Garlic & Olive Cheeseball

This is the cheeseball my neighbor growing up would bring to us every year for Christmas & we always loved it!!

 

 

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. onion salt

1/4 cube butter, softened

1/2 can (4.5 oz. can) black olives, chopped

 

Blend cream cheese, garlic powder, onion salt and butter in mixer until well mixed. Add olives and stir until well mixed. Roll into one large or two small cheese balls. Roll in chopped almonds or crushed Ritz crackers. I have also just spread it into a shallow bowl and served it as a cheese spread with crackers.

 

Don't be tempted to add more garlic powder & onion salt. It seems like so little, but if you put more it makes it taste too salty! Enjoy!!

Cranberry Salsa

1 bag fresh cranberries

1/2 medium red bell pepper

1/2 medium red onion

3 tablespoons jarred jalapenos

1 medium granny smith apple, cored
3 tablespoons cilantro

Place above ingredients in a food processor, blend until finely chopped. (I don't own a food processor, so I just used my chopper.) Place in a bowl and add the following:

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons lime juice

1/3 cup apple juice

Stir it all up, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Once you try this it'll become a Christmas tradition.

It's even great on turkey enchiladas.

Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip!

"Olive Garden" Hot Artichoke-Spinach Dip

1 c chopped artichoke hearts (the seasoned/canned kind)

½ c frozen chopped spinach

8 oz cream cheese

½ c grated parmesan cheese

½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

¼ tsp salt

1/8 tsp garlic powder

dash of ground pepper

Boil spinach and artichoke in a cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat until tender. Heat cream cheese in a small bowl in the microwave set on high for 1 min. Add spinach and artichoke hearts to the cream cheese. Stir well. Add the remaining ingredients to the cream cheese and combine.

Serve with celery, crackers, chips, a sliced baguette, or toasted bread for dipping.

Peanut Butter Dip

This is one of those recipes that you almost always have the ingredients around for. And it's pretty delicious too!

1 Cup Vanilla Yogurt

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

1/4 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (I added a little more)

Whisk together all the ingredients until smooth and serve!

It is great with fresh fruit, graham crackers, pretzels and marshmallows.