I wanted to share some party recipes first =]]. These are just a few I found while I was browsing and whatnot. Also going to try to find a good deviled egg recipe, they are almost always a big hit (even if I don't eat them!! =P) 

Celebration Cheese Balls Recipes

• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

      PINE NUT-PESTO CHEESE BALL:

• 2 tablespoons prepared pesto
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted, divided

      HORSERADISH-BACON CHEESE BALL:

• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon
• 1 green onion, finely chopped

      SALSA CHEESE BALL:

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon minced seeded jalapeno pepper
• Assorted crackers

1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic until blended. Divide into three portions.
2. For Pine Nut-Pesto Cheese Ball: In a small bowl, beat one portion of cream cheese mixture and pesto until blended. Stir in basil. Chop 2 tablespoons pine nuts; stir into cheese mixture. Shape into a ball; roll in remaining pine nuts. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill until firm.
3. For Horseradish-Bacon Cheese Ball: In a small bowl, beat one portion of cream cheese mixture and horseradish until blended. Stir in bacon and onion. Shape into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill until firm.
4. For Salsa Cheese Ball: In a small bowl, beat one portion of cream cheese mixture, tomato paste and salt until blended. Stir in the cilantro, onion and jalapeno. Shape into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill until firm.
5. Can refrigerate for up to two weeks. Serve with crackers. Yield: 3 cheese balls (1 cup each). source

Homemade Guacamole Recipe

• 3 medium ripe avocados, peeled
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Tortilla chips

1. In a small bowl, mash avocado with a fork. Stir in the onion, cilantro, lime juice and salt. Refrigerate until serving. Serve with chips. Yield: 2 cups. source

Loaded Potato Skins

• 6 small to medium sized russet potatoes, rinsed clean
• 8 oz of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 8 slices of smoked, thick cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 stick of unsalted butter
• 6 tbsp sour cream, optional
•  2 tbsp of chopped chives, optional
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees. Poke the top of each potato with a fork and place on a baking sheet. Cook in the oven for 1 hour. Once cooked, remove from the baking sheet, and place on a plate to let cool for about 15 minutes.
2. In the meantime, add the sour cream to a small bowl, toss in half of the chives, mix, and let this sit in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
3. Cook your bacon, low and slow on the stove, for about 15-20 minutes. The low and slow process, in my opinion, is the only way to cook bacon as it really yields perfect bacon every time. Remove the bacon and let any additional fat drain on some paper towel, before you crumble it down.
4. Once your potatoes are cooled, use a sharp bread knife and you will cut lengthwise, into three segments of one potato, long slices. So each potato will yield two skins, right? Discard the middle slice and reuse for breakfast the following morning, or heck for that matter, add some butter, salt, and cream, and make some rustic mashed potatoes.
5. Continue this cutting process with the rest of the potatoes. You should then have 12 skins. With a small spoon, being careful, scoop out about 70 percent of the potato, as you still want some potato in your boat.
6. Next, melt your butter in the microwave. Get your broiler heated to high. Brush the butter on the inside and outside of each potato skin and place them back onto the baking sheet. Season the inside of each skin with salt and pepper.
7. Place them under the broiler for 8-10 minutes until the insides get a bit crispy from the melted butter. Remove, and place generous amounts of cheddar cheese into each skin, topping with bacon pieces. Place these back under the broiler for about 3-4 minutes until the cheese is nice and bubbly. Carefully remove from the oven, and get ready. source

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

• 25 fresh jalapeno peppers
• 14 -16 ounces cream cheese
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 (16 ounce) packages bacon

1. Cut stems off of peppers and cut them all in half longways.
2. Remove seeds from peppers.
3. Fill each pepper with cream cheese and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.
4. Wrap 1/2 slice of bacon around each pepper half.
5. Place on baking sheets and place in 450 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until bacon is fully cooked.
6. Remove and serve when cooled. source

Mamabear's Irresistible Meaty Cheesy Dip

• 1  lb.  (16 oz.)  Velveeta, cut into 1/2 in. cubes
• 1 lb.  ground turkey, cooked and drained (or meat of your choice, I use turkey cause it goes nicely with the sweet, saltiness of the velveeta & ro'tel)
• 2  10 oz. cans  Ro'Tel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
• 1 large Jalapeno Peppers, chopped and seeded (Optional)

[Microwave]

1. MIX ingredients in 2-qt. microwaveable bowl.
2. MICROWAVE on HIGH 5 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted, stirring after 3 min. 

[Crock Pot or Oven Baked]

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees ferenheit (for oven baking of course) or set crock pot heat to medium/high (you don't want it all the way on high or you could easily burn the cheese)
2. MIX indredients in crock pot or 2-2+ qt oven safe baking dish
3. BAKE in oven/crock pot until cheese is completly melted, stirring occassionally

Note** If baked in the oven, just brown the meat or the meat will overcook
SERVE as dip or spooned over tortilla chips

Well I hope you enjoy these recipes! I am off to pick up the house a little bit and take care of the sick Hubsie! Will share my cookie or cereal recipes a little later!
Until then!!

- mamabear