OREO BALLS

8 ounces softened cream cheese OR whipped cream cheese
1 (18 oz) package oreo cookies, crushed
2 cups semisweet OR milk chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening

mix cream cheese with electric mixer until fluffy. add the crushed oreos and beat on high speed until well mixed. chill for at least 2 hours in the freezer.

roll oreo cookie mixture into 1″ balls.

next, melt the chocolate chips and shortening in a double boiler or in the microwave.

dip the oreo balls completely into the melted chocolate using tongs or a toothpick.

put on wax paper. after the oreo balls harden, keep them in the refrigerator.

make about 3 or 4 dozen oreo balls, depending on the size

DEVILISHLY GOOD EGGS

6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons bacon bits
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
parsley OR paprika, if desired

cut eggs lengthwise in half. slip out yolks and mash with fork in small bowl. stir in remaining ingredients except egg white halves. Fill egg white halves with egg yolk mixture, heaping it lightly. garnish with parsley or paprika.

6 servings

SKEWERED GRILLED POTATOES

2 pounds red potatoes, quartered
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup miracle whip
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powdet

place potatoes and water in 2 quart casserole; cover. microwave on HIGH 12-15 minutes, stirring after 8 minutes. drain. mix remaining ingredients. stir in potatoes; cover. refrigerate 1 hour. drain, reserving salad dressing mixture. arrange potatoes on skewers. grill, covered for 4 minutes. rotate skewers; brush with reserved salad dressing mixture. continue grilling 4 more minutes.

SPINACH DIP

1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1 (8 oz) container sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 package mrs grass homestyle vegetable soup mix

in medium bowl combine ingredients; mix well. chill 3 hours or overnight; stir before serving. serve with fresh veggies, crackers or bread. refrigerator leftovers.

make about 2 cups

BACON-RANCH PASTA SALAD

 

1 (12 oz) package tri-color spiral pasta
10 slices bacon
1 cup mayo
3 tablespoons dry ranch dressing mix
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper
1/2 cup milk, or as needed
1 large tomato, chopped
1 (4.25 oz) can sliced black olives
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. stir in pasta and cook 10-12 minutes or until al dente; drain. place bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook until evenly brown. drain and chop.

in a large bowl, mix mayo, ranch dressing mix, garlic powder and garlic pepper.stir in milk until smooth. place bacon, tomato, black olives, cheese and pasta in bowl and toss to coat with dressing. cover and chill at least one hour in the fridge. toss with additional milk if salad seems a little dry.

 

CHOCOLATE-COVERED STRAWBERRIES #2

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 pound (about 20) strawberries with stems, washed and dried very well

put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heat proof medium bowls. bring 2medium saucepans with a couple inches of water to a simmer over medium heat. turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. stir until smooth. (alternately, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)

oncd the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. set strawberries on the parchment paper. repeat with the rest of the strawberries. dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.

set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.