Chocolate Peanut Butter Haystacks

Ingredients
1 bag (12oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
1/2 cup reduced-fat peanut butter
3 3/4 cups chow mein noodles

Line cookie sheets with waxed paper.
In large microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and peanut butter uncovered on High 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds.  Microwave 30 seconds to 1 minute longer, stirring every 15 seconds, until smooth. Stir in noodles until well coated.
Drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm.

To make this recipe healthier, substitute Fiber One original bran cereal for the chow mein noodles. Fiber One cereal has 12 times the fiber, half the amount of sodium, and 20 less calories per serving, compared to the noodles.

Phyllo Onion Rolls

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 cups grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/8 tsp. pepper
18 (9" x 14") sheets filo dough, thawed
More melted butter (I use about 1/3 cup)
Preparation:
In medium bowl, mix cream cheese and Gruyere. Set aside. In heavy skillet, sauté onions in 1/4 cup butter until very soft and beginning to brown, 10-15 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook another 1 minute. Cool 20 minutes. Mix together onion mixture and cheese mixture and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Place one sheet filo dough on work surface. Brush with melted butter. Lay another sheet on top, brush with butter, and put one more sheet on top.
Take the onion mixture, divide it into six parts, and form a roll about 1 inch in diameter down one long edge of the stacked filo. Roll up carefully and place on cookie sheet. Brush thoroughly with more butter. Repeat with remaining filo and filling, making six rolls total. I place three rolls on each cookie sheet. Cover well with plastic wrap and chill overnight.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F and remove the rolls from the refrigerator. Bake for 10-17 minutes or until rolls begin to brown and cheese filling melts. Let stand 5 minutes, then, using a very sharp knife, cut rolls into 1" pieces. Let cool for 5-10 minutes, then serve. The onion filling right out of the oven is super-hot. Serves 8-10.

You can also freeze these rolls. Wrap well in freezer wrap, label, and freeze up to 3 months. To bake frozen rolls, place rolls on cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees F for 15-23 minutes or until the rolls are beginning to brown and crisp and cheese melts. Proceed as directed above.

Coconut Cream Tarts

YIELD: Makes 8 tarts
TOTAL:7 Hours, 18 Minutes
COURSE: Cakes/Frostings, Desserts
Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 (8-oz.) package frozen tart shells
Sweetened whipped cream
Additional coconut
Preparation



Whisk together sugar, flour, eggs, and milk in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 10 minutes or until a chilled pudding-like thickness. Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup sweetened coconut and vanilla. Cover and chill 6 to 24 hours. Bake frozen tart shells according to package directions, and cool completely. Spoon custard into tart shells. Dollop with sweetened whipped cream; sprinkle with additional coconut.

Cheese Balls Three Ways

Yields: Makes three 4-inch cheeseballs; serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

Base Recipe:
1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 package(s) (8 ounces each) cream cheese
2 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon(s) Worcestershire sauce
5 dash(es) hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
1/2 teaspoon(s) coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground white pepper

Cheddar and Cranberry:
8 ounce(s) sharp orange cheddar cheese, finely shredded
2 tablespoon(s) store-bought chutney
3/4 cup(s) dried cranberries, finely chopped
Water crackers, for serving

Roquefort and Walnut:
6 ounce(s) Roquefort cheese
1 shallot, minced (1 tablespoon)
2 teaspoon(s) brandy (optional)
1 cup(s) toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
Vegetable chips (such as Terra Chips Sweets & Beets), for serving

Goat Cheese and Scallions:
8 ounce(s) goat cheese
2 tablespoon(s) finely chopped scallions
1/3 cup(s) fresh curly-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 English cucumber, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices, for serving

Directions

Put butter, cream cheese, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, and pepper into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until combined. Divide equally among 3 medium bowls.

Stir cheddar cheese and chutney with base mixture in the first bowl. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Roll cheese ball in cranberries to coat before serving. Serve with crackers.

Stir blue cheese and shallot with base mixture in second bowl; add brandy, if desired. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days; freeze up to 1 month. Roll in walnuts to coat before serving. Serve with chips.

Stir goat cheese and scallions with base mixture in remaining bowl. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Roll in parsley to coat before serving. Serve with cucumber slices.

Hot Spinach Dip Recipe

Yields: Makes 3 cups
Total Time: 1 hr
Prep Time: 30 min

Ingredients

2 teaspoon(s) olive oil, plus more for baking dish
1 medium onion, diced
2 clove(s) garlic , minced
2 pound(s) spinach, cleaned, trimmed, and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup(s) milk
6 ounce(s) reduced-fat bar cream cheese
3 dash(es) Worcestershire sauce
3 dash(es) hot sauce, such as Tabasco
3/4 cup(s) shredded mozzarella
Coarse salt and ground pepper
Baguette slices, breadsticks, or crackers, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a Dutch oven or large pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion and garlic; cook until lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes.

Add spinach in two additions, letting the first batch wilt before adding the next; cook until completely wilted, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a colander; drain, pressing to release all excess liquid.

In the same pot, warm milk over high heat. Whisk in cream cheese until melted, about 3 minutes. Add spinach, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and 1/4 cup mozzarella; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a lightly oiled 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.

Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot with accompaniments, as desired.