Feta Cheese Ball

Let me share with you the recipe I saw on My Baking Addiction and had to add it to my Pinterest -  Food and Delights board and make it for Christmas Eve. Super easy to make and everyone loved it!

Feta Cheese Ball

You will need:

large bowl

electric hand mixer

cutting board

chefs knife

spatula

plastic wrap

Ingredients:

°2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened

°4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

°2 tablespoons olive oil

°2 green onions, finely chopped

°2 cloves garlic, minced

°2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

°freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Method:

1. In a large bowl using an electric hand mixer, combine cream cheese, feta cheese, olive oil, green onions, garlic, oregano and pepper.

2. Cover and chill for 2 hours.

3. Remove mixture from refrigerator and form into 1 or 2 balls. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

4. Serve with crackers, flatbread, olives, etc.

Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread...

Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread:

You will need:

medium frying pan

small bowl

Ingredients:

6 oz cream cheese

8 bacon strips

fresh chives

pinch of salt

Method:

1. Fry bacon until crispy, crumble it.

2. Cut the cream cheese in 4 pieces, place in a small bowl and heat in microwave until softened (about 45 seconds, depending on type of microwave).

3. Cut the fresh chives and set some aside for garnish.

4. Mix thoroughly the cream cheese, bacon, chives and salt. If you want a little more bacon flavor, add a few drops of the bacon fat into the mix.

5. Garnish with chives.

Serve with Crostini or French Baguette. 

Enjoy an easy homemade cheese to share and impress while entertaining.

Feel the hotness - Jalapeño Poppers...

This recipe is for all those fried, cheesy and spice lovers. I tried this recipe I found online (allrecipes.com) earlier in the year and it was delicious. I somehow missed adding the bacon bits, but let me assure you next time I make these poppers I will not forget them. They take a little more time with the preparation, but it is definitely worth it.

Jalapeño Poppers

You will need

medium bowl

2 small bowls

medium skillet

Ingredients

·      12 ounces cream cheese, softened

·      1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese

·      1 tablespoon bacon bits

·      12 ounces jalapeño peppers, seeded and halved

·      1 cup milk

·      1 cup all-purpose flour

·      1 cup dry bread crumbs

·      2 quarts oil for frying

Directions

1.      In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, Cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Spoon this mixture into the jalapeño pepper halves.

2.      Put the milk and flour into two separate small bowls. Dip the stuffed jalapeños first into the milk then into the flour, making sure they are well coated with each. Allow the coated jalapeños to dry for about 10 minutes.

3.      Dip the jalapeños in milk again and roll them through the breadcrumbs. Allow them to dry, then repeat to ensure the entire surface of the jalapeño is coated.

4.      In a medium skillet, heat the oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C). Deep fry the coated jalapeños 2 to 3 minutes each, until golden brown. Remove and let drain on a paper towel.

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Find the same recipe here!

Enjoy!

-Cass

Intro into Giada's world...

Good morning everyone!

As you all know by now, I like to cook and try out new things in the kitchen. I have to share with you that I am becoming a big fan of the “Giada at Home” show on the Food Network. Host Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian Chef, globally recognized. She has her own show on the Food Network, founded GDL Foods, Emmy-award winner for Outstanding Lifestyle Host, she has published 5 books so far (definitely on my wish list), and her recipes look easy and delicious.

So I decided we have to try out one of her recipes.

Baked Panzanella Caprese:

You will need

Baking Sheet

Oven

Ingredients

• Butter, for greasing baking sheet

• 5 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

• 2 (8-ounce) balls fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices and patted dry with paper towels

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 packed cup chopped fresh basil leaves

• Olive oil, for drizzling

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 4 to 8 (1/2-inch thick) slices country white bread

Method

  1. Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Butter a 9 by 12-inch rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.

3. Arrange the tomato slices on the bottom of the baking sheet in a single layer.

4. Drizzle with the balsamic vinegar.

5. Lay the cheese slices on top in a single layer.

6.  Sprinkle with the garlic and basil and drizzle with olive oil.

7. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

8. Arrange the bread slices on top and drizzle with olive oil.

9. Bake for 25 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the bread is crisp and golden. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Total Time: 42 minutes

Prep Time: 12 minutes

Inactive: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

* 4-6 servings

Giada's Books:

You can find the same recipe here!

You can follow video instructions here!

Want to know more about Giada? click here!

We will try out more of her recipes soon, so check back for more delicious Italian to make at home.

(Impress your family and guest)

*Let me know how your cooking went*

Would love to hear from you…

-Cass