It's Bunko Time... and a few recipes too...

Last Night it was my turn to host bunko at my house. We always have a theme and mine was of course 4th of July. We make some light snacks and an adult beverage to share.

Here were my decorations!

And here is what I made.... 1. "White Chocolate M & M Pretzel Things" for lack of a better name :)... these were a HUGE hit... i got this idea from my MIL and you can make them with any color M&M's... they are great for baby showers, wedding showers, holidays, school events... and very easy too! You can use whatever color M&M you would like to match your party, shower, or event.

Recipe:

1 bag of the square pretzels (however i could not find them this time so i used the small twist ones and they worked out fine)

1 package of white candy melts (found in the wedding section of walmart)

1 bag of M&M's

Directions: On a cookie sheet lay out the pretzels, top each pretzel with a white chocolate piece, and place in the oven (250 degrees) for about 10 minutes. I left the door cracked so i could watch them and when the little "dot" on top of the chocolate pieces goes away and they look melty (not runny) pull them out and top each one with a M&M ( i place the m&m writing down so you can't see it) then let them cool and place them on a plate and serve.

2. Chocolate Chewy Cookies

(these taste like the Chewy Chocolate Cookies from The Cookie Company)

Recipe:

1 bag of chocolate chips

1/2 stick of butter

1 cup of sweeten cond. milk

1 cup of flour

1 tablespoon of vanilla

Directions: Mix the first 3 ingredients together and heat in a double boiler (or is a pan on low if you don't have a double boiler like me) once it melts remove from heat and add flour and vanilla and stir. GREASE your cookie sheet (so some of yours don't stick like mine did) and spoon them onto the cookie sheet. Bake on 350 for 8 minutes. Let cool just a little bit until they are not gooey and place them on a plate and serve.

These were really good... husband really liked them... he and kids we glad some of them stuck and messed up so they could eat those and even more glad there were 2 left over. I got this recipe from a friend and this was my first time to make them... they were good and easy! 3. Hot Mexican Corn Dip

(my new addiction)

Recipe:

(2) 8 ounce packages of cream cheese (i used reduce fat)

1 can of rotel (i used mild)

2 small cans of shoepeg corn

2 small cans of niblet corn

Directions: Cube cheese, mix rotel and DRAINED corn. Microwave for 5 minutes. Stir and return to microwave for 5 to 8 minutes longer. Serve with chips.

This is the easiest dip recipe EVER and it is SOOOOO good! yummo! 4. Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Directions:

2 packages of the tatum dinner rolls (the small ones with 3 rows in the metal pans)

1 package of swiss cheese

1 package of ham

Sauce:

1 stick of butter

2 Tbsp. poppy seed

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp mustard

1 Tbsp onion (i put mine in the mini chopper to make sure it was finely chopped b.c i am not an onion person)

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Make the sauce... melt the butter and add the other ingredients and stir. Cut the rolls in half so you have a top and a bottom. Spread the sauce on the bottom layer of the rolls, then place a layer of ham, then a layer of cheese, then spread the top part of the rolls with the sauce and place it on top of the cheese (all this goes back into the original pan). You should have enough sauce, meat, and cheese to make 2 pans. Bake them in the over on 250 for 30 minutes. Serve warm... they are the BEST!!!

After cleaning, decorating, and cooking all day I was more that ready to relax with a Cosmopolitan in my favorite glass... "Mommy's Sippy Cup"! :)

Fun Girl time is always a welcomed addition here!

Happy Weekend... we are off to the lake in the morning for a Powers Family Reunion and then we are leaving the kids at the lake and husband and I are headed to Montgomery for a little weekend getaway actually for a wedding but it will still be 24 hrs of R&R. (We) Well maybe I am excited to be able to get dressed without two kids hanging all over me, eat a peaceful meal, have uninterrupted adult conversation, and we get to sleep in a KING size bed all by ourselves... oh the things you look forward to once you have kids!