Perky Olive Penguins

How cute are these?! I come from an olive-loving family, and family functions wouldn't be the same without kids and their olive-topped fingers. We don't often have olives at our house, since Paige and I are the only ones that like them, but I recently came across this cute appetizer recipe, and she and I had a fun time today making them together!

I swapped out the horseradish and seasonings for some ranch dip mix, and recommend drying the pimentos with a paper towel before trying to assemble the penguins.

-Adapted from Taste of Home

Jumbo pitted olives, drained
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp. powdered ranch dressing mix
1 medium carrot, cut into 1/4 inch slices
Small pitted olives, drained
12 toothpicks with cellophane frilled tops
1 jar (2 oz) sliced pimentos

Cut a slit from the top to bottom of 12 jumbo olives; set aside. In a bowl, combine the next six ingredients; mix well. Fill a small heavy-duty plastic bag with cream cheese mixture. Cut a small hole in the corner of the bag; carefully pipe mixture into jumbo olives. Set aside.

Cut a small triangle out of each carrot slice; press triangles into small olives for a beak. On a each notched carrot slice, position a jumbo olive so the white chest is lined up with the notch. Place the small olive, hole side down, over the jumbo olive so the beak, chest and feet are aligned. Carefully insert a toothpick through the top of head into body and carrot base. Wrap a pimiento around neck for a scarf. Yield: 1 dozen.

Hot Chocolate Mix - Snowman Soup

Paige's class made this hot chocolate as part of their measuring unit. I don't have the recipe they used, but I think it was probably something similar to this.

Hot Chocolate Mix
-Aunt Pam

8 qt. box non-fat dry milk (8 cups)
1 lb. can Nestle's Quick (3 1/2 cups)
6 oz. jar non-dairy creamer
1 lb. box powdered sugar (3 3/4 cups)
pinch of salt

Mix together and store in sealed container. To serve, put 1/3 cup mix in 1 cup hot water.

Snowman Soup
When it's so cold that
you holler and whoop,
It's time to bring out
the Snowman Soup!

Pour the packet in a mug
Add the snowballs too.
And throw in the kisses
from the snowman to you.

Now add some hot water
And use the cane to stir it.
Sip slowly and soon you'll
feel the warm winter spirit!

(Include a candy cane, mini marshmallows and Hershey kisses)

Frozen Peppermint Dessert

- Mom Roberts' Ward R.S. Party

1 pkg. (1 pound) Oreos, crushed (about 3 cups).
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 gallon peppermint stick ice cream, softened
12 oz. Cool Whip, thawed (divided)

Red food coloring, if desired

Chocolate Topping:

1/2 cup butter
2 c. pwd. sugar
1 can evaporated milk
1 c. chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

1/3 cup Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips

Mix crushed cookies and melted butter. Press mixture firmly in bottom of ungreased 13x9 in. pan.

Stir together ice cream, 2 cups of the whipped topping and a couple drops of red food coloring to make it pink; spoon evenly onto chocolate cookie crust. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan, mix butter, powdered sugar, and milk. Bring to a boil and cook for 3-4 minutes. Mixture should thicken some. Remove from heat & stir in chocolate chips and peppermint extract. Stir until combined. Cool to room temperature.

Pour evenly over ice cream. Freeze at least 8 hours but no longer than 2 weeks.

To serve, cut into 5 rows by 3 rows. Top with remaining whipping topping and sprinkle with crushed peppermints.

15 servings.

Time-Saver Tip:
Omit the home-made fudge sauce and use 3 cups prepared hot fudge sauce.