Friday, June 15, 2018

Favorite #1)  Easy Recipes that seem impressive! You don’t have to tell people our little secret – shhhhh!  This is the time of year that you may go to a potluck or a cookout or you may have out of towners staying at your house.  I have an app, a breakfast item, and a frozen pie for you!  Did you see my Tuesday post about Entertaining?  Check it out here for ideas!  Do you need a fun cocktail or mocktail?  Check out yesterday’s drink recipe here!  

Sun dried Tomato Cheeseball

Sun dried tomato cheeseball:

This is my sister’s recipe and I think you’ll like it!  It is a crowd pleaser among my people!

I like this with the water crackers made by Carr’s or my Kroger has their own store brand Private Selection.

Ingredients needed:

about 1/3 jar of sun dried tomatoes (I like Trader Joe’s and one jar can make you 3 cheese balls)

1 package of light cream cheese (I use Kroger’s neufchatel)

garlic powder

finely shredded cheddar

Instructions:

open up cream cheese, put in mixing bowl,  and slightly melt for 30 s. in microwave

pour a little bit of the sundried tomato juice into it

chop up about 1/3 jar of tomatoes and add

sprinkle about 1 tsp. garlic powder in 

pour about 1/2 cup shredded cheddar (or more if you want to)

combine

get out some plastic wrap and sprinkle more cheese

put your mixture onto the cheese and roll using the wrap so that the cheese covers the outside of the ball – add more cheese if needed

Refrigerate for at least an hour.  Serve.  Reap the compliments and pretend you came up with it!  I do give credit to my sister when I serve it.  I hope she’s finally reading my blog now that school isn’t an excuse!  I made this to serve at my patio happy hour/dinner Monday night!

Easy mini cinnamon rolls

Unroll a roll of crescent roll dough but keep all of the triangles together so you will have four rectangles.  On each rectangle spread some melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar.  Roll up each rectangle and cut into 5 equal pieces that will be your rolls when you turn them sideways.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 min.  When finished, spread a frosting of melted butter, powdered sugar, a drop of vanilla and a splash of milk. 

I sent these to work with my husband on his birthday to share with his co-workers.  

Lemonade Pie

Into a graham cracker crust, pour a mixture of melted vanilla bean ice cream (I used about 1/3 of a half gallon) and half a can of frozen lemonade concentrate (freezer section by the breakfast foods).  I set both of these on the counter to melt for about 30 min. after doing grocery store run.  Put in freezer to re-freeze for several hours.  I served this on my husband’s birthday Wednesday night.  He loves it.  This is my aunt’s recipe!  

Favorite #2)  Catching up with friends now that it’s summer!  

This was part of my set up for my patio happy hour/dinner Monday night.  I served the cheeseball, an orange bundt cake, mango spiked lemonade, bowtie pasta with artichokes and sundried tomatoes, tomatoes and mozzarella balls with balsamic glaze, and a salad.  

Favorite #3)  Time for coffee on the patio in the mornings.  The rain held out for my dinner on Monday night, but on Tuesday morning I enjoyed my coffeee with my rainchain gutter decor. 

Favorite #4)  Celebrating the ones we love.  My husband requested Mexican for his birthday so I made Mexican chicken, carnitas from Trader’s, chips, salsa, guac, rice, and pie.  He was happy!  I gave him plastic Birkenstocks  in olive green (not sure if he will keep) and Lululemon men’s work pants.  One son gave him tickets to TAG – the movie and one son gave him socks.  

Happy Friday to all!  Can’t wait to read your favorites!

Amy