Tuesday, December 23, 2008

H-E Double Hockey Sticks May Be Freezing Over...

The weather here is nuts and we have freezing rain all over. I was going to go help at the youth center Christmas Party this evening, but I'm not sure I want to brave the roads. I hope I get to go! I miss those kiddos, even if the party is usually krazy with a capital K.

Anyway, while I'm waiting and deciding, I thought I would post a recipe. Yes, you read that correctly. A recipe. I'll wait a moment for you to close any jaws that may be hanging open....

Okay. Ready? Breathe.

This is a dessert cheeseball that my women's group makes around the holidays for a fundraiser. It's almost like a big ball of cheesecake goodness but it's a lot easier to make than cheesecake. Unless you buy the instant jell-o kind... ;)

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
graham cracker

Directions
1 Beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in a mixing bowl.
2 Gradually add the sugars, mixing just until combined.
3 Stir in the chocolate chips.
4 Cover in plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Chill for at least 3 hours.
5 Just before serving, roll the cheese ball in the chopped pecans.
6 Serve with graham crackers.

P.S. My kids really like it with animal crackers.

9 comments:

Helen said...

That sounds great! Keep collecting recipes. Our moms did not become great cooks over night. They did it recipe by recipe. I hope the weather lets up and you can go to your youth center party.


wv chalig: the name of the wine that goes with your cheeseball recipe

Beth said...

No luck. I tried but it was just too bad and I had to turn around and come back home. Boo. And Frank's dad is back in the hospital. Not as bad this time...but still not good.

Helen said...

I'm sorry. It is rough with a parent in the hospital on a holiday. Years ago mom was in the hospital on Easter. For some reason I am way more ......into......Easter. We spent Easter in the hospital, but remember, I don't have kids. With kids, that is not going to work. I said a prayer that Frank's dad will be home for Christmas. Merry Christmas.

Mary Ann said...

You ladies and your recipes are KILLING me!!!!!! That sounds SO SO SOSOSOSOSOSOSO GOOD.

I'm so sorry to hear about Frank's dad though. Even if it's not as bad, it's never fun to have a loved one in the hospital.

Sherri Murphy said...

SOunds delicious Beth!

I'll have to try this one.

Helen's right about the recipes.

WHen I started loving to cook, was when I finally mastered a good main dish to take to potlucks, and several church ladies came up to me and asked for the recipe! (The biggest compliment a young lady can have). That felt so good, that I did the same with a special salad, appetizer, dessert, even a great punch recipe.
ALthough I love to cook and also enjoy gourmet food, I still want EASY, quicker recipes because I'm a busy woman! I want it to taste like it was a big deal to prepare without it being a big deal to prepare!
One of my favorite cooks on the food network is Sandra Lee, SEMI-HOMEMADE, because her recipes are ALWAYS easy and delicious. SHe has tons of shortcuts and takes already prepared food and adds an extra ingredient or two to make it taste homemade.

Here's a hint:
If you're not good at makin' white gravy (for biscuits and gravy) buy a pakage of white pepper gravy and prepare according to pkg. directions.Brown your sausage patties, and pour the grease in the gravy, then crunble some of the sausage and add to it. Stir, and pour over a large GRANDS buttermilk biscuit with a sausage pattie on top!

It will taste homemade! Your arteries will never know the difference!

katdish said...

Hey Ya'll! (I meant that in the plural sense. I'm not THAT much of a redneck.) I'm sorry to hear about Frank's dad. I'll be praying for him.

Merry Christmas!

Sherri Murphy said...

Merry Christmas Beth!

Hope all is well with Frank's dad.

Peace & joy to your home.

Helen said...

I was glad to read that Frank's dad is doing better. That is a great Christmas gift from God to your kids: Grandpa is fine!

Beth said...

Thanks, Helen! We're headed to him today. :)