Food is Yummy: July 2008

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

1 8oz cream cheese-softened
1/2 C butter (no substitute)-softened
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 C confectioners sugar
2 Tbl brown sugar
3/4 C mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 C finely chopped pecans
Graham crackers (chocolate & regular)

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter & vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sugars; beat until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover & refrigerate for 2 hours. Place cream cheese mixture of a large piece of plastic wrap; shape into a ball. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, roll cheese ball in pecans. (I prefer mine without the nuts) Serve with graham crackers

Yield: 1 cheese ball=about 2 cups

Pineapple Cracker Dip

8 oz Cream cheese (softened) *I use the fat free cream cheese-it's a lot softer
1 small can crushed pineapple (drained)
2-3 chopped green onions
1 tsp sugar
dash of salt

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

BUTTERSCOTCH BROWNIES

1/2 C. butter or margarine
2 C. brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C. chopped nuts
1 1/2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 C. nonfat-dry milk powder
1 C. butterscotch chips

Combine butter, sugar & eggs. Mix well. Add flour, salt, baking powder, & dry milk. Mix well. Spread in greased 9x13 in. pan. Sprinkle nuts & chips on top. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cut into squared while warm.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

CRUST: (crumb topping)

1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans preferred)
1/3 cup melted butter

Combine crust ingredients in mixing bowl. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

SWEET POTATO MIXTURE

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs--well beaten
1 stick melted butter

Combine sweet potato mixture ingredients in mixing bowl in the order listed. Mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish. Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with the crust mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes.
Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.

SO YUMMY even if you don't normally like yams. I know it's not much of a summer recipe, but I just found it so I thought I'd share!! ENJOY!!

Cool Tips

How many of these did YOU know about?

A sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife
under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed.
(hmmmmmm...)

Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them
neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put dish
washing liquid in it! .
Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. ( wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)

To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.

Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).

Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.

Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get 'sharpened'' this way!

Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! (Now, where to put the body?) LOL

Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean.

Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.

Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.

Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.

To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!

To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top.

Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.

Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness

Cure for headaches. Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.

Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.

Cleaning mirrors: Use air-freshener. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.

When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

Clean a toilet: Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action c lean vitreous China .

Clean a vase: To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

Polish jewelry: Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the thermos with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.