Happy New Year!

last new years eve! 

artichoke dip

a picky eater i may be and this recipe encompasses two things that i dont like but somehow the combination i love! i just pretend like they aren't in there...the first time ann hughston ever made this for me i think i said "there's mayo in this isnt there?" haha...enjoy her artichoke dip as we will be enjoying it at the lake this weekend for new years! 


what you need
1 can of quartered artichokes (chopped up)
1/2 onion finely chopped
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup of Parmesan cheese
Just enough mayo to cover the artichokes when stirring
paprika for garnish

what you do
put butter and onion in microwave safe bowl.  cook in microwave for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. heat more/less depending on your microwave until onions are soft. mix onions and artichokes in bowl--add mayo slowly by the spoonful until covers artichokes.  add parmesan cheese.  Put in a casserole dish and sprinkle with paprika.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes/until hot

ranch and black pepper cheese ball

this weekend we are headed to gill's lake house on lake marion. in charge of some appetizers, i'm trying some new recipes that i hope are a success! today i am making a chocolate chip pound cake (go figure) and trying out a new cheese ball recipe which hardly sounds like it could be bad! 

ranch and black pepper cheese ball

what you need

2-8oz packages of light cream cheese

1 package hidden valley ranch powder mix

cracked black pepper

2 dashes hot sauce

what to do

in a food processor mix cream cheese, ranch, and hot sauce until well blended. then form into a ball on wax paper.  finally roll in cracked black pepper.  wrap tight in saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.  serve cold with crackers. 

our snow bunny