Snacks - Spicy Party Bean Dip

1 (16 oz) of Rosarita Spicy Jalapeno refried beans
1/2 cup of shredded cheese
1 - 2 spoons of salsa
1 blob of sour cream
Tortilla chips

Directions: Heat beans in microwave on high for 3 minutes. Stir in cheese and salsa. Heat again 1-2 minutes (if needed) or until cheese melts. Stir in sour cream. Best when served warm, but cold is ok too.

Note: Cover beans with a napkin in the microwave so they don't splatter.

By Sherry Matthews

Snacks - Dog Food aka Chex Muddie Buddies

1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla
9 cups Chex cereal (any kind)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. (Microwave for 30 seconds more, if needed). Add vanilla and stir. Pour over cereal and stir until well-coated. Add powdered sugar and stir until well-coated.

Submitted by Becka Stephensen

Snacks - Banana Nut Loaf

1/2 cup soft butter
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup or 2 med. bananas
1/2 cup chopped nuts
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt

Grease loaf pan. Cream butter and beat in sugar. Add eggs, beat in bananas. Stir in nuts. Mix milk and lemon in seperate bowl. Add alternately with dry ingredients. Bake at 350* for 60 minutes.

Submitted by Brenda Durham

Snacks - Spinach Dip

1 (10 oz) pkg baby spinach, chopped or 1 (10oz) pkg of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 container (16 oz) sour cream
1 cup mayo
1 pkg Knorr Vegetable recipe mix
1 can (8oz) water chestnuts, drained and chopped (optional)
3 green onions, chopped (optional)

Combine all ingredients and chill about 2 hours. Serve with your favorite dippers.

Yields 4 cups dip

Submitted by Carol Rhodes

Snacks - Ants On A Log

Celery
Peanut Butter
Raisins

Rinse and dry celery. Spread inside of celery generously with peanut butter. Sprinkle raisins on peanut butter.

Yields as many as you want. This recipe makes a nutritious after-school snack for children as well as adults.

More yummy fun:

Crunchy Logs - substitute bananas for celery.

Cheesy Stuff - Substitute cream cheese for peanut butter with either bananas or celery

Ants - Substitute craisins, nuts, etc... to be the ants.

Submitted by Megan Kanzler

Snacks - Sun Dried Tomato Pesto and Cream Cheese

1 carton Trader Joe's Sundried Tomato Pesto
1 8 oz. brick of Cream Cheese

Unwrap the cream cheese and mold into a pleasing shape (so that it doesn't look like you just threw a package on the plate). Spoon the pesto around the cream cheese and serve with woven wheat crackers. I have molded it in seasonal molds around the holidays to make a nice presentation

Submitted by Bonnie Silliman

This is the place

Hello ladies,

Marilyn Smith gave me this fabulous idea - to post our recipes from each month's exchange on a blog!!! So that's what I plan to do. Each month I will post the recipes that were shared at the exchange. I do hope you still plan on coming to our gathering, where you can sample the fabulous food and enjoy the company!

So stay tuned and come back often for the recipes and updates about our monthly recipe exchange and other fun stuff!

Thanks,
Megan