Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups

These yummy bites are always a hit at the party.  You'll never make enough!

One day I decided I was tired of trying to get these to stay together after it was rolled up since nothing ever wants to stick to the pickle, then they like to come undone.  If I didn't shove the whole thing in my mouth I ended up with the whole piece of pickle in my mouth and nothing for the rest so I end up shoving it all in my mouth anyway.  So, I diced the pickle and mixed it in the cream cheese.  Problems solved!  I can take one bite and still have pickle left and it stays all rolled up in a pretty pinwheel!

Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups

8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
sliced dill pickles, med jar
4-5 tortillas
pkg of thin Ham slices

Dice pickles and use about 2/3 of the whole jar(more or less as you like)

Mix with cream cheese

Spread cream cheese on 3/4 of tortilla (the cream cheese will smoosh as you roll it so you don't want it coming out the edge.)

Lay down 3 slices on ham.

 Add a little more cream cheese, this will act like glue and hold it all together.

 Roll tightly.

When you get to the end, smooth on a little cream cheese (that is if your cream cheese mixture didn't already squoosh out the side!)

 Wrap in plastic wrap. Put in fridge for a few hours to firm up. 

Slice into pieces about 1" or so wide.  Eat the ends, they never look nice for the plate. Stack the rest and serve!

You can also chop thicker slices of ham, the pickle and mix with the cream cheese and use it as a spread on crackers.  Just as good but with crunch!

Top 10 Recipes of 2013

While I have been blogging recipes for a while now I only got serious this year by adding a Facebook page and offering more recipes.  I've added about 100 recipes this year and thought maybe we could take a look back at some of the fan favorites and toss in a couple of our family favorites. I hope you enjoy the look back with me.  

#10

Pretty tasty BBQ sauce and how to cook the ribs so they are oh so tender!

Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Whiskey BBQ Sauce

Pin it:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746082432317/

#9
A twist on the usual dressing for Thanksgiving.

Cornbread Dressing
Pin it:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746085357345/

#8
My favorite holiday cookie

Thumbprint Cookies
Pin it:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746082432322/

#7
Light and fluffy

Lemon Cream Cheese Dessert
Pin it: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746086323337/

#6
A twist on a peanut butter dessert.

Peanut Butter Snowballs
Pin it: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746086461624/

but you loved them first as

Bloodshot Peanut Butter Eyeballs!
Pin it:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746086273945/

#5
It's called easy for a reason..

Easy Quiche
Pin it:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746085699433/

#4
A holiday favorite

Mexican Wedding Cakes
Pin it: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746086499294/

#3

Easiest roast to make

CROCKPOT POT ROAST
Pin it: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746082587985/

#2

My husband's favorite

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK
Pin it:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746082533329/

and #1!!

The cookies heard and made all over the world!

PECAN PIE THUMBPRINTS
Pn it:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746086323339/

Please join me in 2014!

I'm looking forward to more cooking and new recipes!

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #76

Welcome to the Foodie Friends Friday 

BEST OF 2013 Party!!

Last week's recipes that received the MOST CLICKS!!  Thanks for clicking on my DIY GINGERBREAD HOUSES and ULTIMATE CHEESEBALL!

Baked Eggnog Mini Donuts with Eggnog Glaze

Even if you don't like or drink egg nog you need to try these little goodies.  There is eggnog in the donut as well as the glaze.  What a wonderful treat for your family!

Eggnog Mini Donuts with Eggnog Glaze (Makes 18)

Donuts:

2-1/2 Tablespoons canola oil

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

scant 2/3 cup eggnog

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

couple dashes salt

ground nutmeg*

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

2-4 Tablespoons eggnog

Sausage Cheese Balls

Sausage Cheese Balls (Makes about 25 balls)                                  Printable Recipe

3 cups flour 
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) cold butter
1 pound pork sausage (I used Jimmy Dean regular) 
8 ounces (2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups buttermilk

Hot Beef and Bean Dip

Hot Beef and Bean Dip

2 pounds hamburger
1 small onion, chopped
16 ounce jar salsa
1-1/2 teaspoons taco seasoning
2 cups shredded cheddar or 12 ounces Velveeta
1 can refried beans

Cook hamburger and onion. Drain. 

Add salsa, taco seasoning*, cheese, and beans.  If you are using shredded cheese you can dump it into the crock now.  If not melt the Velveeta and then put it the crock. 

This can be made the day ahead and then heated back up in the crock pot.  Serve with tortilla chips. 

*The refried beans and salsa already have seasoning so you may want more or less of thee taco seasoning.

DIY Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread Houses

Some years back I started a tradition with my niece, nephew, and oldest daughter decorating gingerbread houses. I bought $5 kits and we each had our own. The next year I couldn't find any that price they were all at least $10 so I decided to figure out what we could do to have the fun without paying an arm and a leg.

My dad is handy so I had him build some houses based on graham cracker dimensions. He purchased enough plywood for 4 houses (1 for each grandkid - by then I had another child) and began building. They are very sturdy and so are the bases, unlike those plastic ones the kits come with.  You could also use milk cartons or boxes glued down to a heavy cardboard base.

I purchased cheap gum drops, fruit slices, candy canes, hard candies, etc and we use those to decorate with. Any leftovers hit the freezer til the next year. Many times you can find sales of Christmas colored goodies after Christmas.  You can also buy those cute little realistic trees that they use for those Victorian villages.  

Here is the house and base before I get started.

I cover them with freezer paper.  I put the shiny side out so the frosting doesn't leech into the paper.

Royal icing (makes about 6 cups)
6 tablespoons Meringue Powder 
2 pounds powdered sugar
3/4 cup warm water (don't add all at first)

Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes on medium.)  You want your frosting thick but not so thick the kiddos can't squeeze it through a piping bag. Use disposable decorating bags, add the frosting and then use a rubberband to keep it closed.  It will prevent the frosting from getting squeezed out the wrong end and getting all over the place. 

With a frosting spatula or flat knife spread some frosting glue onto the roof and sides and attach graham crackers.  You will need to cut some of your graham crackers for the ends that are angled.  Used a serrated knife like you would a saw.

Start decorating!!

 I let the kids decorate however they want.  It's their house!

My daughter always asks me to do the icicles.  I use a #18 star tip here and make something like shells and drag them down.  Takes a little practice but remember that real icicles aren't perfect.

Don't want to buy the Victorian style trees?  Use ice cream cones covered in green royal frosting.

For added snow effect.  When the house is done I add snow to cover the base.  Use your spatula to make it all bumpy.  It really does look like snow.

I bought each of the kids these cute little penguin ornaments and took off the hardware. They put the on their bases as added decoration.

 Final product for this year.

My youngest, so proud of her work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are a few other years we made them.

2006

2009

2010

2011

2012

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #75

Welcome to the Foodie Friends Friday 

Anything Goes Christmas Party!!

Last week's recipes that received the MOST CLICKS!!  Thanks for clicking on my MEXICAN WEDDING CAKES!!

Please take a moment to read through the rules before getting started, Thank You!

*By linking up you agree that you read these rules and all photos/recipes are original and belong to you. You agree to allow Foodie Friends Friday and any of it's affiliated websites or publications (Social Girls Media, LLC) to use photos, links, and recipes for reprint and/or republishing and distribution without monetary compensation to you. If photos & recipes are used, proper link backs to you will be included.

Adding Links back to Foodie Friends Friday and our Button is our only form of advertising to bring in more people to see YOUR recipes.

Please remember to do this. It benefits you! To thank you, we will continue to feature those with links throughout the year on various outlets.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you to everyone for making last week's Foodie Friends Friday Party a huge success. Did you see all the recipes that caught OUR attention last week? Check out the Host Favorites on the Daily Dish for links to all the recipes.

An InLinkz Link-up