PARTY RECIPE's

BAKED ARTICHOKE DIP  FROG-EYE SALAD & ITALIAN CREAM SODA

Baked Artichoke Dip

8oz can Artichoke Hearts (drained)

12oz. softened Cream Cheese

1/2 stick Butter (not margarine)

2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese (minimum)

Mix first 3 ingredients well with a blender then spread in a glass baking dish or stoneware. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake uncovered at 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until bubbling and/or topping is browned. You can also broil for a few minutes at the end. Serve with Pretzel Chips, Tortilla chips, bread or triangle Triscuts.

Frog-Eye Salad

1 cup granulated Sugar

2 Tbsp Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

1 3/4 cup Pineapple Juice (or all juice from the two can's in 2nd step)

2 beaten Eggs

1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1 box/package of Acini Pasta (little bead size) - cooked

Combine first 5 ingredients in sauce pan on medium heat until mixture starts to thicken. Add lemon juice and stir for 5 more minutes then let cool for 10 minutes. Combine with pasta in a very large bowl (Tupperware "Thatsa Bowl" is perfect according to my sister). Refrigerate overnight...

3 cans Mandarin Oranges - drained

2 cans Pineapple chunks - drained (juice was used the day before in sauce)

1 cup Coconut

2 cups small Marshmallows

12 oz. Cool Whip

In the morning, combine the above ingredients in the pasta mixture. Chill for 3 more hours then it's ready to serve! Great for potlucks it makes a TON.

Italian Cream Soda

Bottle of Club Soda

Whipping Cream

Grenadine Flavor of your choice

(I love cherry. World Market has a great selection and Sugar Free options. wink)

Whipping Cream

Rainbow Sprinkles (i like the ones pictured on the cone above instead of the thicker ones)

I use a Cream Soda glass from The Olde Spaghetti Factory which even has a mark on it for where to fill the grenadine to. So, imagine we are making this delicious drink in a tall Ice Tea glass. Pour about 1 - 1 1/2 inches of grenadine (to your taste) first. Next add the Club Soda within 2 inches of the top of the glass. Carefully add approximately 1-2 Tbsp of the Whipping Cream (pictured). It 'reacts' to the club soda and will bubble up so be careful for over spill. Add whipped cream for top garnish then sprinkle the Yummy sprinkles for fun. :). These ingredients will last for 3-4 sodas unless you buy 2 Club Sodas.

Little and big kids alike LOVE this.

I made the first two recipes yesterday for a game night with the ladies at church and got requests to share them. Both come from my sister Katrina although I'm sure she didn't invent either one. lol. The Italian Cream Soda is me eyeballing the guy making them at my favorite coffee cart in the Everett Hospital where we did service on the mission. It's Seattle yo, even coffee on every floor of the hospital. :) Let me know if you make these and like them. I'd love the feed back. (Also, the pictures above are not my own.)

Chocolate Chess Pie Recipe

CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE
1 large OR 3 small eggs
1 stick butter
3 1/2 Tbsp cocoa
1 9in UNBAKED deep dish pie shell
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 small can evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 350. Prick the bottom and sides of the pie shell with a fork. Melt butter. Beat eggs. Add eggs and vanilla to butter. Stir in cocoa and sugar. Add evaporated milk and stir until well blended. Pour into pie shell and bake for 45 minutes.

Dinner

This was our dinner tonight. My mom made this for us growing up and as a family, we recently took it up as our own tradition.

STEAK AND SOUR CREAM

(pictured is 1/2 of the 2 servings described. Time 20min!)

2 servings Top Serloin (cube bite size/1 inch)

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup*

8 oz Sour Cream*

Sides: Peas, Baked Potato

In large skillet on medium heat, cook serloin till it is browned on all sides and is cooking in the natural juices. cook till the meat reabsorbes the juices then add soup. When you are about to serve it, add sour cream till warm. Add extra sauce on baked potatoes or vegitables if you like.

This is sooooo delicious and I insist that you let me know if you make it and if you liked it. ;)

* yes, you can substitute these for lower calorie or no fat versions and I know it will be delicious. I'm actually planning to do that next time and possibly sub potatoes for wild rice...)

and the winner is...

vanilla ice cream, dizzle of caramel & chocolate sauce, 'twix' magic shell, light whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles, caramel & chocolate sauce drizzle again, topped with 4 cherries!! and the verdict is... PERFECTION!