Recipes

Happy Holidays!  In honor of Christmas party season, I thought I'd share some of the party recipes I used this year.  What I love most about the first two is that they only contain 3 ingredients!!!  The first one, Oreo cookie balls comes from my sister in law.  I first had them over the holidays at her house when I was pregnant with my daughter.  I think I ate about 30 of them that day!

Oreo Cookie Balls
1 pkg Oreo cookies (regular - generic works just fine) ground to a crumbly powder (I use a food processor) - reserve some of the crumbs
1 pkg cream cheese
white or dark chocolate bark coating

Mix the cookie powder and cream cheese until a stiff dough is formed.  Roll into balls (bite-size), place in Ziploc bags and freeze (this makes them SO much easier to dip).  Melt bark coating in a double boiler and dip each ball in chocolate (using a toothpick) and let harden on wax paper.  Before chocolate has dried, top with reserved crumbs (or you can be creative and use crushed candy canes, heath bars, etc, you can also mix the crumbs with colored sprinkles, red & pink for valentines day, red & green for Christmas).   Once cool, store in airtight container.  I refrigerate if they won't be served until the next day.

Sausage Balls
3 cups Bisquick (generic works just fine - so does the low fat)
1 lb hot sausage
2 cups shredded cheddar (I use sharp)

Combine (this is much easier to do when all ingredients are at room temp.  Roll into 1" balls and bake at 350 for 25-30 mins.  One batch makes a lot!

Wassail
2 qt apple cider
2 cups pineapple juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup sugar (more if you'd like)
a couple of cinnamon sticks
1 tsp whole cloves
1 orange & lemon (optional - slice into rings and place on top for presentation)

Combine and bring to a simmer (except orange/lemon rings).  Reduce heat so that wassail is hot but not boiling.  Lay orange/lemon rings on top.  Can serve either in a pot on the stove or in a crockpot (I use a pretty pot).  It makes the house smell WONDERFUL!  

Enjoy!