"I'm not a glutton - I'm an explorer of food."
- Erma Bombeck

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

I got this recipe out of an old Quick Cooking magazine. I remember when I found it ~ we were heading to Des Moines for Thanksgiving, and my annual Christmas Party (for my girlfriends, remember?) was coming up so I had that on my brain. Always in search of a great recipe, I grabbed all the Christmas issues and brought with for the trip. Paging through one, I found this recipe and knew I'd have to try it. It was delish! I served it with small chocolate chip cookies and chocolate graham cracker sticks, and it was a hit!

8 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
1/2 C. butter, soft
1/4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 C. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
3/4 C. Nestle mini-chocolate chips
3/4 C. chopped pecans, optional

Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add vanilla, powdered sugar and brown sugar and beat until combined. Stir in chocolate chips, then cover and refrigerate 2 hours. Place on plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Refrigerate at least one hour. Just before serving, roll in chopped pecans if desired.

NOTE: I was just thinking that with the cream cheese in this recipe, it might be good spread on a toasted bagel on a cool morning!