Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve Everyone! I spent most of last night finally making the cake balls and buckeyes that were supposed to have been done Saturday during the family bake off and then on Sunday when they weren't finished on Saturday. What can I say...it's been a lazy couple of days and they are so time consuming that I just couldn't force myself to hunker down and get them finished. Well I finally hunkered down last night and finished dipping the cake balls this morning and I must say, they both came out really well and from what I have tasted are really quite scrumptious. I obtained both recipes off of my all time favorite website, allrecipes.com and I have posted them below for your viewing pleasure as well as a few pictures. I didn't take step by step pictures because it is probably a safe assumption that everyone viewing this knows how to make both items. I will also be adding another family favorite recipe that Daniel and I made today for Christmas Eve dinner with my Mom's side of the family. We like to refer to them as Cowboy Baked Beans because we put pretty much everything but the kitchen sink in them. They are very yummy and go great with not only the ham we are having for dinner but for any of your BBQ needs.

Cowboy Baked Beans

53 ounce can of Campbells Pork and Beans
1 C. of Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1/2 lg. onion, sauteed with ground beef
2 tbsp. of garlic powder
1 tbsp. of black pepper
2 tbsp. of mustard
1 rounded tablespoon of molasses, we're talkin' heapin' here people!!
6 slices of bacon, cooked and broken up into pieces, or half of a pound if you want. One pound if you are filling generous.

Because I am so worn out tonight I am not doing step by step directions. You basically brown your hamburger along with your onion and then mix everything together. If you wanted to, you could start browning your bacon in the pan first and include the bacon drippings with the mixture. That's how you do it if you aren't worried about cloggin' an artery or two. That's how Daniel does it and it gives it nice flavor. Tonight however, I cooked the bacon separately and also used very lean ground beef that didn't produce any extra grease.

Now onto the cake balls and buckeyes. I didn't think I was ever going to finish rolling little balls last night and having said that, I am sure at least one or two of you need to get your minds out of the gutter :).

I used the following recipe for the buckeyes:

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening DIRECTIONS:
1.)Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside.
2.)In a medium bowl, mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar with hands to form a smooth stiff dough. Shape into balls using 2 teaspoons of dough for each ball. Place on prepared pan, and refrigerate.
3.)Melt shortening and chocolate together in a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. 4.)Stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat.
5.)Remove balls from refrigerator. Insert a wooden toothpick into a ball, and dip into melted chocolate. Return to wax paper, chocolate side down, and remove toothpick. Repeat with remaining balls. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.

And I used the following recipe for the cake balls:

INGREDIENTS
1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix (I used a red velvet cake)
1 (16 ounce) container prepared frosting (I used cream cheese flavored icing)
1 (3 ounce) bar chocolate/vanilla flavored confectioners coating or otherwise known as almond bark.

* I have also had luck using a chocolate cake mix using cream cheese flavored icing. Your options are endless.

DIRECTIONS
1.)Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes. When cake is done, crumble while warm into a large bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended.
2.)Melt chocolate coating in a glass bowl in the microwave, or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
3.)Use a melon baller or small scoop to form balls of the chocolate cake mixture. Dip the balls in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper to set.

After a long day of rolling and dipping things and then going to the grocery last minute to buy the stuff to make the baked beans, I am going to bed. I have to be up and at em early tomorrow morning because I am cooking breakfast for everyone and my house is a mess right now so I will also have to do a quick clean up. No white gloves allowed in this house tomorrow!!