Thursday, September 04, 2008

White Chocolate-Cherry Cheeseball and Fairy things!

Good Morning All,
How do y'all like my new banner? These photos are of my grandmother and her farmhouse. She cooked on that green woodstove summer and winter. When I was little I would wake up early when I heard grandpa go out to feed the livestock and would run down the stairs and into the huge kitchen to sit in the rocking chair by the woodstove. I would stick my feet on the feet of the stove and it was so warm! See all that canned food? Grandma canned it all right on that woodstove! Going into their basement which was dirt, not concrete, was a feast for the eyes and nose. There were apples, applesauce, tomatoes, grape juice, potatoes, beans, everything you can think of she preserved! I miss those days and that house so much. The house in the top right corner is the house she was born in and that is her on the fence. The photo is dated 1920.
Tuesday I got my new Gooseberry Patch Christmas book in the mail and while I was disappointed with the craft section, the recipes looked great. So yesterday I picked up the supplies to make the White Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball and it got a thumbs up from my family.

White Chocolate Chip Chesse Ball

8 oz. pkg cream cheese softened
1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 tea almond extract
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 c sweetened dried cherries, chopped
3/4 c. sliced almonds, lightly toasted

Beat together cream cheese, butter and almond extract until fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar. Stir in chocolate chips and 1/2 c cherries. Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to handle, at least 2 hours. Shape mixture into a ball and refrigerate until ready to serve. Roll in almonds and garnish with white chocolate and more dried cherries in desired. Makes 2 cups.
The only thing I changed was I used slivered almonds instead. When I make this again, I am going to chop up the white chocolate chips. They are a little large for a cheeseball. I served mine with graham crackers.
Yesterday on my way out to the garden look what I found in my yard. A fairy ring! Folklore has it that these rings are formed by fairies dancing in a circle. There is a scientific reason that these rings occur but that definition isn't nearly as fun as believing fairies made it, so I reject their reality and substitute my own!
I also harvested my pumpkins and so many peppers! Do you know what I do with this many sweet banana peppers? I cut them into slices and freeze them. You know when you want to make a recipe that calls for green, yellow, and red peppers and you go to the grocery store to get them and find that they cost $5,000,00.00 each? Well I just use the red and yellow banana peppers that I freeze as a substitution! Works great.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I absolutely adore your new banner...and that green stove...oh my. I make that chocolate chip cheeseball every Christmas and everybody just loves it. The graham crackers are a natural with it. I use the mini chocolate chips so you don't have to chop. We have a fairy ring in our front yard. It comes every single fall. Have a super great day. ~ Lynn

Bovey Belle said...

What lovely photos of your grandmother and I LOVE that stove - I am SO impressed by all her canning too.

What are Graham Crackers please? I'm trying to work out a UK equivalent.

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

I love the banner! And with a blog title like that, I had to come and visit. That recipe sounds perfect to me so I am copying it down NOW!

Libby said...

What wonderful memories of your Grandma and her home.
I love the fairie ring . . . I'll have to keep an eye out for one *s*

Arlene G said...

I wondered if that was your grandmother! Love the pictures. We are having an abundance of fairy rings here too. I am sure that means something in the farmers almanac! Hope you enjoy the mystery. I think the one you checked out is the second or third in the series. I just love Mrs. Malory.

Jess said...

I really like your new banner/header. It's very fallish... and enjoyed your post and recipe.

Have a good end of the week

nancy said...

The banner looks really nice. I especially love the photo of the house with your grandma as a little girl. The house looks so cozy. Your blog is so great! I'm really enjoying it. What perfect pumpkins!
Nancy

Carole Burant said...

Oh Linda, I just love your new banner, especially since it holds so many wonderful memories for you! I remember my gran also having a dirt cold cellar in the basement and that's where she'd put all her canning and pickling. I made a few jars of dill pickles today...the first of many I have to make. I make them as the cucumbers are ready. You sure did get a great crop of peppers...I planted a few green pepper plants but they're not ready yet. Your pumpkins are just wonderful....I can't get over they're orange already! When we plant some, they barely make the colour change in time for Halloween! lol

Oooooh, look at that faerie ring! How awesome is that?!! I have a faerie garden but as yet the faeries haven't made a ring...I hope they do! lol

Yummm, that dip looks so good, I've copied down the recipe:-) xoxo

Jeanne said...

Linda, I am surprised you didn't get my email. I rec'd your email and I thought I answered back. Yes, I did have surgery and it has been hard. I have had a terrible time with pain meds. I have your Halloween things carefully chosen and I had to do it before I knew who my swap partner was. I hope you will enjoy what I picked. I will try to email you in just a minute.

I adore your sentiments about your grandma. She was a special person in your life I know. Your photos are great.

Hugs, Jeanne

Mountain Mama said...

Golly I sure enjoyed your post!! I love your new banner too. I want to mention that if you would like I can repair the damage on the old house picture (1920). I have Photoshop. No charge, just a favor for a friend. If you send it to me in an e-mail I will return it when I'm done. You can find my e-mail in my blog in my profile.
It looks like it was a happy home.
Your fairy ring surprised me. I have always thought they were tiny like maybe a foot across. Like you I prefer the fun explanation.
I have never been able to grow peppers like yours. What's the secret?

I loved reading about your grandma's basement because my grandma had one just like it dirt floor and walls too. I still remember the musty smell mingled with potatoes and cabbage and apples. Mostly I remember finding the shelf that had jars of her wonderful spicy pickled crab apples. Oh how I loved them!
What a lovely memory.
Thanks for a great post.

Kelli said...

Your new banner is so wonderful and special! How exciting to harvest such pretty pumpkins and of course, I love the fairy ring. :0) I'm going to print out that recipe. What a great fall snack!
~Kelli