My Favorite Things

Last night I shared my sister's magical deviled eggs recipe and promised to share more of our families holiday favorites throughout the week.  This is the season of giving after all, and so please, give me feedback.  Share some of your favorites and if you use any of the recipes I post and have a change that might make them better, please, leave me a comment with your suggestions!

Today I'd like to share a couple of easy, party pleasers, that you can quickly whip up a few hours before your party.  Both will also keep well in your freezer for future use, just in case you need something yummy for an impromptu gathering.  Another plus is that neither require serving utensils which make them great for cocktail parties and there is less clean up all around.  Let's start with dessert first.

I first tasted this recipe for Oreo Truffles at my friend Michelle's house when she hosted a few of our neighborhood families last year during a progressive dinner.  Maybe it was because I was pregnant at the time, but I thought they were the best things I had ever put in my mouth.  Really.  Worthy of my dad's expression that it "taste so good, it'll make your tongue slap your brains out".  Yes, folks, they are that good.  And so easy!  Minimal ingredients and no baking required.  Run out and buy some Oreo's now (as if you'd need an excuse)!

What you need:

• 1 bag of Oreo cookies (she suggested that some people like the mint variety, but I love the plain version)
• 1 block of cream cheese
• Milk chocolate bark and white chocolate bark (both of which you should find in the baking section at your local grocery store but you need "bark" vs regular chips because they will cover your truffles and create a nice hard candy shell) 

What to do:

• Crush your Oreo's in a food processor or blender and mix with softened cream cheese
• Roll this mixture into small balls about 1" in diameter and put in the freezer for one hour or until you are ready to coat them in chocolate.
• Once set by freezing; dip each ball into the melted chocolate bark by using a spoon and place back on wax paper. 
• After all of your truffles have been dipped you can melt the white chocolate bark (or any color variation) and put it in a Ziploc bag.  Cut a small hole in the corner of the chocolate bag to drizzle small lines across each truffle as decoration.

To melt the bark you can either microwave it or melt it down on the stove.  I found that melting the chocolate in the microwave was easy and used less dishes, but it's up to you.

These truffles make great gifts but you'll need to store them in the fridge because they will soften up and become a melted mess if left out too long.  I have also recently seen these done as a no bake cake pop and that will make it even easier to dip, which means, if you know me, you may be getting Oreo truffle cake pops this year.  And forget everything you read above, I of course will have slaved over them in the kitchen for hours on end just to make them for you!

Another passable appetizer recipe that also makes for a great brunch addition is Paula Deen's Sausage Balls.  I found them in her cookbook (a true treasure chest of fun comfort food) and have been making them for pretty much any holiday get together my family has since.  Even my crazy lovable brother in law (who hates all things cheese) has enjoyed a few prior to my disclosing that there is indeed a lot of cheese in the recipe for these savory biscuits.

What you need:

• 4 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
• 3 cups Bisquick baking mix
• 1   1-pound package ground sausage **I use Jimmy Dean Spicy Sausage to give it a little extra ooomph and it doesn't seem to make it too spicy.
• A sprinkle of water ONLY if you find that the mixture seems to dry and you are having trouble mixing it.  The recipe doesn't call for it, but after numerous times baking these up I have yet to go without adding a little water as needed.

What to do:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
• Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray.
• Combine all ingredients in a large glass bowl.  Mix well with your fingers.   
• Form into 1 inch balls, squeezing the mixture so it holds together, then rolling it between the palms of your hands to form balls.  *This is when I sometimes add just a little water to moisten to dough
• Place the balls on the baking sheet.  Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. 
• To prevent sticking, move the balls with a spatula halfway through cooking.

We end up having these on Christmas morning, and often for many mornings after because once we cook them they are so easy to freeze and then pop in the microwave on defrost to serve again later.  When re-heating in the microwave, you can defrost for a few seconds and then microwave for about 30 seconds (more or less- they will microwave quickly because they aren't very big) wrapped up in a napkin and voila they are ready to go and will make a good breakfast on their own or as a side.

I hope these treats will come in handy for you if you are like me and have been rifling through your recipes looking for something to make as gifts or for a party.  Not only are they super simple they are tasty too!  Have fun cooking up something good!