{ The Big Cheesy Dip }

 The Bean has the Flu.

No, he didn't get the shot. No, I don't want to discuss that. ;)

For the last 4 days, he's been planted on the couch. Whenever he is sick, he pulls the coffee table up next to the couch, adds a few (or 12) pillows, a couple blankets and declares "A nest has been established". Then he barely moves.

The cat must sit with him when he's sick. All. The. Time.

In those last 4 days, I will tell you that we have definitely gotten our money's worth of Netflix Streaming. We've watched The King's Speech, Good Will Hunting, The Adventures of Tin Tin, Sahara, The Decoy Bride, and several episodes each of Mr. Bean, Firefly, Doctor Who, The Vicar of Dibley, and The West Wing. Not to mention all of the DVRed shows we've watched.

And yes, we do have a penchant for watching British shows. Is it any wonder over 1/2 of the suggestions Netflix makes for me are British?

The Bean is doing better. Still achy, dizzy, with a sore throat, and very tired, but no more fever or chills! Yay! 

He's improving. Except when I tell him to do his make-up work for school. Then suddenly he is SO sick. Tragic.

We are not football people at all. In fact, I have no idea who is playing on Sunday. All I do know is that the coaches are brothers. I saw that on the news today at noon. Didn't catch the team names though. Oops.

However, we were going to go to a Super Bowl Party with our Youth Group on Sunday.

We are staying home instead. Keep the flu germs all here in the house.

You know, so I can get it next week.

I was going to take this to the party, but... no.

I made this dip on New Year's Eve.

We very often have a party food, that my mom makes called Hanky Panky (unfortunate name, I know). I asked her to make them for NYE, but she didn't  have any of the cocktail bread required. 

So, I made it into a dip. The Bean L-O-V-E-D it.

Look, I know there are lots of Cheeseburger Dips out there. Many involving ketchup in the dip.

This is not one of those. This is, however, a very unhealthy dip, ie, it's really yummy.

Let me just tell you, there are some things in life that can't be made without the creamy, orange loaf.

This is one.

If you are opposed to a little Velveeta, this recipe is NOT for you. 

Scroll down. Banana Muffins. Goooooooooood. (No Velveeta involved).

This is a super simple recipe.

Just brown up hamburger & sausage with onion, dice up some Velveeta, plunk in a crock pot, add a lil milk. Done.

Serve with Tortilla Chips or Fritos (Scoops are best).

I severed this with a round loaf of Rye Bread, but it's much better with chips. Of course. 

This is a hearty dip, great for Super Bowl (and lots of other) parties!

Get your game on. Go, fight, win.... um, one of those brothers. I feel like awkward holidays await them, as the one flashes his Super Bowl ring and the other seethes in the corner. 

Maybe not, maybe they are fabulously well adjusted and will hold no grudges.

Whatever.

Happy Snacking!

The Hopefully Flu Free Tina

The Big Cheesy Dip

By Tina @ Sugar Bean Bakers

1/2 pound ground beef

1/4 to 1/2 pound ground Italian Sausage *

1/4 cup finely chopped onion (optional)

1 pound Velveeta, diced

1/4 to 1/2 cup milk **

Fry the burger, sausage, and onion in a skillet. Do not salt (the cheese and chips will add plenty of salt to the flavor).

When fully cooked, drain any excess grease and transfer to a Crock Pot. Add the velveeta & milk.

Allow to cook on LOW, for about an hour.

Crock Pot times vary greatly, so check it occasionally, and stir if needed.

*You can add more or less of the sausage, depending on the flavor you want.
**You can add more or less milk depending on how thick you want the dip.

{ Ranch Cheese Ball }

I mentioned in my Cocoa Cupcakes recipe that we were headed out on Black Friday to buy a new tree. We successfully waited long enough to avoid the crush of mad shoppers AND I got my tree at 60% off. 

Score!

Here it is. Better photos to come.

Hmmm... my topper is crooked. Must fix that.

My topper is pretty awesome, if I do say so myself, however, it caused a bit of controversy here in the house. See, the Bean is VERY set in his ways. We've been using the same tree topper, made of craft foam and buttons, since he was 2 1/2 years old. I cut it out and he glued on the buttons. He's 15 1/2 now, and it's getting a bit tattered, losing buttons, etc. I have a fresh new tree, with fresh new ornaments (plus all of his yearly Hallmark ornaments), and I just wanted something new. He felt otherwise. So, I was set to put Ole Buttons on top of the tree when he said not to. I didn't know how to feel about that one. I wanted to for HIM. He insisted that a new one go up. By this time, I wanted nothing to do with the new topper, but he wouldn't hear otherwise (he's 15 1/2, remember). So, new topper it was. Ole Buttons is now sitting on my little tree in my living room. Hey, it's a Harry Potter tree. Ole Buttons should be honored. But still.. my momma guilt is working over time on me.

Anyway...

New Topper

It's just a bow I made with an owl ornament inside, but I love it :)

 Ole Buttons in his place of honor. Hey, I'd be happy to retire with Harry Potter.
Just sayin'...

 (yes, that is a collage of my adorable Baby Bean behind the tree)

Harry Potter tree with Ole Buttons

Le Sigh....

There was a point to this post & it totally wasn't to ramble on about momma guilt. 

It was, however, about something ranch. And something ranch is always good.

Last year, around this time, I posted my super complicated 1. 2. 3. Cheese Ball recipe. 

1. 2. 3. Cheese Ball

I had a reader, Donna, who commented on the recipe. She told me about one she makes, which is just as complicated. It too, has 3 whole steps! I adapted my version by using less ranch.

Are you ready?

You'll need:

Ranch Cheese Ball

1 package of cream cheese, softened

1-2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 envelope of Ranch Dressing Mix

Beat the cream cheese til fluffy, add in the dressing mix, beat until combined, finally, add the cheddar, 1 cup at a time, and mix until distributed.

Roll into a ball and serve.

My photos show tortilla chips, that's what the recipe originally called for. Donna mentioned that was a typo, she'd posted something right below it calling for tortilla chips, but I had the photos already taken. People actually ate them at my party on tortillas, but you had to spread it on. I also served it with crackers. 

You can customize this recipe in any way you wish. Add some green onion, some bacon bits, use Italian Dressing mix instead of Ranch, stir in some nuts (nooooooo) if you are the nutty type, etc.

 For my party, I made this, along with the 1.2.3. Cheese Ball & the Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball.

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

Now, I've made the chocolate chip cheese ball for YEARS. My non-food adventurous son, however, had never tried it. His response? "WHO MADE THIS, IT'S AMAZING!"

"um, I did, child. I've made it for years!"

"WHAT? YOU HAVE??"

Never noticed the cheese ball in 15 years, but holds tight to a craft foam star.

That's my boy.

Happy Christmas~

Tina

{ Mozzy Cheese Sticks }

As I hinted at in this post, the Bean is a cheese stick fiend.

He squishy heart loves the fried gooey goodness that is THE CHEESE STICK.

Last week, after his orthodontist appointment, we stopped for lunch at a chain restaurant. He spied cheese sticks on the menu and wanted them UNTIL he noticed the price. $7.95. 

He thought that was far too high, and people, he's 15, and spending his parent's money.

Maybe there's hope for this one's spending habits after all, eh?

I told him we'd pop over to the grocery and grab up the ingredients and make them ourselves, and so we did.

Here's what you need:

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

Mozzarella String Cheese (or block, cut into fat strips)

Italian Bread Crumbs

Flour

Eggs

Spices
 (garlic, Lawry's Season Salt, dried parsley, other spices if you wish)

Oil for frying

We only did 4 cheese sticks, so we used:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 egg (well beaten)

1 teaspoon parsley

1/2 teaspoon garlic

1/2 teaspoon Lawry's
(use seasonings to your personal liking)

First, season your crumbs & mix well

Then cut your cheese (refraining from immature joke here)

Then we do a basic coating, what I do when I fry anything, eggs and flour. 
In this case, we do it a  wee differently. First flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs.

Confused? Just watch as the Bean demonstrates.

Roll in flour to coat all sides (including ends!)

Dip in egg

Then roll in breadcrumbs (I just realized I don't have a photo of this step. omgosh, I'm a failure ;)

Then repeat the egg & breadcrumb process.


WARNING: your fingers will get gloppily coated in this stuff. Kinda weird. Kinda gross.)

As you finish, place them on a cookie sheet. When you are done coating, put them into the freezer for about 30 minutes. 

This step keeps the cheese from exploding out when we fry.

After the 30 mins, heat your oil to about 350. This will cook them a BIT more slowly, but it will still only take 2 minutes MAX to finish.

Place them into the oil 2-3 at a time. Cook until golden on one side, then CAREFULLY flip them and cook the other side til golden.

WATCH CLOSELY! 
they will burn quickly.

Remove to paper towels to soak up the oil.

If you are making a large batch you can put them into a 200 degree F oven to keep them warm and gooey until you finish.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (you know the shaky container kind), and serve with marinara sauce.

Dive in!

Delicious.

Cheap.

Easy.

The End.

Tina 


Shared at:
Oopsey Daisy
Michelle's Tasty Creations

{ 1. 2. 3. Cheese Ball. }

This cheese ball is easy as 1….2….3.

Possibly 4, if you so choose.

This recipe is from my mother in law.

I must say nice things here, because she reads my blog.

“Hi, Carol!”

Wait til she leaves and we can REALLY dish.

Ha, just kidding, she’s pretty awesome.

This cheese ball is a *huge* hit every where she (or I) takes it. 

And it’s soooooooooooooooooo easy.

Here’s the cast list:

That is it!

You *CAN* roll this in chopped walnuts, as she does sometimes.

I don’t know why you’d ruin a perfectly good cheese ball though.

Also, the cream cheese you choose will make a difference in the firmness of your ball.

Dear Lord, please forgive me for typing that right there.

What I mean is this, full fat: ball form is possible.

Neufechatel: it is more of a spread.

Fat Free: Some where between a spread and a dip.

Pick your cheese as you will! As you can see, I went the Neufechatel route.

It’s a good route. A tasty one.

(Not that the other’s aren’t!)

Use any of the cold pack cheddars you wish. Mild, Sharp, Extra Sharp. Any name brand works as well.

Don’t use the kind with Port Wine though, it gives it a different flavor.

Let cream cheese &  cheese spread soften.

Now, try to keep up here.

1. Plop cheeses in mixing bowl

2. add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garlic

3. mix.

*WHEW* that was HARD WORK.

If using full fat cream cheese, roll into a ball. Add walnuts… if you must. (It was very hard for me to type that. Poor nutty cheese ball).

If using the others, scrape into a serving dish. (You can stir nuts into these first as well. sigh.).

Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Refrigerate leftovers.

You know, if there ARE any.

Also, I’m supposed to tell you this. If you leave this out for Santa, you *may* get a bigger gift.

Here’s another shot, because, I know you wanna see my spreader.

 

He IS adorable, after all.

And proof Santa likes cheesball!

Tina