CANDAY CANE WHITE CHOCOLATE MINI CHEESECAKES

Ingredients

18 vanilla wafer cookies
2 (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1 (8oz) neufchâtel cream cheese, softened
¾ C sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1¼ C white chocolate chips, divided
1¼ C crushed mini candy canes, divided
18 foil muffin liners

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place foil liners in 2 muffin pans.
Place 1 vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cup.
Beat cream cheese until smooth, add sugar, eggs, and vanilla; just until incorporated.
Don’t over beat.
Gently stir in ¾ C chocolate chips and ¾ candy cane pieces.
Fill each cup ¾ of the way full.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until almost set.
Remove from oven; let cool 5 minutes on rack and then remove from pan.
Once cool cover and refrigerate for 3 hours.
Before serving; place remaining chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, microwave for 15 seconds, stir, 15 more seconds, stir, repeat again if necessary until smooth.
Place 1 tsp crushed candy cane in the center of each cheesecake, use a fork to drizzle white chocolate back and forth over the tops.
Enjoy!

CREAM CHEESE SAUSAGE BALLS

Ingredients

1 lb hot sausage, uncooked
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups Bisquick
4 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
Preheat oven to 400F.
Mix all ingredients until well combined. (I use my KitchenAid mixer with the dough hook attachment) Roll into 1-inch balls. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until brown.
Sausage balls may be frozen uncooked but I freeze mine after baking and cooling. . If baking frozen, add a few minutes to the baking time.

Fried Empanadas

Ingredients

Original recipe makes 2 dozen
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups water, or as needed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
1 quart oil for frying, or as needed

Directions

1.In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender, or pinching into small pieces using your fingers, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Use a fork to stir in water a few tablespoons at a time, until the mixture forms a ball. Pat into a ball, and flatten slightly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2.Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender. Crumble in the beef, and season with salt, paprika, cumin and black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until beef is browned. Drain excess grease, and stir in the raisins and vinegar. Refrigerate until chilled, then stir in the hard-cooked eggs.
3.Form the dough into 2 inch balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball out into a thin circle. Spoon some of the meat mixture onto the center, then fold into half-moon shapes. Seal edges by pressing with your fingers.
4.Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C). Place one or two pies into the fryer at a time. Cook for about 5 minutes, turning once to brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels, and serve hot.

OATMEAL CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER NO BAKE CANDY BARS

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut oil (no substitutes, this is what gives its creamy texture and flavor)
2 cups oats (not instant)
1 1/4 cups mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions

In a medium sized saucepan, melt together peanut butter, honey and coconut oil.
Remove from heat and add oats, chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Stir until combined and chocolate chips are melted.
Spread into a 9×13 pan. Refrigerate until hardened, about an hour.
Store in refrigerator