Get In My Belly!

I know, the last thing you wanted on your Wednesday was a mental picture of Mike Myers with his giant turkey leg and grease everywhere...sorry.  I wanted to give you the inside scoop on some of my absolute favorite holiday recipes.  In our family, Christmas Eve is a pretty big deal.  There is the most amazing spread of finger foods.  Yes I know it isn't healthy, but what about the holidays is healthy?? That's what New Years resolutions are for!  So bust out those sweatpants (the ones with the drawstring...don't let sizes put a damper on your celebration!) and start stuffing that pretty little face of yours. 

Jalapeno Popper Dip
1 packages softened cream cheese

1 cup mayo
1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles (drained)
1 (4 oz) can diced jalapenos (drained)
3/4 cup parmesan cheese

Stir together cream cheese and mayonnaise in a bowl until smooth. (I use a hand mixer) Stir in the green chiles and jalapeno peppers. Stir in parmesan cheese or you can save some for topping. Place in a small baking dish. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

This can be served with tortilla chips but I prefer to serve it with toasted slices of French bread

Carla's Famous Cheese Ball
My mom made this for Christmas Eve growing up and now my husband and his friends even request it. It is soooooo simple. Only a few ingredients and some messy hands will have you on your way to a delicious cheeseball. I made this for work the other day and they were like animals!

2 packages softened cream cheese
2 packages of beef deli meat (I use Carl Buddig Beef. I'm also pretty sure that my mom only uses one package, but I like a cheese ball with more substance!...Love you mom!!)
1 bunch of green onions

Chop meat and green onions and add to cream cheese. Mix with hands and form into a ball. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill until ready to eat. Serve wth Ritz Crackers.  If you have a very sharp knife it is easy to chop the meat and onions. In a pinch I have been known to use kitchen shears, which makes things super easy. I also spray my bowl and my hands with just a little bit of cooking spray so more of it ends up in the ball and not on your hands!

Cocktail Meatballs
1 pk frozen frozen meatballs
1 jar chili sauce
1 jar grape jelly

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker...sooooooo easy and so yummy.  Sounds weird, but perfection is sometimes weird!

These are just a few of the recipes I have in my arsenal... :)  Most of you know that I absolutely love to cook...so if you get a chance, visit my collabo-blog with my bff Lori yum-in-my-tum.blogspot.com for more ideas!  Happy Holidays!!