Quick & Easy Cheese Ball

Do you need an easy dip to take to a Christmas party? I will be completely honest when I say I do not like to cook nor do I usually have time to make much of anything. That is why when I find something quick, easy, and good it becomes a regular in our household. This cheese ball recipe is one of my favorites for any occasion.

Ingredients:

  • 2-8 oz boxes of cream cheese
  • A cup of shredded cheddar or Colby cheese
  • 1 packet of ranch dressing seasoning mix (1 oz)
  • Crumbled bacon fresh or packaged.
  • Optional- fresh chopped Jalapeno peppers. (2-3 peppers)

 

In a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and ranch packet. Blend with hand mixer. My husband likes an extra kick, so I add in the Jalapenos here. Tear off a large sheet of plastic wrap and dump mixture into the center. Shape into a ball and refrigerate until almost solid. (about 30 minutes) Take out and roll ball in crumbled bacon. Serve with your choice of crackers or chips or store in the fridge until party time.

Elf on the Shelf, Homework Buddy

After a weekend of behavior issues with my oldest and seeing his progress report, I changed my mind. The Elf on the Shelf would indeed make an appearance this year. Since homework has become such a chore, I’m putting that Elf the work.

Addition with regrouping has become an issue lately, so Elf left extra problems. Other concepts that could be used is subtraction, perimeter, area, multiplication.

 

Elf couldn’t leave reading out. ¨I need a synonym for     .¨ antonyms or rhyming words could be used.

Leave a riddle for your child to read.

 

Leave a homograph or homophone and have your child name the other.  

 

Sight words or if the teacher sends home a weekly newsletter, use the concepts they are working on that week.

 

For younger children, the Elf can leave a pattern with candy and have your child make another pattern. My 7 year old then counted and divided the candies evenly.

After he divided it equally, we then looked at them as an array. (2×8=16)

Leave a number and ask if it‘s even or odd.

Leave paint for your child to mix and make new colors.