Cheeseball

2 packages cream cheese, softened
1 c. shredded cheese of choice
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/4 t. garlic salt
1/4 t. onion salt

Combine all and form into a ball. May roll in chopped nuts if desired. Refrigerate to firm up. Serve with crackers or veggies.

Stuffed Mushrooms

1 package cream cheese, softened
1 pound spicy sausage, cooked and drained
whole mushrooms

Add sausage to cream cheese and combine well. Wash mushrooms and pull out stems. Fill with cheese mixture. Bake at 300 degrees until warm and tender, 15-25 minutes.

Bubble Bread

This recipe takes some time but it is so worth it!

1 pkg. yeast
1 t. sugar
1 c. warm water
3 c. flour
1 t. salt
3/4 t. dried thyme
2 T. veg. oil
1 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
4 T. melted butter
1/4 c. chopped parsley

Sprinkle yeast and sugar over warm water in a small bowl; stir. Let stand 5 minutes. Combine flour and salt in electric mixer. While running, add yeast mixture and oil. Process until a soft dough forms. Place in a large greased bowl; turn to coat. Cover with a towel. Let rise until doubled. Punch down. Knead in cheese on a floured surface. Cover with towel and let rest for 10 minutes. Grease a 1-1/2 quart dish and set aside. Combine butter, parsley, and thyme. Roll out dough to 8x6 rectangle. Cut into 48 squares. Roll into balls. Dip into butter mixture and place into pan, snuggling them together. Cover with towel again and let rise until double. Bake 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees. Immediately remove from pan. Serve hot.

Absolutely delicious with soup.

Em's Caramel

1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 t. vanilla
2/3 c. Karo syrup
2/3 c. sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter, Karo, and sugar together. Bring to a rolling boil. Stir a lot. Take off heat. Cool 1 minute. Add milk and vanilla. Stir rapidly until it's all combined. Serve warm.

Em's Hot Fudge

6 T. cocoa
1 cube butter
1 can evaporated milk
1/3 t. salt
3 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla

Melt butter over medium heat. Add salt. Gradually add cocoa. Stir constantly. Add sugar, 1/2 c. at a time (still stirring). It will be really thick and crumbly. Turn heat to low. Keep stirring until well combined. Slowly add milk until desired consistency (about 3/4 of can). Add vanilla. Serve warm. Store in fridge.

Tortellini Soup

1 bag frozen tortellini
1 small bag spinach
2 cans italian diced tomatoes
4 c. chicken broth
1 block light cream cheese
1 lb. spicy italian sausage

Cook sausage and drain grease. Combine all in crockpot and cook on low for 3-3-1/2 hours or until tortellini is done.

Christmas Potpourri

Orange Peels
Whole allspice
Cloves
Cinnamon Sticks
Vanilla
Water

Combine in a pot on the stove. Simmer.