Pickles With a Twist 1 gallon whole kosher dill pickles 1/4 jar of TABASCO sauce 3-5 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 Tablespoon celery seed 4 cups of sugar 3/4 tsp alum Drain juice from pickles and discard. Cut pickles into slices of your choice of thickness 1/4 to -inch or so. Return chopped pickles to their own jar. Add sugar and ALL other ingredients to the jar. SHACK, stir, roll, etc. the jar until all sugar has dissolved into liquid. This will take a few hours, and DON"T refrigerate yet. When liquid state has been reached you are ready to refrigerate. Allow to marinate for a few days. The brine can be used for another batch if you want. You can easily make a smaller batch, but the large jars are much cheaper and they keep for a long time. People who don't even like 'pickles' like these. ===================================== Christmas Party Pinwheels 2 8oz pkgs. cream cheese softened 1 pkg. dry ranch mix 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper 1/2 cup diced celery 1/4 cup chopped green onions 1 cup shredded cheese Mix all together; spread on tortilla shells (about 4), Roll up tightly, wrap in plastic wrap, refridgerate for at least 2 hours.Slice 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Onion Straws--pioneer womans 1 large onion 2 cups buttermilk 2 cups flour 1 scant tablespoon salt Lots of black pepper 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper Canola Oil Slice onion very thin. Place in a baking dish and cover with buttermilk for at least one hour. Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Heat oil to 375 degrees. Grab a handful of onions, throw into the flour mixture, tab to shake off excess, and PLUNGE into hot oil. Fry for a few minutes and remove as soon as golden brown. Repeat until onions are gone. Eat before your family sees them. Repeat with another onion, because they’ll be really mad they didn’t get any. 777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Spinach Ball      dip. supposed to be super duper good 3 oz each crumbled blue cheese and cream cheese 1  10 oz frozen chopped package of spinach  --thaw and squeeze dry. ( chopped) 2 tbs mayo 1 Tsp of Worchestershire sauce. 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 2 cloves of garlic, minced Chopped pecans Combine all ingredients except nuts and mix well. Form into a ball and roll into the chopped nuts. Cover with plastic and chill well overnight is best~ I was thinking that you could also make up little individual balls with the mixture and then surround them with assorted crackers ,Origional triscuits would be nice 7777777777777777777777777777777777777 This is a dip that has been in my family for years and years.  We call it the Wilson dip.  Easy and tasty. Wilson Dip 8 oz cream cheese softened 2 hard boiled eggs chopped Chopped onions to taste--usually use about 1/4 cup 1/2 -3/r Worcestershire sauce 1/2-3/4 cup chopped olives (with pimento) 7777777777777777777777777777777777 Wow, what a delicious dip!! I BACON JALAPENO DIP 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup mayo 1 bunch green onions, sliced 7-8 bottled jalapenos 1 tomato, chopped 1 cup shredded cheese 1 pkg bacon, cooked, crumbled Mix altogether. Bake 20-30 minutes. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips. 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Texas Cranberry - Jalapeno Relish 1 pkg (12 oz.) fresh or frozen cranberries-(wonder about canned whole berry? 1 whole lime 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 to 2 jalepeno peppers, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro Place cranberries in food processor fitted with steel blade; process until coarsely chopped. Transfer to bowl. Cut lime with peel, into small chunks. Process until finely diced. Add to cranberries along with sugar and jalapeno. Mix in cilantro. Refrigerate relish several hours to allow flavors to mellow and blend. Serve chilled or at room temperature as relish to accompany roast turkey. Makes about 2 1/2 cups. spread softened cream cheese on a plate and spoon this over the top. Dip with whatever! 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Black Bean Dip: 1 (1 lb) can black beans, drained 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese 1 tsp. chili powder (adjust to taste) Mix in saucepan and heat over medium heat just till bubbly. Use large spoon or potato masher to mash some of the beans to thicken. Sprinkle with additional cheddar cheese, if desired. Serve warm with tortilla chips or raw veggies. 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Cheese Ball 8 ozs.cream cheese,softened 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup bacon bits 1/2 tesp.garlic powder 1/2 tesp.onion powder Cream the cream cheese and mayonnaise well.Add the garlic and onion powder,mix.Add the bacon bits,mix.Form into a ball on a serving plate,cover with saran wrap and refrigerate to set.Serve with your favorite crackers.Better made befor hand,I usually make it in the morning for the evening. 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 My family's favorite (make up to a week ahead and at least 2 days ahead) 1 8 oz. block room temp cream cheese 8 oz. (2 c.) shredded cheddar; I like extra sharp 1/2 stick room temp butter 2 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp Worcestershire 1/8 to 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper Optionals to roll the ball/logs in: Toasted chopped nuts, dried parsley, toasted sesame or poppy seed - whatever you like. Beat all ingredients until well blended and smooth. Chill until easy to handle. Shape into a large ball (or 2 small or a log/logs) and roll in whatever you like. Store airtight. Serve room temperature. 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Cheese Ball 2 package cream cheese softened 1 20 oz can crushed pinapple in juice chopped onion chopped green pepper Lawry's seasoned salt chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans work well) Drain pinapple well and combine with cream cheese. Add green pepper, onion, and seasoned salt to taste. Form into a ball and roll in chopped nuts. 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Bacon Wraps Wrap 1/2 slice of bacon around a Club cracker. Place on cookie sheet or in pan. Sprinkle all with brown sugar. Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Had these last night at a Christmas party and they were really delicious. 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Pickle Wraps. Spread onion and chive cream cheese on a slice of dried beef and roll up a midget pickle in it. 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777 SUMMER SAUSAGE                                                                        very easy to do. It's like the store bought kind, but much better, in our opinion. Serves: 4 rolls of summer sausage Comments: I like to make up a bunch of these at Christmas time and give them away as Christmas gifts. It’s also good to take camping. Ingredients: 2 lbs. ground beef 1 cup cold water 2 tablespoon fast cure salt, only 1 tablespoon liquid smoke (if using smoker, don’t put in liquid smoke) 1 tablespoon garlic juice 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 tablespoon whole mustard seed 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon crushed red hot pepper 1 teaspoon pepper Instructions: Combine all ing., mix well. (potato masher works well to mix this up) Roll into 4 rolls, Wrap in plastic wrap & beat to make firm Refrigerate 24 hours. Place on rack Bake 300 1-1/4 hours. At least check for doneness When done place on racks to cool. Then wrap in foil and refrigerate "For every dark night there is a brighter day" wrap each roll in saran wrap, very good. Kinda twisting the ends like for handles. Then you just hang on to both ends and beat it on the counter, kinda turning it to keep in in a "roll" type shape. Just do this a few times. Then press the ends up against the ends and go to the next roll. garlic juice Notes: These are sold in spray bottles or in small jars. Look for them in the spice section of larger supermarkets. To make your own: Strain the juice from a jar of minced or pressed garlic. Substitutes: granulated garlic (1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic = 1/2 teaspoon garlic juice) OR garlic powder (1/8 teaspoon garlic powder = 1/2 teaspoon garlic juice) we doubled with a pkg of 4 1/2 lbs hamburger. got 9 rolls. Baked rolls was about 4-5 inches long and around 2 inches thick. Reddish in color and have a very nice spicy taste.  All 9 rolls fit on a cookie sheet for the baking. They do shrink some. We froze wrapped in plastic wrap and foil. 7777777777777777777777777777777777 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Hamburger Dip Recipe 1 lb. Ground Beef 1/2 Cup Green Pepper 1/2 Cup Onion Sautee Green Pepper, Onion and Beef together. Then add the following (I usually put mine together in a crock pot or fondue): 1 cup Parmesan Cheese-not powder 8 oz. Cream Cheese 8 oz. Can Tomato Sauce 1/4 Cup Ketchup 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning 1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt 1 Tablespoon Sugar Salt and Pepper to taste! 7777777777777777777777777777 BBQ Sauce for Cocktail Weiners or Meatballs 2 c. BBQ sauce 1/2 c ketchup 3 TBSP Worcestershire sauce 1 TBSP brown sugar 1/2 c. grape jelly 1/2 c. water 3# cocktail weiners or meatballs. Mix and place all in Crockpot. tastes great. 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Was this ever good and not to mention how pretty it looked. This appetizer broke the speed barrier, it was the first one gone~~ It will be on my Christmas Appy Tray as well. ~~ Loved it, Loved it~~ Cranberry-Caramelized Onion Cheese Spread Ingredients: 8-oz soft cream cheese 4-oz crumbled blue cheese 1 cup of finely shredded cheddar cheese 2 tsp vegt oil ( used olive oil) 1 medium onion, sliced and quartered 1 tsp plus 1/4 cup of sugar divided. ( used less) 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries 1/4 cup of water 1 Tbs balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup coarsley chopped walnuts Assorted crackers ( used bagel chips) Combine the cream cheese and the blue cheese, beat till smooth and creamy. Add the cheddar cheese. Beat till well blended. Spread in a shallow serving bowl. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour to blend the flavors. Heat the oil and add the onion, cook and stir for 2-4 minutes. Reduce the heat and add the sugar. Cook for 10-12 minutes. Remove the onion and set aside. In the same skillet combine the cranberries and sugar and water. Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes until the cranberries pop and the mixture thickens. Stir in the vinegar and add the onions. Spoon over the cheese spread and sprinkle with the walnuts. Serve with crackers. Yields 24 servings?? hmmmm?? ( You had best double this recipe) 77777777777777777777777777777777777 have made it dozens of times. I could eat this with a spoon it is that good. It is very easy to cut in half if you only need a small amount but in our case it doesn't stick around very long when we have company so I always make it as shown. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Sausage Dip 2 pounds pork sausage -- Jimmy Dean 4 packages cream cheese -- 8 oz. each 2 cans tomatoes with green chilies -- Rotel Brown the sausage - drain if necessary. Add the cream cheese and Rotelle heat until all the cream cheese is melted and smooth. Mix well. Put in crockpot. Serve with Tostitos Scoops. 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Grape Jelly with Chili Sauce Meatballs or Cocktail Weiners (appetizer) One 12 oz. bottle of chili sauce and 12 oz. grape jelly (or half a bottle of 32 oz. jar); double this recipe depending on the amount of meatballs or hot dogs or smokies. Mix and place all in Crockpot. 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777