Turtle Cheesecake Ball

Today we had Souper Bowl Thursday at school.  The teachers, that is. 

We had a sign up earlier this week for soups, salads, chips and dips, and desserts.

I signed up for dessert.

Then I did a quick search on my Pinterest Sweet Treats board to see what I wanted to make.

I wanted something easy that I could make ahead.  Something with chocolate (of course). 

And then I found it.

Turtle Cheesecake Ball.

I have made something similar but the word "Turtle" really got my heart racing.

I LOVE turtle desserts.  (As in the combination of caramels, nuts, and chocolate, not the animal)

So I did a quick grocery run (and totally did NOT count that for my January challenge since my family didn't get to enjoy any of it).

A few minutes of my time, and I had a turtle cheesecake ball chilling in the fridge. 

Then today, I took it to school, added some sliced apples and some chocolate graham crackers, and a few hours later, I had nothing but a plate full of crumbs.

It was good stuff.

(I won't say how much of the eating of it was done by me, but I did have others tell me it was good too...)

Ingredients:
 cream cheese (8 oz), softened
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature (I used unsalted)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 package dry vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup caramel (ice cream topping)

Directions:
Cream the butter and cream cheese together with a mixer.

Add the caramel and mix together.

Add the brown sugar and powdered sugar.  Cream together.

Add the vanilla and pudding mix.

Fold in chocolate chips and pecans.

Pat into a ball and refrigerate for at least an hour.  (I used plastic wrap sprayed with non-stick spray to help form the ball, then wrapped the ball up for the fridge.)  By the way, I refrigerated it overnight.

One neat suggestion that the original website had was to drizzle caramel over the top.  And I think adding a few chopped pecans and chocolate chips on top would be nice too.

But I totally forgot to take any of that.

So mine was just plain and not very pretty.

But tasty.

It was very tasty.

I enjoyed each and every bite.

I want to make it again.  And I probably will.  But not until I exercise all of these calories off. :)

Happy cooking!

Reba

Smores Dip

Monday was the first day of school.

I don't get to do a lot of the fun "first day of school" traditions a lot of families do, mainly because it is MY first day of school too. And I am plumb exhausted all day long.

But I wanted to do something special.

So I checked out Pinterest and found a recipe for Smores Dip.  Hubby doesn't care for Smores (how is that possible???) but the kids and I love them. And this was a very quick (less than 5 minutes) recipe.  How could I go wrong?

It didn't disappoint. It is taking all of the willpower I have to not go finish off the leftovers (it made a lot).  And it is actually easier to eat than real Smores are.

Ingredients:
1 can condensed sweetened milk (14 oz)
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate...my family couldn't tell a difference)
1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
graham crackers for dipping

Directions:
Place sweetened milk and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally until chocolate chips are melted. (I think mine took 1 minute)

Pour/spread chocolate mixture into a 9 inch glass pie plate.

 Drop marshmallow creme/fluff by the spoonful into the chocolate mixture.

Microwave 30 seconds.

Use a knife/spoon to spread marshmallow throughout the mixture, giving it a marbled look.

Serve with graham crackers.

Enjoy.

(We refrigerated the leftovers and just heat it up when ready to eat, though I may or may not have eaten a spoon full cold. :)

Reba

Shrimp Dip

The other day we had a little "potluck" of appetizers and snacks at school for our Literacy Day.  My grade level was assigned "appetizers".  I already planned on making the apples and peanut butter dip (mainly because I have been craving it :). But one of my dear co-workers asked me if I would make shrimp dip.  I was a little (okay, a lot) flattered that she even remembered it.  I haven't made it in quite a while.  So I decided to make both.  :)

I had forgotten how easy the shrimp dip is to make. 

And apparently it is pretty good. Well, I already thought it was, but apparently others think so too.

There was none left by the end of the day.

Ingredients:
1 small package of salad shrimp (by the way, this is CHEAP, find it in the freezer section!)
1 cup mayonnaise
6 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp garlic salt (I used freshly ground :)
1 tsp grated onion (I just used dried chopped onion)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together (and yes, I just stick the shrimp in frozen) and refrigerate overnight to let flavors blend.

Serve with crackers.  (I buy the combo pack of Toasteds)

Yes, that is it. 

Easy, fairly cheap, and quick.

And good.

Enjoy!

Reba

Cheddar Bacon Dip

To Celebrate Secretary's Day (hmmm, what is the more politically correct term...administrative assistant?), we (as in the teachers) decided to have a "snack food" day.  My favorite kind!

I decided to seek out one of my Pinterest dip recipes I had pinned.  When I saw this one again, I knew I had to make it.  So simple, make ahead, and few ingredients.  Gotta love that!

I "tested" a bite or two (no double dipping) before I took this to school.

And I quickly realized I could eat the whole bowl.

The next morning I did take it to school, got a few more chips' full of dip, then went on to class.

When I returned after lunch, my bowl was sitting there.  Empty. All gone.

Apparently others thought it was good too...

Ingredients:
16 oz sour cream (I did use light)
1 envelope Ranch dressing mix (the dry powder stuff)
1 cup shredded cheese (I used a lowfat sharp cheddar)
3 oz real bacon bits (used "bagged" bacon bits...REAL, not imitation)

Directions:
Stir ingredients together.

Refrigerate for 24 hours.

Serve with chips or crackers.

Yum...

Reba

Peanut Butter Dip

I really want to give credit to whoever I got this recipe from but honestly, I cannot remember! I know I have had this dip at baby showers, but it has become such a favorite, I like to make it and just eat it for a meal sometimes (with apples). My favorite part? 4 ingredients, maybe five minutes to "assemble", and it is very yummy. I hate to say it, but I rarely eat apples without it anymore.

So, here is the big recipe.

Peanut Butter Dip

1 cup peanut butter (I usually use the low fat but today I used the natural which is not low fat but is very good)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup cream cheese (I usually use light; the whipped is easier but the regular cream cheese works too)
1/4 cup milk

*I often make just a portion of it because it does make quite a bit.

Mix all four ingredients together. I have used both spoon and mixer. I prefer the mixer, just because to me it blends better.

Refrigerate any leftovers.

It is a good source of protein, right? :)


I don't usually make it this pretty but I was in a silly mood tonight. :)

Enjoy!
Reba