:::{Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball}:::

I made this for my husband's Rotary Christmas party last night, and it was a HIT!  It is a very tasty flavor combination... But then again, it has bacon in it, so it has to be delicious, right?!?!  This recipe is definitely a keeper, and I will be making it again...

I forgot to take a picture of the finished product because we were in a rush to get out the door to the party, so I'm borrowing the picture from The Recipe Critic)

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

(adapted from The Recipe Critic)
makes one big ball or two smaller ones

Ingredients
2 (8 oz each) packages of cream cheese
1 (1 oz.) packet dry buttermilk ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
4 green onions, thinly sliced
5 pieces of bacon (fried and crumbled) or 1/2 cup "real bacon bits"
1/4 cup chopped black olives, optional
pecans or almonds, finely chopped for coating

Directions

1. Mix together the cream cheese and dry ranch packet.  I put mine in the mixer and used the paddle attachment, which made it so easy.  Otherwise, mix in a bowl until smooth.  
2. Add the grated cheese, green onions, and bacon.
3. Shape the cheese mixture into a ball, then roll it in the nuts to coat the outside. 
4. Keep the cheese ball stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
5. Enjoy! 

:::{Marshmallow Carmel Popcorn}:::

Oh my word, I am eating this as I type because it is too good not to share with the world, immediately!  Sooooo yummy!  All warm and gooey and sweet and crunchy!  Sorry hubby, I'm having an affair with a giant bowel of popcorn...
It all began 10 minutes ago.  Husband is off at a banking dinner thing; normally I would go with, but no wifeys allowed at this particular shindig... I was hungry, and nothing in the house looked tasty, so I hopped on my good ol' friend Pinterest, to my board labeled "snackies" (yes I'm that OCD) and started perusing for some munchy inspiration... Personally I love popcorn just about any way you slice it, and had actually pinned two different versions of this same recipe, so I figured this was the one.  Luckily I had a bag of marshmallows left over from camping this summer, so I whipped up this puppy, and it exceeded all my expectations!  I made about a half batch from the original recipe, which called for 3 bags of microwave popcorn; I use an air popper for our popcorn needs, and 3 tablespoons unpopped kernels is equivalent to 1 bag of microwave popcorn, so I used 6 Tbsp and a 1/2 recipe of the caramely goodness.  This amount would be plenty for two people... probably ;)
Make it.  I dare you to not eat the whole daggum bowel yourself... Just try.

Marshmallow Carmel Popcorn
(adapted from One Good Thing by Jillee)

Ingredients
6 tablespoons of unpopped popcorn kernels - popped in an air popper
(or 2 bags microwave popcorn)
1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 of a 16oz bag of marshmallows

Directions

1. Pop your popcorn in a large bowel; I sprayed the bowel with PAM cooking spray beforehand, and I'm glad I did, because the caramel gets pretty stuck once it cools...
2. In a medium bowel, microwave the marshmallows, butter and brown sugar for 2 minutes (remember marshmallows will expand in the microwave as they heat up, so keep an eye on your bowel and stop it if its about to overflow!)
3. Take out and stir the delicious mixture, then microwave it for another minute.
4. Repeat until it becomes thin enough to easily pour over your popcorn, then mix it all up.
5. It is best while still warm and extra gooey...
6. Enjoy!

~Rachelle