Pecan Cheese Ball

Pecan Cheese Ball
From: Souther Living Christmas Cookbook via Susan Reid

2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese...softened
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 TBSP finely chopped onion
2 tsp seasoned salt
2 cups Chopped pecans, toasted and divided

Combine first 5 ingredients; stir in one cup pecans. Cover and chill until firm.

Shape mixture into ball; roll in remaining 1 cup of pecans. Place cheese ball on a serving platter; serve with crackers and strips of bell pepper (red and green recommended). Cheese ball will be about 5 inches in diameter.

Fresh Cucumber Dip

Fresh Cucumber Dip
From the Kitchen of Margot

1 (8oz) cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1 TBSP lemon juice
2 Med. Cucumbers peeled, seeded and diced
4 green onion sliced
2 tsp fresh dill
3/4 tsp hot pepper sauce (I personally use more about 3 tsp extra)
1/4 tsp salt

Beat cream cheese, add mayo and lemon juice and beat until blended.
Stir in cucumbers, onions, dill, hot pepper sauce, and salt until well
mixed.

Cover and chill for 3 hours

Serve with crackers and veggies

Breakfast Made Ahead of Time

One of my sweet friends, who has an awesome Blog called Feed My Monkeys, just posted this awesome recipe for making 18 "egg mc muffins" for the month and the tips on how to freeze them so that either you or your hubby could have breakfast ready in the morning for pretty much every work day of the month. She states that it costs about $10.00 to make all of these sandwiches. I don't know about you, but that is awesome that you can feed your hubby breakfast every work day for so little. Here is the link to Freezer Cooking: Egg Muffin Sandwiches.

I am going to hunt for a little egg frying pan and then attempt this and see how Alex likes it.

If you guys try it or have any other tips like this one for saving time and money for your family, please share.

Taco Soup

Taco Soup
From the Kitchen of Amy Young

Boil a half chicken, debone and shred meat and place in a huge pot
or brown 2lbs of ground beef or turkey
brown/saute 1 med chopped onion for 5 minutes

Add:
2 pkg taco seasoning
2 pkg ranch dressing mix
2 cans whole kernel corn drained
2 cans pinto beans (undrained)
2 cans kidney beans (undrained)
1 large can organic tomatoes diced (drained)
1 can rotel tomatoes (undrained) *my mother uses 2 cans
Several cups of water (use your best judgement)

Simmer for several hours on the stove. Season to taste.

Top your bowl with fresh cilantro and avocado!!
YUM