Appetizer Recipe Swap & Foodie Friday Link Party Introduction

I've been toying with the idea of starting a food related linky party for awhile.  I love food and I love finding new recipes and so I thought having a recipe link party would be a fun way to have a sort of modern day recipe swap.  I've decided to host this party on Fridays and call it Foodie Friday.  I'm still working out the details, but I think I'd like to have a theme each week. Like main meals one week, casseroles on another, cookies on another.  You get the idea.

Last week, I posted and asked for some appetizer ideas for a party we were having over the weekend.  I made a few of the ones submitted and I wanted to share those with you guys and link back to the peeps who submitted them.  I think I'd like to try this same thing for the weekly link party.

I'd planned on taking photos of the finished products, but I was so busy getting everything together that I forgot.  Boo to me!! 

Anyway, here are some of the apps I made for our party.

The first one was actually something I found through a link party.  It comes from Ashley over at Cute as a Fox Creations.  It's a Peanut Butter "Cheese Ball"

This was super easy to make and it was sooo good!  I did the creamy PB and used light brown sugar instead of dark.  I ended up using a mixed back of chocolate chip and peanut butter chip morsels because I couldn't find the swirled ones.  I'm sure it doesn't make a difference.  Ashley served hers with green apple slices and with graham cracker sticks.  I only served with graham crackers so I don't know how the apples taste with it.  Since I don't have a photo, I'm using Ashley's.

Here's the recipe:

Preparation Time: 15 minutes.

Freezing Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes1 package (8 ounces)cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

¾ cup creamy or chunky peanut butter (not all-natural)

3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

1 ½ cups (9 ounces)NESTLÉ® TOLLHOUSE® SWIRLED™ Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Morsels

Graham cracker sticks and/or apple slices

Directions

BEAT cream cheese, powdered sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until blended. Spoon onto a large piece of plastic wrap; bring up all four corners and twist tightly (should form a ball shape).

FREEZE for 1 hour 30 minutes or until firm enough to keep its shape. Place morsels in flat dish. Remove plastic wrap from ball and roll ball into morsels to completely cover (you may find it necessary to press morsels into ball).

PLACE ball on serving dish; cover and freeze for 2 hours or until almost firm. (Can be made ahead. If frozen overnight, thaw at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.) Serve with graham cracker sticks and apple slices for dipping or spreading.

Next up, was an awesome Buffalo Chicken Dip that was submitted by Kristi at Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries

I ended up practically mincing my chicken and now that I look at Kristi's photo again, I see that hers looks more like chunks.  Anyway, I really liked this dip.  I used a generic buffalo wing sauce instead of Frank's. I've never had Frank's so I don't know what it tastes like.  I love buffalo sauce so that's why I used it.  The blue cheese is definitley the dominate taste in this and I'd say if you prefer the taste of wing sauce more than blue cheese, I'd probably sub more of the wing sauce for less of the blue cheese dressing.  Because my crock was being reserved for something else, I made this in a pot on the stove.  I don't know if that had anything to do with this, but the dip seemed really runny once everything melted together.  I will say that it really thickened up, once I took it off the burner and set it out.  I served with Frito's Scoops.  All in all, I'd say this is a keeper!

Here's Kristi's photo:

Here's the recipe:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

1/2 c. blue cheese dressing

1/2 c. Frank's Red Hot Sauce

1/2 c. blue cheese

2 chicken breasts (cooked and chopped into small pieces)

I made this by putting all of the ingredients into my Little Dipper Crockpot. I just stirred it occasionally while it was heating up. I served it with Fritos and celery sticks.

The third one I tried was submitted by one of my fave blog buddies, Mandi, over at Tidbits From the Tremaynes.  

This was the bomb and really easy to make.  She called it "Mandi's Balls" and then "Mandi's CHEESEballs".  That Mandi is a hoot I tell ya!

Here's the recipe:

2 pkgs. cream cheese
1 stick of butter or margarine
2 Tbls. lemon juice
1. Tbls. Worcestershire sauce
1. tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion salt
1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix together, form ball, roll in your favorite nuts.  Delish!
** Mandi said that this makes a huge ball so I cut the recipe in half.  It was plenty.


The 1st Foodie Friday will begin on Friday, August 27th.  This Friday, the 20th, I'll be launching my 2nd giveaway.  Check back on Friday for the deets!