Sunday's post

I'm pre-dating this post to go Sunday just in case. If our power is off this long, I'll be ready to choke something! The chickens better stay out of my way...LOL! Just kidding.

Anyway, I'll get back if this isn't necessary and edit it.

Edit 8am Sunday:

Well, so far we still have power! In fact,we have never lost power YET! (Knocking on wood!) It snowed all afternoon yesterday and the temp was -8° when I got up this morning. It's gone up to -6° but the wind chill is -33° right now. I was going to go shopping today, but I think I'll wait and see if the sun warms things up at all, before I go out. Otherwise, I'll just stay home and bake. Heaven knows I have a ton of stuff to get done before Wed. evening.

I had to laugh when I opened my old recipe box this year. I have a section where I keep almost all of my traditional family Christmas recipes. I had saved the list of things I had baked or made from last Christmas. All over the list was written, "Too much". I had a tally of how much of the stuff we actually ate and I guess I figured that if we didn't eat all that much last year, I didn't need to make it this year. So instead of making some of the old-traditional things, I have a bunch of new recipes I'm making!! Deep down, I know that they won't get all eaten up, either! I don't think that's quite what I had in mind when I left myself this note last year!

I think it's our family tradition to have TOO MUCH FOOD!!!


This note says, "Too Much!!! Don't make this much next year!"


On the other side it says, "Christmas stuff I made for 12-24-07. Too Much. Check list before 12-01-08"

One of the most popular things on my list was my Cheese Ball and my Garlic Log recipes. I make these every year and we all love them. These are always almost gone by the end of our Christmas eve event, so I will continue to make them.

I'll share them here...both are very easy, very basic and very similar. But different enough that I have to make both!

Cheese Ball

16 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese
5-8 oz. bleu cheese
1/4 t. garlic powder (not garlic salt)
2 T. Worcestershire sauce (or more to taste...I use more)
pecan pieces

Mix cheese and all ingredients except pecans. For this I take off my rings, wash my hands and just dive in to mix it all up! Well, I don't dive in, just with my hands! Once it's well mixed, form it into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until it's cold. Just before serving it, roll it in the pecans. You can dress it up a bit by sprinkling some paprika on top and adding a fresh leaf of basil, spinach or mint to make it look festive. Serve with your favorite crackers. I like it with Wheat Thins or Triscuits.

If you don't like bleu cheese (gasp!) you can leave it out. I make one with and one without the bleu cheese every year.

Garlic Log (one of my sis's faves)

8 oz cream cheese
8 oz softened butter
1 t. garlic powder
1 T. Worcestershire sauce (or to taste)
chopped pecans
paprika

Cream first 4 ingredients, form into a log shape, refrigerate until well chilled. Pat the pecan pieces all over the log and sprinkle with paprika. Garnish with basil, spinach or mint leaves. Serve this one with that tiny sliced Jewish rye bread. Diet note: I make this with Fat Free, or Low-Fat cream cheese and a diety margarine to keep the dieters happy.

The nice thing about either of these recipes is that they can be made a couple days ahead. They just get better and better! Just don't put the nuts on until you are ready to serve them. They tend to get soggy.