Yumminess in a bowl

This dip tastes amazing and is so easy. Jason and I devoured it so quickly.

Found here

White Bean and Artichoke Dip

2 cloves garlic
2 (15 ounce) cans white beans (drained and rinsed)
1 (15 ounce) can artichoke hearts (drained)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
Salt and pepper, to taste

1. In the bowl of a food processor, add the garlic, white beans, artichoke hearts, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and rosemary. Blend until smooth.

2. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Serve with bread, crackers, vegetables, or chips.

Granola

Some girlfriends and I made this the other night and it was so delicious! I can't wait to make it again. Warning: it makes A TON of granola...

10 c. Oats

1 c. Wheat Germ

1/2 lb. shredded coconut

2 c. raw sunflower seeds

1 c. sesame seeds

3 c. almonds, pecans, walnuts (chopped)

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

1 1/2 c. water

1 1/2 c. vetetable oil

1 1/2 c. honey

1/2 c. molasses

1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

3 tsp. vanilla

Any dried fruit (we had craisins, raisins, dried mango and dried pineapple)

-In a large bowl, combine oats, wheat germ, coconut, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and nuts.

-In a large saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, oil, honey, molasses, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla. Heat until sugar dissolves, but don't boil.

-Pour syrup over dry ingredients and stir until well-coated. Spread into five 13x9 cookie sheets with sides. Cook at 300 degrees, 20-30 minutes.

-Add fruit after taking it out of the oven and enjoy!
-If you want it crunchier, let it sit out for a few hours.

Awesome Easy Cheese Ball

My friend made this for Bunco and I loved it, so I got the recipe. I have made it twice in two weeks for parties at our house and people gobble it up. And it takes like five minutes to make. Suh-weeet!

Grab:
2-8 oz packages of cream cheese (16 oz total)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
2 tablespoons red onion
2 tablespoons celery
3 tablespoons dry ranch dressing mix
1 bag of chopped walnuts
Crackers of your choice (wheat thins go well, or any party cracker)

Chop the onion and celery into a small dice and cut up the parsley. Let the cream cheese get to about room temperature (just easier to mix that way). Throw the cheese, parsley, onion, celery and ranch dressing in a bowl and mix 'er up.
Now it's time to form the cheeseball. This is how I do it, but I'm sure there are other ways that work just as well:
Get a piece of tinfoil and spread probably half the bag of nuts on it. Then spoon the cheese mixture (in some sort of roundish shape) on top of the nuts. Place your hands underneath the foil and lift it-with the nuts-around the cheese and start forming a ball. Use leftover nuts to fill in any holes or extra spaces so that the entire cheeseball is covered in walnuts.
Stick the cheeseball in the fridge to firm up a bit and then set it out about 10 minutes before you are ready to serve.
GUYS especially loved this, so it would be great for Superbowl parties or game nights.

Pumpkin Seeds

I confess, I love fall. I love the change in the air. The trees, the smells ... but most of all, the food. For me, roasted pumpkin seeds are at the top of my "favorite fall foods" list. Because I love them so much, I bought two pumpkins today just for the seeds and they are in my oven right now, toasting to perfection. This is how I made them ...

Cut the pumpkin up, getting the seeds out however you can. Separate them from the yucky innards and put them in a collander. Rinse them off then put them on a cookie sheet to dry. This could take hours or even overnight. It's worth the wait though. Then, coat them in olive oil and add the seasoning of choice. I did half salt and half seasoning salt. Really, the world is your oyster on this one. You could use garlic powder, salt and sugar, sugar and cinnamon, butter, brown sugar .... the sky's the limit!

Anyway, after you've coated them in your desired seasoning, place them in the oven at 250 degrees for about an hour. Then, enjoy!