I'm a little sick...

Okay, I think I'm a little sick in the head. We had a Par-Tay for Alysa's birthday on Friday, and since autumn is one of my favorite seasons, I kinda went all out on preparing some treats & such...I racked my brain trying to think of some good things for some fall-themed treats, and eventually I came across a couple of fun ideas. SO, I hollowed out some pumpkins for Queso and Salsa with some chips, I shaped an orange cheese ball like a pumpkin with a little broccoli stalk for a stem, and I found a great recipe for pumpkin pie dip that I served with apple slices and some graham cracker thingys (quite the technical term, I know). I also know that this sounds like something a woman would do, but I am very secure in my masculinity...I just like to go all-out for stuff like this. In fact, I'm contemplating starting a catering business some time in the future. What do you all say? I know it could be difficult...starting up a business that has so much to do with personal tastes, but it would be SO fun! Think about it for a second...almost all of the best chefs and caterers out there are men, so I already have a competitive advantage! Now, don't go off calling me sexist...I just think that I would have that killer instinct. Here are some of the recipes I used:

Pumpkin Pie Dip

1 (16 oz) block Cream Cheese

2 cups Powdered Sugar

1 can (15 oz) Pumpkin Pie Filling (not just canned pumpkin)

Cinnamon Sticks

Powdered Saigon Cinnamon

Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar with a mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the

 pumpkin and beat until fully mixed and lighter in color. Be sure to scrape the bottom, because if you don't, you probably won't get all of the cream cheese mixed in. Chill for 4 hours in the refrigerator. Garnish with Saigon Cinnamon and Cinnamon Sticks and serve with apple slices and/or graham crackers.

Yields: About 3 cups

"Pumpkin Cheese Ball"

2 (8-ounce) blocks extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (8-ounce) container chive-and-onion cream cheese

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon Bon Apetit Seasoning

1 broccoli stalk

In a mixing bowl, combine cheese, and both cream cheeses. Mix until combined. Add Seasoning and mix well. Cover. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Just before serving, shape cheese ball into a pumpkin. You can use your fingers to make the vertical lines or even a jack-o-lantern face. Cut the stalk off of the broccoli and put it on the top, upside-down. HINT: Before shaping the ball, coat your hands with nonstick cooking spray so the cheese won't stick to your fingers!

Anywho, I hope you don't think I'm too weird for doing something like this...remember...I'm not weird. I'm just quirky ;-)