My Daughter is a High School Grad!

When did she get so old?  I just don't know how it happened?  Wasn't she just born the other day?  What's that?  It's been 18 years?  Oh, that's right.  Wow!  Time really does fly.  It's a cliche because it's true.  My daughter is now officially a high school grad, starting college in the fall.  (Brag alert:  She received an honors scholarship to college, just saying)  After I got over the initial shock, I planned a party.  (What else would a proud Southern Mama do?)  It had to include family, friends and her favorite foods.  Here are a few:

This first recipe is so good it'll make you slap your Mama.  Every time I make it there is nothing left but the compliments.

HOT CHEESE DIP

1 loaf King's Hawaiian Round Bread (if you can't find this, you can use sour dough or even a loaf of French bread, but the sweet Hawaiian bread makes it unbelievable!  It's worth hunting for)

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (shred it yourself!  That pre-shredded stuff has a weird anti-clumping agent on it and doesn't melt as good)

1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1 (2 oz) jar of pimentos, drained
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cut the top off of the bread and reserve (you'll need this later).

Remove the insides of the bread.  Leave enough so the bread bowl will still be sturdy.  If you remove too much it won't be stable.  You can save the scraps of bread to make sweet bread crumbs (or just snack on it like I do).

Combine cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire, pimentos, green onions and chilies.  Stuff this mixture inside the hollowed out bread round.

Replace the top and wrap it in foil.  Bake it in 325 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours.  It sounds like a long time, but so worth it.  Just put it in the oven then go get ready for your party :)

Yum!  So delicious!  I serve this with Fritos Scoops or Melba Toasts.  I am telling you, people love this stuff!  It is my daughter's favorite, so it was a must for the party.  She and her friends had already put a hurt on it before I could take a picture of the finished product!


Next, I will show you my easy, no-bake strawberry cheesecake.  She loves cheesecake and always gets it for dessert at every restaurant we go to.  This version freezes beautifully!  Perfect to make ahead of time then just thaw in the fridge the day before the party.  Plus, it's easy to double or triple this recipe to make as many as you need.

SIMPLY SCRUMPTIOUS STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

1 graham cracker pie crust (you can make your own, but these taste good and are so easy)
1 block cream cheese, softened
1/4 + 2 TBS cup sugar, divided
2 TBS strawberry preserves
1/2 pint strawberries (cleaned and sliced)
4 oz Cool Whip, thawed (that's half the container)

Place cleaned and sliced strawberries in a bowl.  Add 2 TBS sugar and mash a little.  Set aside and let the berries break down a bit.

Meanwhile, beat softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup sugar until smooth.

Add preserves.

Stir mashed strawberries into cream cheese mixture.

Then, gently fold in the Cool Whip.

Spoon into crust.

Cover and chill at least 4 hours or until firm (I like to chill overnight).  Store any leftovers in the fridge.

This is easy, delicious, and a crowd pleaser!  Cool and refreshing after a BBQ.  You will definitely want to give this one a try this summer!


So, the graduation party BBQ was a success.  My daughter loved the food!  But, most of all, she loved seeing her family and friends.  And I am happy I got to give her a wonderful memory she will take with her to college and beyond.