HOME SWEET continued Mary Beth Voelker is a writer, a mother, a cook, a gardener, and a crafter. Though originally from Pittsburgh, she and her family kept coming back to North Carolina until God let them stay. She likes to say that while she has often been bored at work she has never been bored at home. HOME SWEET continued Three Dips/Spreads for Crackers or Vegetables by Mary Beth Voelker Good for entertaining at home. Easy to transport to potlucks. One of these recipes should suit almost any set of taste buds. Easy Olive Spread Only two ingredients and takes next to no time to make. You probably have the ingredients in your refrigerator right now. Ingredients •8 ounces cream cheese, softened •4 tablespoons sliced pimento-stuffed green olives, finely chopped Directions •Mix olives into softened cream cheese. •Pack into an attractive serving dish. Or mold it into a ball and wrap it in plastic. •Chill at least 1 hour before serving with crackers or veggie sticks. Versatile Bacon-Cheese Spread A hearty, intense flavor. Spread it on crackers, stuff celery with it, spread it on wraps to slice into pinwheels, or fill jalapeño poppers with it. Ingredients • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened •1/4 cup crumbled bacon (packed tightly) •1/4 cup asiago cheese or 1/4 cup Parmesan •1 tablespoon green onion, minced •1/2 tablespoon jalapeño pepper, minced (optional, or more to taste) •1 pinch celery seed • fresh ground black pepper Directions • Mix all ingredients thoroughly. • Form into a ball or pack into a serving dish and chill 1 hour. Cheesy Spinach-Artichoke Dip None of that spinach blandly floating in hot mayonnaise thing here. This is cheesy and wonderful. I recommend serving this with pita triangles or bagel chips, but it’s actually good on just about anything. Alternately spread it as a filling in sandwich triangles or mini-turnovers. Ingredients • 12 ounces frozen spinach, thawed with all the water stomped out • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened • 1/4 cup marinated artichoke, chopped • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (can be omitted, dip will be stiffer and will probably have to be spread with a knife) • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese • garlic powder • black pepper Directions • Mix all ingredients in a microwavable dish. • Heat in short bursts, stirring frequently. This keeps well in the fridge so you can make it ahead. Just reheat when ready to eat. �� 10 Games for the Holidays Just seeing your family and friends is wonderful, but sometimes you need to have something to actually do. Here are 10 of my favorite games in no particular order: Mexican Train Dominoes: a near-perfect party game in that it accommodates a large number of players, is simple enough for new players to pick up quickly, and allows for conversation.Uno: It’s hard to beat this classic card game for a good time in a group. Fluxx: The game where you change the rules as you go so that it’s never the same twice. If you draw the “talk like a pirate” card you won’t stop laughing all day. Monopoly: If you’ve got the time this classic will bring up the “remember whens” even as it makes new memories. Pictionary: A good one for larger crowds because you can play in teams. Hedbanz: Take “Animal, Vegetable, Mineral?” to a new level while looking absolutely ridiculous. Multiple versions are available for kids or adults. Risus: A role-playing game that does not require reading and memorizing a dozen rulebooks. Print a few pages of rules off the internet. (http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/risus.htm) Settlers of Cataan: Settle new territory and trade resources on a board that is different every time so the game never gets boring. HOME SWEET con't. next column HOME SWEET con't. next column Scrabble: Another classic that doesn’t get stale. Or play on your tablets/phones using the Words With Friends ap. Pick-up-sticks: Good for kids and adults both. The rules are adaptable to multiple ages and skill levels and the game goes quickly. �� No. 124 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.11
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