Cream Cheese Frosting

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.

Buttercream Frosting

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 Crisco, softened

pinch of salt

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

4-6 tbsp. whipping cream (you can substitute milk or half and half)

4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

 In a large bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter and Crisco. Add pinch of salt and vanilla and continue mixing until smooth. Add in sifted confectioner's sugar one cup at a time, add a tablespoon of whipping cream in between each cup of sugar, scraping the sides of bowl down each time. Gradually beat on low-medium speed well until smooth and fluffy. (The lows speed keeps it from incorporating too much air into the frosting).  To reach the consistency you need, you may need to add more sugar or more whipping cream. Add food coloring and blend well. Remember, gel or paste coloring will darken over time.

Cranberry Bliss Bar Clone Recipe

(From Todd Wilbur, Top Secret Recipes Unlocked)

Ingredients
\3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
2 Tbsp. minced crystallized ginger
3/4 cup chopped sweetened dried cranberries
4 oz. white chocolate, cut into chunks
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extractFrosting
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup chopped sweetened dried cranberries
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 tsp. lemon juice

Drizzled Icing
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. vegetable shortening

 Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

 Make cake by beating the butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs, ginger, vanilla, and salt and beat well. Gradually mix in the flour and baking powder until smooth. Mix the chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks into the batter by hand. Pour the batter into a buttered 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the batter evenly across the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake is lightly browned on top. Allow the cake to cool.

Make the frosting by combining the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. When the cake has cooled, use a spatula to spread the frosting over the top of the cake.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of chopped dried cranberries over the frosting on the cake.

Make the drizzled icing by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, and shortening. Drizzle this icing over the cranberries in a sweeping motion with a squirt bottle or fill a small plastic storage bag with the icing and cut off the tip of one corner.

Cover the cake and let it chill out in the fridge for a couple hours, then slice the cake lengthwise (the long way) through the middle. Slice the cake across the width three times, making a total of eight rectangular slices. Slice each of those rectangles diagonally creating 16 triangular slices.

She Loves Wine's Cold Vegetable Pizza

It wouldn’t be Christmas without this, my boys can eat a whole one by themselves.

2 pkg of crescent rolls
1 cup of Hellman’s Mayo (NOT MIRACLE WHIP)
1 8 oz Cream Cheese - soft
1 teaspoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon Accent
1 TABLESPOON onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon Lawry’s seasoned salt
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

2 cups fresh veggies ( broccoli, green onions, cauliflower,
radishes, zucchini,cherry tomatoes) ( If I don’t have these on hand...
I get them from the salad bar at the grocery store)

Pat rolls on a slightly greased jelly roll sheet or cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Combine mayo and cream cheese. add seasonings. Spread on cooled crust, sprinkle with finely chopped veggies and cheese.... place a sheet of wax paper of top of this and pat gently to set the toppings into it so it isn’t so messy when you eat it. Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Paula Deen's Fabulous Pesto Cheese Ball

1 (8-ounce) package sliced provolone cheese
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
20 pistachios, shelled
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 ounces oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes

Line a medium bowl with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to cover the top. Reserving 3 slices of the provolone, line the bottom and sides of the bowl with the remaining provolone, overlapping the slices.

For the cream cheese layer -
process the cream cheese, pistachios, and 1 of the garlic cloves in a food processor until blended; scrape the mixture into a bowl and set aside.

For the pesto layer -
process the basil, parsley, pine nuts, and the remaining garlic clove in the food processor until blended. Dissolve the salt and pepper in the olive oil and mix well.
With the machine running, add the oil in a fine stream. Scrape this mixture into a second bowl and set aside.

For the tomato layer -
drain the tomatoes, reserving the oil. Puree the tomatoes with a small amount of the reserved oil in a food processor.

Spread some of the cream cheese mixture over the cheese slices lining the bowl.
Layer the pesto mixture, half of the remaining cream cheese mixture, the sun-dried tomato mixture, and then remaining cream cheese mixture in the bowl.

Cover with the remaining provolone.

Bring the edges of the plastic wrap together over the top and secure with a twist tie. Freeze until firm.

Remove the plastic wrap and invert the mold onto a serving platter. Serve with party crackers. This will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

I took the advice of others who rated this recipe and did not add extra oil to the sun-dried tomatoes. If you don't have a food processor or are pressed for time, buy a good pre-made pesto.

Carla's Beaumonde Dip

This is by far the best veggie dip I've ever had and my family loves it. It came to me from my long-time friend, Carla. It's been in her family for years and I've been making it for over 30 years.

Not only is it a great veggie dip, it's good as a topping for baked potatoes, sandwich spread or with salad dressing, thinned with a little milk

Carla's Beaumonde Dip

2/3 cup Hellman's Real mayonnaise ( DO NOT USE MIRACLE WHIP)
2/3 cup Sour cream

1 Tbsp finely minced onion

1 TBSP Parsley flakes
1 tsp Beaumonde (made by Spice Island)
1 tsp Dill weed
1 tsp Accent
1 tsp Lawry's Seasoned Salt
5 Drops tobasco sauce

Mix together and let sit for several hours for the flavors to blend.

Paula Deen's Lemon Bombs

These soft cookies are the BOMB! Addicting.  This is a Paula Deen recipe I tweaked, it's fine with a yellow cake mix, but much better with a lemon cake it. Can vary this by using different puddings and juices.

Remember, I warned you.... VERY ADDICTING!

• 18 1/2-ounce package yellow  LEMON cake mix
• 3 1/2-ounce package instant lemon pudding mix (Sugar-free is fine)
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil

Glaze:

• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 lemon, zested
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray miniature muffin tins with vegetable oil cooking spray. Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend well with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour a small amount of batter, filling each muffin tin half way. Bake for 12 minutes. Turn out into a large baking pan.

To make the glaze, sift the sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, zest, oil, and 3 tablespoons water. Mix with a spoon until smooth.

With a slotted spoon, dip the cupcakes into the glaze while they're still warm, covering as much of the cake as possible, or spoon the glaze over the warm cupcakes, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with  cookie sheet or waxed paper underneath to catch any drips. Let the glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour, before storing in containers with tight-fitting lids.