Layered Taco Dip

Here's another one of those recipes that has several different versions. This is a combination of my mom's and my cousin' Jenn's. I think it's simply scrumptious!

You will need:

8 oz. cream cheese

16 oz. sour cream

1 can refried beans

1 pkg. Taco Seasoning

Tomatoes (diced)

Olives (sliced)

Cheese (grated)

Avocados (diced)

Any other veggies you might like!

Tortilla chips

*In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning. Mix well with hand mixer. In the bottom of a 9x13 pan (or a nice big plate) spread the can of refried beans. Then cover the beans with the cream cheese/sour cream mixture. I like to layer the cheese on the bottom and then put the vegetables on top, you can do it anyway you want! This dip is always a hit! Get some tortilla chips and dig in! YUMMY!

Cheese Ball

This is the yummiest and easiest cheese ball I have ever made. I got this recipe from my adorable friend Mindy and I have never made another kind since.

This is a fun treat to have at parties and would be perfect to munch on before your New Years Eve Dinner. It's as simple as this.

Beat together:

1 brick cream cheese

1/2 jar of Old English

(those little glass jars of cheese you see by the crackers

but never knew what they were used for.)

Sprinkle in some Garlic powder to taste

Roll into a ball and cover with chopped walnuts

Serve with Ritz crackers or Wheat Thins

Spinach Artichoke Dip

My friend Hollie is a FABULOUS cook! She shared this recipe with me and Marnie and we just can't get enough. For a Christmas snack I made this at my mom's and they all thought it was heavenly! Here ya go!

(Another lovely cell phone picture)

1 oz. cream cheese
(What? Another recipe with Cream cheese? :D)

1 C. (more or less to your preference) chopped frozen spinach

1 jar marinated artichoke hearts (drained & chopped)

1/2 to 1 C. grated Parmesan cheese (again, depends on your taste)

1 garlic clove crushed

Mayo (like a heaping spoonful or 2)

*Stir together, spread in the bottom of square baking dish.

*Bake on 350 for 20-30 mnutes (until heated through)

*Serve warm (or Michael says cold) with tortilla chips or crackers.

I doubled this recipe at my mom's for a thicker dip and there were about 8 of us.

Stuffed Mushrooms

I shouldn't take the credit for these because this weekend was actually the first time I've ever made them. This recipe comes from a family friend, Linda Wintch. She used to make these for us when we worked at Elliott's, and for the past couple years we've made them for nearly every get-together. Seriously.We always have these with Christmas dinner, so add them to your list of appetizers for this Christmas! They are delish. And super easy! (Our fave).

Ingredients

2-3 cartons fresh, whole mushrooms

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese (have you noticed yet we love cream cheese?)

4-5 strips bacon (cooked and crumbled)

Some diced onion. I don't know how much. I'd say we chopped up less than 1/4 of a small onion. Maybe 4-5 tablespoons. I know this isn't an exact measurement. But it's not a big deal.

Melted butter

Bread crumbs

De-stem and wash all mushrooms.

Pat mushrooms dry.

In a sauce pan, saute the onion in olive oil.

In a bowl, mix cream cheese, onion, and bacon with a hand-mixer.

Fill mushrooms with cream cheese mixture.

Dip each mushroom in butter then bread crumbs and place on baking sheet.

  

Bake at 350* for 15-20 minutes or until mushroom is soft.

Yum! I want to make more just looking at these pictures (and sorry there aren't pictures of every step).

Enjoy!

--Mindy