Sausage Balls

• 1 pound ground pork sausage (I use hot- it's not that spicy)
  
• 2 cups Bisquick baking mix
• 1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine sausage, biscuit baking mix and cheese. Form into walnut size balls and place on baking sheets.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, until golden brown.

Sausage Balls are, apparently, a southern staple- one I had never encountered prior to my move. I was recently introduced to them at a friend's bridal shower, and when I looked up the recipe, I couldn't believe they were made of three ingredients! So incredibly easy, and totally delicious.

Artichoke Spinach Dip

• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) container Alfredo-style pasta sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Saute the garlic in a pan. In a mixing bowl, combine the garlic, spinach, artichoke hearts, Alfredo-style pasta sauce, half the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and cream cheese.
3. Spread in an 8x8 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining mozarella cheese on top.
   
4. Cover and bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until cheeses are melted and bubbly. Serve warm.

This might be my favorite food... ever. Seriously. When served with a sweet beer bread it's just like this cheesy garlicy party in your mouth. Mmmm I'm so glad I have leftovers.

Sugar Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
  

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Frosting

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• assorted food coloring
  

1. In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.
2. Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.
   

I made these into tiny feet for Alycia's baby shower, and frosted them blue and brown- the icing is amazing! It dries all glossy and looks like it came from a bakery! Or, at least it would if I had any artistic skill.

German Apple Cake

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 cups apples - peeled, cored and diced
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch cake pan (or, I used a bundt pan.
2. In a mixing bowl; beat oil and eggs with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat well.
3. Combine the flour salt, baking soda, and ground cinnamon together in a bowl. Slowly add this mixture to the egg mixture and mix until combined. The batter will be very thick. Fold in the apples by hand using a wooden spoon. Spread batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes or until cake tests done. Let cake cool on a wire rack. Once cake is cool serve with a dusting of confectioners' sugar or with a Cream Cheese Frosting.

I made this for Alycia's shower and took the leftover's to Craig's, where it was very-well received. I believe Patrick's exact quote was "Holy crap, this is the best cake I have ever had! Who made this?! Seriously, top 5 things I've ever eaten." So yeah, definitely a winner- so easy, but it's super moist and yummy.