Cheese Ball with Sesame Seeds

• My cheese ball with sesame seeds and assorted crackers is a good appetizer to serve with wine to your guests - and little fuss to prepare.

Ingredients:

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon tabasco sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

• In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, blue cheese, Cheddar cheese, onion, tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Shape into a ball and wrap in saran wrap; place in refrigerator at least 4 hours.
• When cheese ball is firm, spread toasted sunflower seeds on a baking sheet; roll cheese ball until coated well.
• That's it -- ready to serve with your favorite crackers
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• The next day, gather the cream cheese mixture into a ball. Spread the walnuts out on a dinner plate. Roll the cheese ball in nuts until coated. Refrigerate or serve immediately.

Yolk Haters Egg Salad

Not everyone appreciates the taste of an egg yolk; give that part to your spouse, the family pet or toss away, and make yourself an egg salad sandwich with just the egg whites. Just be sure to add some paprika for color.

Ingredients:

4 hard boiled eggs -- yolks discarded!

2 tablespoons lite Ranch dressing

lite mayonnaise

1/8 teaspoon paprika

3 tablespoons sweet onion, finely chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Chop cold egg whites very fine; mix in Ranch dressing; add mayonnaise one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.

Add remaining ingredients.

Spread on your favorite bread or crackers.

Marshmallow Fondant

Marshmallow fondant is the better alternative to the not-so-great tasting regular fondant. It is easy to work with and it actually gets eaten!

If you love cake decorating, or want to learn, a good place to start is with my Baby Shower Cupcakes. They are surprisingly easy to do and they are a HUGE hit!

Click on the article link for directions on how to make these adorable cupcakes -- Marshmallow fondant recipe is also included.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2032432/baby_shower_cupcakes_made_with_marshmallow.html

English Muffin Pizza

English Muffin Pizzas are great for lunch. Split one muffin in half for each serving. Top with ham and pineapple, chicken, pepperoni, veggies, whatever... I love to make these with extra sharp cheddar cheese. But I would be embarrassed to tell you how many I can eat at one sitting!

Ingredients:

(for one)

1 english muffin, split in half

6 tablespoons bottled pizza sauce

your favorite toppings

shredded or slices of cheese

Directions:

Set oven to broil.

Place the halved english muffins on baking sheet.

Spoon pizza sauce over muffins; arrange toppings over sauce and cover with cheese.

Broil 3 to 5 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and edge of english muffin is golden brown.

Chicken and Dumplings With Help From Bisquick

I clipped this Chicken and Dumplings recipe from a magazine years ago. It is the best one I've ever tasted. But I do cheat a little - I don't mess around with homemade dumplings - why bother when Bisquick is just as good?

Ingredients:

4 1/2 to 5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons paprika

1/4 teaspoon pepper

butter

1 cup warm water

Gravy -- 3 tablespoons flour

milk

Dumplings -- make according to Bisquick package directions

Instructions

Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry.

Into a gallon- sized ziplock freezer bag, add flour, salt, paprika and pepper; shake well.

Put chicken into bag and shake until well coated.

Place thin layer of butter in large Dutch oven. With heat set to medium, add chicken and cook until browned, turning once; drain, reserving fat.

Add water to Dutch oven; cover and simmer to 2 hours, or until chicken is fork tender and thoroughly cooked (adding more water if necessary).

Remove chicken to make gravy.

For gravy, in a skillet, heat 3 tablespoons reserved fat; blend in flour; cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat.

Add enough milk to the reserved liquid from the Dutch oven to measure 3 cups; pour the 3 cups liquid into skillet; heat till boiling; boil and stir for 1 minute.

Place chicken in gravy.

Make dumplings (Bisquick recipe); drop by spoonfuls onto hot chicken. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes.

Uncover and cook for addition 10 to 15 minutes.

Cranberry and marshmallow fruit salad

You just might be able to get kids to eat this fruit salad; the marshmallow lovin' kids, at least.

Little tartness from the cranberry sauce - little sweet from the mini marshmallows.

Make this in under five minutes!

Ingredients

1 can (16 ounce) whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 can (8 ounce) crushed pineapple, drained well

1 can (11 ounce) mandarin oranges, drained well

1 cup miniature marshmallows

optional - 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

In mixing bowl, stir to combine cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges; fold in miniature marshmallows and chopped walnuts; transfer to serving dish. Store any leftovers in refrigerator.

Note -- This makes a nice fruit salad at Christmas time; instead of white miniature marshmallows, use green... you've already got your red from the cranberry sauce!

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Spend 15 minutes preparing this beef stew in the morning, place all ingredients in your slow cooker, go about your day, and come home to the inviting aroma of beef stew!

Ingredients

1 pound stewing beef; bite-sized pieces

2 medium potatoes, cubed

1 large onion, sliced

1 garlic clove, minced

2 large carrots, sliced

1/2 cup green beans, fresh or frozen

1/2 cup peas, fresh or frozen

1/2 cup corn, fresh or frozen

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4 cups canned beef broth

1 envelope beef gravy mix

1 cup water

Directions

In a saucepan, stir together the beef gravy mix and 1 cup water; heat till slightly thickens; pour into slow cooker.

Add remaining ingredients with gravy.

Cover slow cooker; cook on low for 8 - 10 hours.

Try this beef stew over baking powder biscuits! Yum!