Barbara's Cheese Ball

Every year my neighbor and I have a Christmas Open House. We just invite everyone we know, and some we don't but would like to try to get to know, to come visit and munch on Christmas favorite foods. We usually have about 30-40 ladies come during the 3 hours. It is a lot of fun. One of the things that is always a hit is my cheeseball. A lot of ladies asked for the recipe so here it is.

2 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese ( I use the 1/3 less fat mostly because it makes a softer ball)
1/4 tsp. mustard (spicy brown or deli is best)
2 tsp. Bon Apetite
3-5 stocks green onion, chopped

Mix together in food processor or in a bowl with a hand mixer. Form into a ball or log and roll in nuts. (I like slivered almonds). Chill till firm.

I'll post a picture next time I make it, I forgot to get one yesterday.

Ring-a-lings

I have been asked to share my ring-a-ling recipe. I do so somewhat reluctantly. It is a one of a kind item and is my specialty. But here it is complete with pics so you can see how it is done.

Makes 2 dozen, can easily be doubled.

Ring-a-lings
2 T. yeast
1/4 C. warm water
1/3 C. butter, melted
3/4 C. milk (warm)
8-9 C. flour
1/3 C. sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. grated orange rind ( I use the dried kind you buy in the spices)
2 eggs

Mix yeast in warm water with a little sugar. Combine butter and milk in large mixing bowl. Beat in sugar, grated orange rind, eggs, and yeast mixture. Gradually add flour to form stiff dough. Let stand 30 minutes. Prepare filling

Filling
1/3 C. butter, softened
1 C. powdered sugar
1 C. walnuts or pecans finely chopped
1 1/2 tsp maple flavoring

Beat butter and sugar till creamy. Add nuts and flavoring.
Roll out dough to a 24X10 inch rectangle. Spread 1/2 of dough with filling. Fold dough in half. Cut into 1 inch strips. Twist each strip, tie twisted strip into a knot. Place on greased cookie sheet or parchment lined cookie sheet. Cover and let rise in warm place until double in size, 45-60 minutes. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes. Frost with glaze. Best if eaten warm.
I often freeze mine in ziplock bags as soon as they are cool enough to not sweat in the bags. Let them thaw at room temp. and microwave for 10-15 seconds.
The filling will goo out of the rolls and bake onto the cookie sheet. We scrape it up into a bowl and call it ring-a-ling candy.

Noni's Gingerbread House

A couple of weeks ago April had to work a Monday night shift so I wanted to do something fun with the kids for FHE. I got a gingerbread house kit thinking they would enjoy it. Caleb preferred to watch TV than help because he just thought he could eat the candy for it. Noni got really into it and wanted to do every step. But I realized a little late that it was kind of challenging to get it to stick together properly. It took a little more time than she was willing to wait. Finally I got her distracted enough to hold the house myself until the frosting set. Then I let her decorate it. She drove me nuts. It took her 5 minutes to choose where to put one candy! An hour and a half later I convinced her to just stick the candy on! Voila, here is her gingerbread house! Notice her chimney with smoke coming out.

Why We Have Reservations

Camille and I have been in Utah for 3 days. Camille and I took Ellie home (she had been here for Leanora's birthday party), I helped my mom with some stuff, and we spent some fun time with Mindy and her cute kids. We were later than planned coming home because we stopped at Lakeview Hospital to see one of Camille's best friends from High School and her brand new baby. This is what I came home to.The empty spot is where my range is suppose to be sitting.

This is why we have reservations at Jaker's for our Thanksgiving dinner!

Straw Maze

I had to take some stuff to Millie in Rexburg today and she had a great idea. She suggested that I bring April and the kids with and we go to the Straw Maze. I wasn't too thrilled with the idea but thought it would be good motivation for the kids (and myself) to get stuff done and something to keep them busy.It was a rather ominous sky, cool, and windy as we pulled up to the maze. Side note- it was just down the road from Ruth's childhood church in Archer. So I am sure it was also very close to her house but I couldn't recognize anything. The first thing to happen was for Noni and Caleb to start a straw fight. So fun (not really).

Caleb and Leanora waiting to ambush us.

Leanora got Jessica (Camille's roommate) good.

This is what I call claustrophobia! There were a few spots that made my heart race and my breathing shallow but over all it was ok. At first the kids didn't think they needed to wait for us. But after the first "wrong turn dead end" they decided they better not get too far ahead. Even if they were just around the corner their voices sounded muffled or like they were on the other side of the maze. About 3/4 of the way through they thought we should turn around and go back the way we started. We explained that we didn't think we could remember all the turns. Caleb decided that we would never get out of there. Well . . . if your ever lost hope that Leanora is with you. She led us right out after that and was pretty proud of herself!

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but I was sure at a couple of spots we would be holding one of the kids up to get one of the workers to direct us out! It was a fun but chilly adventure for a Fall Saturday afternoon.