Recipes you'll want to print out and memorize

Tomorrow is our ward talent show.  I'm going to be playing a piano arrangement of the song Love Story originally by Francis Lai.  My mom's jewelry box plays this song.  I've never seen the movie, but I love the music.

The activities committee asked everyone to bring two dozen cookies for refreshments. 

The last time I went to an activity where everyone was asked to bring a sweet, cookies, or dessert, one person brought a veggie and fruit platter.  It went fast.  There were several diabetic members that were grateful as well.

So that's what I'm doing, well the veggie part anyway.  If I feel like it, I'll do apples and dip.  Now apples and dip are definitely not sugar-free, but I'm not going to force anyone to eat the dip.  ;)

Mom's vegetable dip
8 ounce softened cream cheese go for the full fat stuff
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 T. soy sauce
1 T. mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip)
1 clove of garlic or 1/8 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in the blender until smooth.  You might want to triple the batch because EVERYONE loves it. 

Serve with:

carrot sticks
celery sticks
sliced cucumber or cucumber sticks
olives
bite-size broccoli
bite-size cauliflower
radishes

Caramel Apple Dip
8 ounce softened cream cheese
1 cup dark brown sugar (packed tightly)
1 T. vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans (you can omit this if you have a nut allergy)

Use a hand-blender to combine the cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.  Stir in the chopped pecans.  Chill until time to serve.

Serve with:
Cored and wedged crisp apples like Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady, McIntosh, Braeburn

Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip
Mix equal parts peanut butter and vanilla yogurt.  Add a dash of cinnamon.  Even if you over do it with the cinnamon, it's still good. 

Serve with: 
Cored and wedged crisp apples or carrot sticks.

Or we also put it in a bowl with bananas sliced over the top and tell the children it's "Monkey Ice Cream."