Going home for Christmas...

Today we are heading to Minnesota for our Christmas get together with my parents, sisters & their families. We will first meet uptown to buy gifts for a family that we have adopted. It is then back to the farm to take turns wrapping these gifts. The gifts then will be delivered to the family on Sunday morning.

After the gifts are wrapped we will gather around Mom's kitchen for a meal of appetizers, chili, cookies & popcorn balls. Before we head home we will be treated to Mom's traditional red cake.

Today I am going to share a couple recipes that I made to take home. Enjoy!

MINI CHEESE BALL NIBBLERS

1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 pound (1 cup) shredded Monterrey/cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon sliced green onions
1/2 cup finely chopped peanuts
pretzel sticks

Beat cream cheese and milk in small bowl on medium speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth. Add cheese and green onions. Continue beating until well mixed. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour. Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in peanuts. To serve, place pretzel stick in each ball. TIP: To pack along: Wrap the cheese balls in plastic food wrap. Be sure to keep this cheese snack in a take-along cooler so the cheese stays cold. Place pretzel stick in each ball at serving time. NOTE - this makes 18 pieces, I always double this when making it....18 just are simply not enough!!

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SWEET CHRISTMAS DIP

1 (8 oz) tub of whipped cream cheese

1/2 cup white corn syrup

2 T. sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1 c. cherry flavored Craisins (ran through a food processor & chopped quite fine)

1 T. grated orange peel

Mix the cream cheese, corn syrup and sugar until fluffy using a medium speed on your mixer.Blend in the sour cream. Fold in the Craisins and the orange peel. Chill. Serve with Anna's Orange Swedish cookies, sliced green Granny Smith apples or pear wedges. Makes about 2 1/4 cups.

Until tomorrow,

brenda