A creamy cracker spread made with cream cheese, butter and jumbo shrimp seasoned and sauteed in a skillet with butter and extra virgin olive oil.

Biloxi Butter - Shrimp Cracker Spread

Once upon a time it was pretty common here for home gatherings that usually involved some kind of card games, and maybe sometimes a little wager might have occurred.

Unfortunately, as society has changed and legal casinos arrived here in Biloxi, those home gatherings have pretty much dropped off - but the snacks served live on!

Biloxi Butter, a creamy cracker spread made with seasoned cream cheese, butter and local shrimp sauteed in a skillet with butter and extra virgin olive oil, is one of those snacks.

A cream cheese based cracker spread, made with stuffed olives and simple seasonings, great for dipping veggies, for tea sandwiches or your favorite crackers.

Olive Spread

First things first.

If you don't already have an affinity for all things olives, you won't like this spread. Ya pretty much gotta love olives, which I do. 

Briny olives and anything pickled make for a quick snack for me.

I love it all - from kosher dills, to bread and butter pickles, pickled okra and every kind of olive. And a muffuletta sandwich slathered in olive salad? Um, yes please!

My version of the famous spicy tomato, garlic and cream cheese based dip sold at Central Market grocery stores in Texas and well loved by many.

Texas Love Dip - My Way

I had never heard of Texas Love Dip before. 

But, I had been seeing it passed around on social media for awhile and finally gave it a try.

Apparently it originated from a Texas grocery chain, Central Market, H-E-B, or both, and is a popular party dip there.

A classic homemade version of French onion dip, with a twist on the original!

Classic French Onion Dip

I love onions! I use them for seasonings in most cooking, though my preference is and always has been sweet over the harsher yellow onions, and certainly Vidalia onions, when they are in season. I'll even eat those raw on burger and dogs or with beans.

I have a couple of favorite onion dips using Vidalias that are marvelous! One is made with onions and pepper jack cheese, topped with buttery crackers and bacon, and served hot. The other is a cold dip, but made with caramelized onions. This classic onion dip that most everybody knows, and loves, is actually pretty simple in its origins. An envelope of dry onion soup mix combined with a large carton of sour cream, done and done. And, it's pretty darn delicious in and of itself!

Heaven on a Cracker or a Chip - Bacon Cream Cheese Dip

A super easy dip, made with cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese and mayonnaise with green onions, finished with a bacon and Ritz cracker topping and warmed in the microwave. Simple and divine!

Heaven on a Cracker - Bacon Cream Cheese Dip

New Year's Day food is just about played out in the house. I made both my black-eyed peas and the cabbage with sausage and tomatoes, plus the rice of course, in my Instant Pot! Well, Instant Pots because I had three of them going!

Yesterday though, The Cajun and I were enjoying the opening of NFL playoffs (quite exciting they were), so I thought I would make a dip I've been wanting to try forever and kept forgetting about. It's a variation of a recipe from one of the Sweet Potato Queen's books {affil link}, that she calls Heaven on a Cracker, and it is rich and delicious.

Cheeseballs make great party appetizers and the chipped beef version is exceptional. Made with dried beef, green onions, horseradish, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire and parsley, then rolled in more dried beef and parsley.

Chipped Beef Cheese Ball

Okay y'all... we're going old school today, in the name of cheese balls and this cheese ball in particular! Along with the pineapple one, this has always been one of my favorites in the family of cheeseballs. I don't know why I got away from making them really, but I'm glad I got back to it. They make great party food!

Typically these were made with all of the chipped beef in the cheese ball, and finished with a roll in fresh chopped parsley, but I think that it looks nicer with some of the beef on the outside as well, and it's a pretty good indicator of what kind of cheese ball it is to your guests too.

Just remember, all cheese balls are best made 1 to 2 days in advance whenever possible to allow the flavors to all meld together, and they are also best when allowed to come to room temperature before serving too.

 

A hot dip, made with breakfast sausage, a mix of cheeses, sour cream, Worcestershire, hot sauce, vibrant seasonings and green onion. Serve with your favorite crackers, chips or assorted raw veggies.

Sausage and Cheese "Hissy Fit" Dip

Make. This. Dip.

I'm serious!

It is soooooo darn good y'all, you will fall in love with it and want to eat the whole thing.

By your little ole self.

My take on the popular Crockpot Angel Chicken that's going around the internet, made with Italian dressing mix and cream cheese, except using pork chops, a homemade cream sauce, and cooked on the stovetop.

Creamy Angel Pork Chop Skillet

Although it's been around for years, I'm guessing that you've likely seen this recipe around the net a lot here lately using boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cream soups in the slow cooker. What is it they say? All things old become new again? Kinda like the rage here lately with the Instant Pot {affil link}. It's a basic, multi-function electronic pressure cooker pot that's actually been around awhile now, but for some reason, this one brand has picked up a big cult following here lately.

I'm not the biggest fan of boneless, skinless chicken breasts to begin with, and I prefer using my slow cooker more for longer braising types of things like bone-in thighs, whole chickens, beef roasts and even sauces, rather than things that I can whip up on top of the stove in 30 minutes or less. I also didn't have chicken breast, but I did have some assorted pork chops, so I went with those because it sounded good.

 

Most often simply called a trifle today, punch bowls cakes were once all the rage in the South. Made here with layers of angel food cake, a creamy filling, strawberries and whipped cream, it is a delicious well-received and beautiful presentation for any gathering.

Punch Bowl Strawberry Lush Angel Cake

Punch bowls have a long history in the South and this dessert is a perfect one to ring in spring. Back in the day before hiring a caterer was the norm, families provided all of the food and labor for big parties and family events, and every family had a treasured punch bowl, almost always one that had been passed down a few times.

 

  Cherry Berries in a Cloud, a vintage dessert that begins with a baked meringue shell, is topped with a cream cheese, whipped cream and marshmallow layer and finished with a cherry and strawberry pie filling.

Cherry Berries in a Cloud

I had all but forgotten about this vintage dessert until my daughter-in-law's grandmother Mimi showed up with a pan of it at one of our holiday gatherings. Not only is it delicious as it always was, but it's a perfect dessert for Valentine's Day too!

 

  From my 70s Betty Crocker cookbook, one of my first cookbooks as a new bride!

Hot Pintos and Cheese Dip (Texas Trash) - made from refried beans and onion, sour cream, cream cheese, taco seasoning, red sauce and both pepper jack and cheddar cheeses.

Hot Pintos and Cheese Dip (Texas Trash)

There's a dip that's being passed around Facebook called Texas Trash Warm Bean Dip. I have no idea why it has that name, but it passed by my timeline so many times that I decided to give it a whirl. I mean if you love beans, and especially refried beans and bean dips, how can you lose with beans and cheese, right?

 

I took two great Southern classics, Frozen Strawberry Dessert and Strawberry Pretzel Salad, and combined elements of both to make this Frozen Strawberry Pretzel Salad, made with cream cheese, frozen strawberries, banana, pineapple and whipped topping on a salty, pretzel crust.

Frozen Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I know its officially fall on the calendar finally, and some of y'all in those areas of The South farther north from here are seeing cooler temperatures and thinking about soups and stews and pumpkin and apple and oatmeal recipes. Down in The Deep South, and most especially the coastal Deep South, summer is still roaring along. I'll sure be glad when I can give my A/C a little break, but for now it's blasting away, trying to keep things cool around here.

A hot dip made with pepper jack cheese, mayonnaise and sweet Vidalia onions, topped with more cheese, buttery Ritz cracker crumbs and garnished with bacon.

Cheesy Warm Vidalia Onion Dip

You've probably noticed that Vidalia onions are a little smaller now than they were earlier in the season, an indication that the season is winding down and will soon be over until next spring.

An easy cream cheese filled danish made from crescent rolls and your favorite jam or preserves.

Crescent Danish

Y'all know I love Pillsbury crescent rolls for all the things you can create from them and these easy danish rolls are no exception. These are a slight adaptation from the Pillsbury website and they are so quick, easy and downright delicious, you will love them.

An easy, pan-style, baked party cheesecake, made with cream cheese, sugar, lemon, eggs and vanilla, on a graham cracker crust, finished with a layer of sour cream and topped with your favorite canned pie filling.

Easy Party Cheesecake

This party cheesecake has been around for many years, and was pretty popular back in the 70s. Yep, you guessed it - this is another old recipe that falls back to the days of my good ole battered Bell's Best cookbook!

I'm pretty sure that it picked up the name party cheesecake because it was easy to make, portable, and it quickly became a potluck favorite. Now, while this is indeed what one would consider a cheater cheesecake - meaning it doesn't qualify for the real deal award requiring a springform pan, water baths and careful handling - trust me when I say it's still a tasty cheesecake that I think you'll enjoy, and certainly a lot less fuss and worry. I don't think you'll have any complaints about it, or any leftovers.

 

Creamy mashed potatoes, prepared in the usual manner, then tossed with cheese, baked and topped with more cheese. That's some cheesy goodness there y'all!

Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

It's been a gorgeous spring March week here in south Mississippi, just gorgeous. What? You say it's winter still? Well, not in the Deep South!

We never have much of a winter to speak of down here anyway. Basically, there are one or three quick overnight freezes, just about enough to brown over everything, but the next day it's likely to be in the 70s. I noticed in my Google reader one blogger disappointed about having too much snow and the very next blog, about having no snow. What's the winter been like your way?

A layered dessert, made with a buttery shortbread crust, topped with a cream cheese and whipped topping layer, a layer of fresh or frozen strawberries and finished with more whipped cream and chopped nuts.

Strawberry Delight

I have a secret I've been keeping. In the midst of this recent wintery weather, which for some of you has meant snow, I have been chowing down on fresh, local strawberries. Louisiana strawberries. They show up this time of year, every year, and I sure do look forward to it.

Blueberry Heaven Delight

Another terrific layered dessert, made with a graham cracker and nut crust, creamy cream cheese filling, topped with a blueberry pie filling and finished with homemade whipped cream. Heaven indeed!

My Blueberry Heaven Pie

I hope that y'all can bear one more layered dessert recipe because y'all know how well I love them!

 

  Cucumber dill cream cheese sandwiches are a classic southern finger food at parties, weddings, a ladies brunch, bridal and baby showers, but truthfully, they are just as wonderful just to enjoy anytime served with a side of sliced garden tomatoes for a light, cool lunch.

Cucumber Dill Tea Sandwiches

It sure is hot isn't it? And it's not only hot in The South, it's pretty much hot everywhere here lately it seems. Well, these little tea sandwiches are cool as a cucumber, literally!

Commonly found at weddings, bridal showers and parties of all kinds in The South, they are a delightful and cool lunch and a great way to use some of those summer cucumbers. Most often served on thin, white bread, crusts removed, and sliced into quarters, and honestly, a bit addictive.

A delicious party appetizer, these bacon wrapped, smoked sausage and cheese stuffed jalapenos are a true crowd pleaser.

Bacon Wrapped Lit’l Smokies Stuffed Jalapenos

Bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos, like its deep fried cousin, are such a tasty little popper, that although this recipe is written for roughly 24 of these bite size jewels, you'll probably want to make up many more.  People do these all sorts of ways and cook them as many. I imagine that smoked they must be killer, but y'all know how I feel about that time commitment, so I usually just bake mine.