Cream Cheese Sausage Ball Remix!

I love sausage balls.   In December of 2011 I introduced them to my blog.  I don't know what took me so long - this recipe is so easy, I've been making them since college for any event I had to bring a recipe for a group!

My world was recently shocked when I was browsing Steph's Blog (Plain Chicken) and I saw she makes sausage balls with cream cheese.  I seriously love cream cheese, so much so, that somestimes I make chocolate chip cookies that add a bit of cream cheese! 

Hello, awesomeness!

So I decided to adapt my original recipe by adding some cream cheese.  The response I got was crazy.  Everyone at our New Year's Eve party was craving over the sausage balls!

You’ll Need:
1 pound of sausage (Jimmy Dean HOT)

Eight oz bag of shredded cheddar cheese

1.5 cups of bisquick 

4 oz (half a block) of cream cheese, softened

 

Step-by-step:

1. Leave sausage, cream cheese and cheddar cheese in a bowl until they get to room temperature (I usually leave them out 15 minutes or so)

2. Preheat oven at 390 (once the sausage and cheese are at room temp!)

3. Add in bisquick to the bowl 

4. Using an electric mixer, blend until fully mixed

5. Roll into small walnut sized balls and put on a greased cookie sheet

6. Bake for 15 minutes, or until fully cooked.  This may take longer on your oven!

7.  Serve Warm & Enjoy

-DD

Grown-up Grilled Cheese - For One!

Everyone loves grilled cheese!  The comfort of warm bread with melted cheese has been a hit since age four.  This is my "grown-up" version of this classic lunch - made just for one!

Man approved! 

You'll need:
1 tablespoon of cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon of mayo
1 dash of garlic powder
2 slices of your favorite cheese (I used 2 slices of cheddar, but using two difference slices would be even better!)
2 slices of bread
Butter

Step-by-step:
1. In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese, mayo, and garlic powder until cream and smooth. 
2. Spread over your bread.  Sandwich together.
3. Put butter on the outsides of the sandwich.  In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sandwiches for about 3 minutes on each side, or until bread is lightly browned and cheese is melted!
4.  Serve warm, and be prepared to make another one because they are so good!

-Marina

Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have you been over to Two Pea's and Their Pod's website?  It is super yummy and make me wish I knew how to stage photos.   Or just how to take pictures like them?  They seriously could make dog food look appetizing.  

Anyway, I was looking for a bite size dessert to take to a party, and I had to look no further than their shop!  This recipe is (very slightly) adapted from theirs.  And many thanks to Josh & Maria!  

Just an FYI - I doubled this recipe because we had a big party, so I wanted to make sure there was plenty + a few leftovers to take to the office!  You can easily half this back.

Delicious soft, chewy cookies!  Looks like Nabisco came by my kitchen!

You'll need:

3 1/2 cups of flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup butter (salted)

1 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup of white sugar

2 large eggs

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Step-by-step:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper or baking mat.

2.  In your stand mixer, cream butter and sugar together until creamy and smooth.  Add in the eggs (one at a time) and vanilla.  Blend well.

3.  Slowly add in the flour (in half cup increments), and the baking soda until combined.

4.  Slowly stir in the chocolate chips.

5.  Rolls the dough into tiny balls (just under a tablespoon) of dough.  Place on baking sheet and slightly flatten with your hand.

6.  Bake for 8 minutes.  Allow to sit for about 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for cooling. 

Get your milk ready!

-DD

Nutella Stuffed French Toast

I love nutella and the husbands loves french toast!  This is my usual french toast recipe, but made for the chocoholic in you by adding nutella!

Hello, awesomeness!

You'll need:
6 slices of very thin bread (Pepperidge Farm is what I used)
2 eggs
1/2 cup of milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup butter
Nutella (1/2 cup)

Step-by-step:
1.  Break the eggs into a tin or large tupperware, add the milk, cinnamon and vanilla, then beat with a fork.  
2.  Spread about 2 tablespoons of nutella on the thin bread.  Use a second slice to make a sandwich.
3.  Dip the bread slices, one sandwich at a time, and turn them over.  Don't try to soak them, just get them good and wet. 
4.  Set the griddle or wide frying pan over medium heat.  Drop 2 tablespoons of in and move to grease the whole bottom. 
5.  As the bread slices come out of the batter, put them onto the griddle or frying pan immediate, and cook both sides until golden brown.  Use your spatula to look underneath to make sure you don't burn it.  You may need to add some butter in between cookies to keep it from burning.  
6.  Serve with a dollop of whip cream.

-DD    

Spinach and Cheese Bites!

I love spinach!  Even as a child, I would eat spinach quiche, creamed spinach, and pasta with spinach.  My parents thought it was a bit strange being that my two brothers detested spinach, but anyway - I've always had a love for spinach :)

This easy appetizer is perfect for a party, and is very yummy!  The best thing about it, is you can eat them more guilt free than your usually appetizer foods - like cream cheese poppers, or pepperoni bites.

I love party foods that is bite size, because it's less messy and people seem to enjoy them!  Plus, if you're like me, I like to try a lot of different snacks at a party and this way you can do it guilt free! 

A delicious way to get your veggies in!

You'll need:
2 packages of Phyllo cups (15 cups each) - these taste AWESOME and are low in calories
10 oz of chopped spinach, thawed and well drained    
1/2 cup of shredded cheese (I used Muenster, but you can use Feta for a more authentic greek flavor)
1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese
1 green onion (about 2 tablespoons)
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon softened cream cheese (optional)

Step-by-step:
1.  Put the phyllo cups on a baking sheet and bake per box directions (usually 3-5 minutes at 350)
2.  Once cooked remove from oven, and leave oven heat on.
3.  In a medium bowl, mix spinach, muenster (or feta) cheese, parmesan cheese, green onion, and garlic powder.  Mix together until well blended. 
4.  In each phyllo cup, put about 1 tablespoon of the spinach mix.
5.  Bake for about 5 minutes (temperature is on the package, but usually 350).
6   Serve warm!

NOTE:  Make sure to remove as much liquid as possible from the spinach before mixing in step 3.  If it's too wet, the cups will get soggy and gross.

Enjoy, Popeye!
-Marina

PS:  If you're looking for other ideas for a healthy appetizer, you should try my Guacamole!  So good, and guilt-free eating!