Countdown 'til Christmas ~ Day 7/Christmas Appetitizers

Wow! SEVEN more days until Christmas!

Can you believe it is almost here? Tuesday night, Ashley's Junior Class put on a short program for their parents and friends.

Earlier in the day, they performed it for the Elementary, and then Jr. High/High School classes. It was a precious play, and quite comical, that they had written themselves, concerning the real meaning of Christmas.

{Ashley is the one in the black & white scarf.}

I was asked to oversee the reception. It was a very simple layout. Ashley's teacher asked the kids to bring cookies, and out of 15, or so, plates of cookies, 12 were chocolate chip. :)

My food contribution was a Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball, an assortment of pre-cut cheeses, and the punch.

The Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball is easy, delicious, and always a big hit.

Thought I'd share the recipe....

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

Ingredients: 1- 8 oz. Cream Cheese, 1/2 cup Butter, 1/4 tsp. Vanilla, 2 tbs. Brown Sugar, 3/4 cup Conf. Sugar, 3/4 cup Mini Chocolate Chips, 3/4 cups Pecans.

First) Beat softened cream cheese, butter & vanilla until creamy.Second) Slowly add sugars until blended.

Note: This is a perfect time to take a break, and lick the beaters. Don't worry, you are through with them at this point, so no nasty little germs will be spread. {If that is what you were thinking. lol! } I assure you, it is a delicious treat! :)
Third) Stir in chocolate chips with a spoon.

Mound into a small dish, or form into a ball. {May have to refrigerate just a few minutes, to form the ball.} Chill for at least 1 hour.

Optional: Roll in pecans (3/4 cup)

Serve with graham crackers or chocolate wafers.

The pre-cut cheeses, below, I also took for the reception.

These came straight from a bag, but I wanted to show off the pretty pieces I served them in. The two larger ones, were passed down from Aunt Bo, and the smaller one was found at a yard sale.

They are beautiful in person, and also make great candle pillar holders.

And lastly, I don't have a picture of the punch, but it was delicious, and I thought I'd share that recipe also. A friend gave the recipe to me, and I was very pleased at how it turned out!

Angi's Punch

Ingredients: 4 pkgs. Kool-aid (any flavor...according to what color you desire punch to be, I used lemon-lime to resemble Christmas green.), 2-48 oz. Pineapple Juice, 4 cups Sugar, 4 qts. Water., 2-3 bottles Sundrop

Directions: Mix all of the above, except Sundrop, several days ahead of event. Pour into zip-lock bags about 1/2 full. Freeze. The day needed, take bags out to thaw to a thick slushy material. (Or thaw enough that you can break up with a knife.)

Pour mixture into a punch bowl, and add Sundrop to taste.

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Linking this post to Foodie Friday, hosted by Designs By Gollum,

and

"Would you like Chocolate with that?" hosted by Lisa at Stop 'n Smell the Chocolates.

~Rhonda :)