Recipe Club Success

Last night I hosted my first recipe club get-together. A small group of about 10 of us have been getting together once a month since June of this year. We each make a dish, and then everyone samples them all, drinks some wine (or in my case, water), and we hang out for the evening. The next day we each email our recipes to those that came!

We usually don't do a theme, so that everyone can bring whatever they want. But last month we did tailgating food. The funny thing about that is there were hardly any recipes to be passed around the next day b/c we made easy tailgate food like dips, meatballs, pigs in a blanket, etc. But we had fun, so who cares!

This month we did a Halloween theme, and everyone did an awesome job of bringing themed food, and even some regular food so we all didn't get sick from the desserts! I tried to be very festive with the decorations...

Sommer made mummy dogs, which we decided look a little like they are wearing turbans!

Lyndsie made caramel apples with Heath bar...yummy

Megan Eskridge made a cheese ball with a scary face!

I guess I didn't even take a picture of my pumpkin dip and ginger snaps! But they were deeee-licious! We also had Bruschetta made my Lauren, Chicken Tetrazzini made by Jenny Rodgers and Pumpkin bread made by Shannon Pawley. All the food was so good, and we had a great time hanging out for the evening.

Shannon and Megan

Jenny and Sommer

Lauren, me and Lyndsie

For the next few months, we get to do more themes, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. We're all looking forward to them, and hopefully I get to make it to next month's party!

Recipe for Pumpkin dip:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually mix in the pumpkin. Stir in the cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice until smooth and well blended. Chill until serving.

THIS DIP IS AMAZING!

Recipe for Ginger Snaps:

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter - softened

1 cup shortening

2 eggs

1/2 cup molasses

4 cups flour

3 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp allspice

2 tsp cinnamon

Always sift dry ingredients! Mix all dry ingredients, and then all wet ingredients, separately. Slowly add the dry ingredients, by sifting.

Roll in 1" balls and then coat in sugar

Bake 350 for 8-10 minutes - Dont Overbake!

Happy Baking!