So here's the background ---
My mom is from the South. Ok, northern Virginia, but we consider that the South. So any time you have people getting together, you feed them. Even if they drop by your house unannounced, it's polite to feed them something. Even if it's the fruitcake you got from Christmas several years ago - which, I guess, serves them right.
Since club members can't always make it to the Saturday Stamp club session, I've been holding an extra one on the Wednesday before. However, the hostesses always come on Saturday, so there are no refreshments on Wednesday - which meets at 11 a.m., which means it goes through lunch. Mom asked if she could bring some crackers or something just in case people got hungry. Because, besides being from the South, she's a farm wife (and daughter). So at noon, you eat lunch, whether you're hungry or not. That's when all the men took off and ate - and it may be the last chance until "supper," which in the summer could be 9:00 after Dad got finished in the garden (usually because it was too dark to see what was weed and what was plant). He may stop off at "The Store" (local Mom & Pop grocery store) for a "bottle of pop" and candy bar. And, yes, he called it a bottle of pop. He's not from Michigan or any other state where they talk like that. He's never called it a "soda" (that's ice cream with root beer or "Coke") or even a "Coke," even though that's what he drinks. (NOT that other brand, which apparently "tastes like feet." Which brings up a whole other question....when has he ever tasted feet??? Makes me want to say, "Donner, party of .... Wait a minute... Weren't there more of you when you came in?")
Sorry - lost my train of thought. So Mom brought refreshments to the Wednesday session, and she made a cheese ball. Everyone who tastes it says - very surprised, "You made this?" (Unless they're family; we say, "You made this?" Not that Mom's not a great cook; she's amazing. She just doesn't do it often. Years of three full meals a day took their toll, I guess! Although, if people think you can't cook, they don't ask you to. You get to be the one to bring napkins. Smart woman, my mother!)
Here's her Cheese Ball recipe. It's absolutely wonderful - and simple, low fat, high protein and addictive. Enjoy!
BV's Cheese Ball
8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
4-6 slices fat free American Cheese
1/4-1/2 container of dried beef finely chopped (Mom uses the kind that comes in a glass. In case you were wondering, we had a whole set that we used for juice at breakfast. Not to be confused with the fancy juice glasses that shrimp cocktail came in.)
Mix all ingredients. Add 1 tsp water if needed.
That's the base. If you want, you can add stuff in - olives, nuts, etc.
