Analyse's 2nd Birthday - part 3 - the food we took

Aka: "Party Foods # 4"

   This posting is part of an on going series. Some of the type of party foods we will/have feature(d), are most suitable for deck or Super Bowl parties. Others, when presented right, will even work at 'fancy' parties or wedding receptions.
   Mainly, we will be featuring finger food type of foods.

   The 'pickle wraps' and 'Polish Roses' that we had taken last year for Analyse(prounced Auna-lease)'s 1st birthday, had been such a hit, that we automatically planned on making and taking them again this year.
   We had thought about making the other things we had also taken last year... that is, until we hosted the "Baby Shower / Come Visit Time" in April. The Bacon Cheese-ball we served then was such a huge hit, that we decided to make and take that.
  
   The recipe itself is actually titled "Cheesy Football". I had found it a few years ago in both coupon and magazine ads for Kraft(TM) products.

    But first, this picture of the birthday girl. She thourally enjoyed the sudden down pour that hit shortly after the start of her party. (And she had obviously also  been enjoying the chocolate covered protein bar of grandpa's, that she had found while playing in his van. o;-p)

    Now, on to the cheese ball -

     I adapted their recipe some. This is the way that I make it:

     16 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
     16 ounces shredded Cheddar Cheese
     1 cup finely shredded Real Parmesan Cheese
     1/2 cup Mayonnaise
     1/2 cup Miracle Whip(TM)
     1/2 cup chopped Green Onion stems
     1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
     1 whole bag (16 ounces) Real Bacon Crumbles

      Using a sprayed pastry blender, blend the cream, cheddar and Parmesan cheeses together.

      Add the Mayo and Miracle Whip(TM), until every thing is well blended.

      Add the green onions and black pepper. Mix well.

     (Bonus Tip Here --->  The by far easiest way to "chop up" green onion stems, is by cutting them with a pair of scissors. If you don't have kitchen shears, add them to your Christmas Wish List and use regular scissors in the mean time. Just make sure you wash them before and after doing so. ;-> )

    Now, according to the recipe, this is the point where you refrigerate the mixture for several hours or overnight. Then after removing it from the fridge, you shape it and roll it in the bacon pieces. But that is not the way I do it. Why not?  Because then only the people that get some of the outside of the cheese ball get the bacon part. NOT FAIR!!! :- I   Not at all.
    So the way that I do it is, I add 3/4ths of the package of Real Bacon Crumbles to the rest of the ingredients.

     After you get EVERY thing blended together real good, I highly suggest that you take a cracker (or five... o:-p) and do 'quality control taste tests'. Make sure you keep in mind that some flavors will mellow after being refrigerated as a mixture. But over all, how does it taste? Your right, five crackers might not be quite enough of a taste study .... o;-p

     This time, instead of refrigerating it and then later shaping it, I just topped the bowl with the remaining Real Bacon Crumbles and left it at that. After all, it did have a ways to travel.
     It turned out working out excellent that way. We sat the bowl in the middle of a platter surrounded by three types of crackers, with a big spoon in the bowl. It was most definitely a hit - all afternoon and evening long!

    IF you want to make yours into a ball, especially the football that the ads had featured, here's how:
     After having refrigerated your ball for several hours, dump the contents of the bowl out onto waxed or parchment paper. With your hands on the outside of the paper, shape your ball (whether you make it a round ball, or a football shaped one).
     Dump your Real Bacon Crumbles either onto a plate or an additional piece of 'paper', and roll the ball in them.
     IF you made it football shape, you can use pimento or red pepper strips to form lacing like is on top of a football.

    I'll close this posting with another picture of our adorable grand daughter.
      This one is of her playing with one of the bubble makers she had received.

 
     This concludes part 3 of - Analyse's 2nd Birthday - the food we took
     Part 1 had been - the banner.
     Part 2 was the Cookie Monster(R) cupcakes
     Coming soon in a posting on this site -
      part 4 - fun pictures from the party

;->  ~  ;->  ~  ;->  ~  ;->  ~  ;->  ~  ;->  ~  ;->  ~  ;->  ~  ;->  ~  ;->  ~
You might also like:
- Party Foods # 1 - Bean 'Salsa'

- Deviled Eggs

"Party Foods # 2" - 'Polish Roses' and Pickle Wraps

"Party Foods # 3" - Garden Fresh Bruschetta

" "Mexican Style" Bar" 

"Hot Dog Bar"

"Pasta and Salad Type Bar"

"Improvised Chili Based Dip Recipe" 

"Chocolate Covered Strawberries"
   
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
  I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to: 
  ~  "Mouthwatering Monday('s)" hosted by Rachel, 'A Southern Fairytale'  (http://asouthernfairytale.com).
  ~  "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
  ~  "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes'  (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
~ "What I Whipped Up Wednesday('s)", hosted by Kimmie, at 'Sugar and Dots' (http://www.sugaranddots.com).
 ~ "Strut Yourself Thursday('s)", are hosted by Stephanie, at 'Somewhat Simple' (http://www.somewhatsimple.com).
 ~  "Foodie Friday('s)" (# 1),  hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum'  (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)  
 ~ "Saturday Night Special", hosted by Donna, at 'Funky Junk Interiors' (http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com).