Coconut Easter Eggs

A fun way to get the kids into the kitchen is to pursuade them to help you out making Easter candy...seriously, who can say no to that??  Homemade candy always has such great flavor & its fun for the kids to see they can make what they see in the store without all the preservatives & with the chocolate they like best!  Even better, these do not have to be shapped like eggs, so make them into squares, balls, whatever floats your boat & works for your family.

8oz cream cheese
1 stick butter
2lbs 10x sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c coconut

Mix all ingredients together
shape into eggs (or whatever you have decided to do)
place eggs on cookie sheet lined with wax paper & place in refrigerator to chill
once eggs are cold, coat them with melted chocolate of your choice (you can use traditional chocolate chips, the microwave kind of chocolate in the baking aisle for dipping, dark chocolate, white, or get colored for the season or the party colors if they are for a bridal or baby shower)
return to the fridge to set the chocolate & enjoy

Taco Dip

Len's mom gave me several fantastic dips...which I confess, we don't make up nearly as much as I should for how much the kids love to snack!

8oz cream cheese
8oz sour cream
1pkg taco seasoning

Mix together & spread onto pizza pan

Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, diced cucumber, diced onion (all are optional based on your family's preference)
Finish the creation by topping it all off with shredded cheese
Serve with corn chips or tortilla chips

Cheese Ball

Tired of spending 5.00 on a cheese ball for parties?  I can't seem to get the dumb thing into the cart...which prompted a search to figure out how to make one!

1 wedge soft fancy cheese
3 1/2 oz blue cheese
1/2 sm grated onion
1 clove crushed garlic
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
8oz cream cheese
3-4 drops hot pepper sauce
1 Tbs sour cream

Mix all ingredients thoroughly with a mixer.
Pat into a ball shape with a spatula
Spread chopped parsley on waxed paper & roll ball until covered
Set on dish, cover & refrigerate till solid
Enjoy with a cracker assortment, even pretzels

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This is a big time favorite for get together family meals.  Gma is always asked to bring this one & its gone before you can blink!  The only way you have any left overs to enjoy when no one is looking is if you sneak them before the crowd hits the kitchen!!  Definitely a kids favorite too.  I know there are those who have issues with the strawberries, and sometimes you just don't have fresh ones around, in which case, make it w/o them & enjoy!!

2 c finely crushed pretzels
1/2 c sugar, divided
2/3 c butter, melted
12oz (1 1/2 8oz pkgs) Cream Cheese, softened
2 Tbs milk
1 c thawed Cool Whip
2 c boiling water
1 pkg (8 serving size) Strawberry flavored gelatin (like Jello)
1 1/2 c cold water
1 qt (4c) strawberries, sliced

Preheat oven 350
Mix pretzels, 1/4 c sugar & butter.  Press onto bottom of 13x9 pan.  Bake 10 min.  Cool.
Beat cream cheese, remaining 1/4 c sugar, and milk until well blended.  Gently add cool whip.  Spread over cooled crust.  Refrigerate until ready to use.
Stir boiling water into gelatin in lg bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved.  Stir in cold water.  Refrigerate 1 1/2 hrs or until thickened (spoon drug through leaves a definite impression)
Stir in strawberries (IF USING THEM).  Spoon over cream cheese.
Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.
Cut into 20 squares to serve.  (gma just brings it as is & we spoon out our servings, trying to be fair so everyone gets some of course)

Pound Cake

It is inevitable that just when I need a pound cake to go with the fresh berries & cool whip, I have none in the freezer...this cake is a fantastic cake to make up then pop into the freezer, wrapped well, for those surprise guests, or even more for those times when you are dying for a great dessert but don't have time to make it, or energy...as is often the case around here!

1 1/2 c butter, room temp
5 eggs, room temp
3 c sugar
3 1/2 c sifted cake flour OR 3 1/4 c all purpose flour
1 c milk
1 tsp vanilla

Grease & lightly flour 10" tube pan, set aside.
Beat butter and sugar in mixer on med speed 10 minutes or until fluffy. 
Add 1/2 the flour and 1/2 the milk.  Beat well.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add remaining flour, vanilla, and milk.  Beat batter until smooth.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 350 for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely on a wire rack.

**If freezing, it helps to slice then wrap, so that you can eat the cake with less time needed to thaw.**

Brownies n Cream Sandwiches

Like whoopie pies...like brownies???  this fabulous recipe combine both into one easy to make dessert!  Great for traveling, these will go quick so come prepared!!

1 box Fudge Brownies
1 lg egg
2 Tbs water
1/3 c veg. oil
1 can creamy home-style classic vanilla frosting

Preheat oven to 375
Grease cookie sheets
Mix brownies, oil, egg, water
Drop by even Tbs 2" apart on greased sheets
Bake 7-8 minutes or until set
Cool, then frost & top with a second brownie to make a sandwich

Fantastic way to bring brownies to work, school or any get together.  Each is wrapped in plastic wrap, making them easy to toss into picnic baskets, lunches or into the snack basket for trips!

Punch!!

Now, no fighting boys!  Life in a house with growing boys can be quite interesting to say the least, but this Punch is a drink...and one the boys will enjoy!

1 can (6oz) frozen orange juice concentrate
1 can (6oz) frozen lemonaide concentrate
1 qt. apple juice
2 qts. ginger ale
Sherbert
ice cubes

***OR***

Red Juicy Juice
Ginger Ale
Raspberry Sherbert
Frozen Fruit ( bananas, strawberries, berries, etc...)

Is that it?  Yup!  pour all the ingredients of each recipe into a big punch bowl or just an xlg bowl...the first will give you a fun mix & match as you please drink...use the fun multi colored sherbert in this one to add flavor & fun...in the second recipe, you will get a fantastic pink drink perfect for a shower, girls party or just because its cool :)