Bears vs Green Bay = Big Game
Throw in a Hanukkah Party…it’s an even bigger deal
And make it our 4th Annual Bears Chili Potluck…Now, you’ve got yourself one fun Sunday Afternoon!
2011 Bears Chili Potluck
Old Picture…Same Great Crowd!
I was in charge of dessert, and I knew exactly what I wanted to make!
This recipe was given to me by a close friend, who at the time didn’t know I was a blogger, but did know that this would be right up my alley. It was right around the time I was living on Cake Batter Fudge, and I have been looking for an excuse to make it. This years Annual Chili Party sounded like the perfect event.
Every year, we have more than enough food and fun to go around. It’s amazing I even had room for anything this afternoon after all of my taste tests : )
We had an amazing spread of appetizers, cornbread, salad, chili, and mac and cheese (and that was just during the first quarter).
Rumor has it…when the Bear’s are losing, calories don’t count.
I sure hope so!
As the game continued into the forth quarter looking ever more bleak, everyone made their way to the dessert table to sweeten up the afternoon. So sad to think just 6 weeks ago, the Bears were looking SO good!
At least all of our desserts were SO good!
I was also in charge of bringing an appetizer. After much thought, I decided to on some simple and healthy hummus. I made one batch of Garlic Hummus, and planned to serve them with the Trader Joe’s Falafel Chips and some cut up veggies. Except, that I forgot the chips. Bummer!
Mint Chocolate Dessert Ball
Recipe adapted from Taste and Tell
Idea given by my friend
Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups triple chocolate cake mix, dry
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup Andes Crème de Menthe Baking Chips
Assorted cookies and crackers
Directions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in the cake mix, the brown sugar and the powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Turn the mixture out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Wrap up into a ball and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Put the mint baking chips on a plate. Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator and unwrap. Roll in the mint chips. Place on a serving plate and surround with cookies, animal, or graham crackers.
*Note: You can make the cheese ball a day ahead and then roll in mint chips and refrigerate before serving.
Luv What You Do 
Ohhh that fudge!! YUM! I love the cheese ball turned dessert ball. I have seen that on Pinterest, and glad it turned out great!
It is so amazing and incredible. You’ll have to try to figure out a vegan version becasue it is a true crowd pleaser : )
This was delicious Jen! We had a great time today as always!
It was so fun to hang out and catch up! I can’t wait for our cookie day in January!
Now that’s some fudge ball you created! Did you tell the Bears’ Front Office that you were having your annual party? The Bears should have put on a better showing for you. Regardless of their play, I bet that chili was good.
LOL!
I totally agree…you would think they could support our even with some football. Ha ha! I was thinking I should make another one for the superbowl and turn it into a football. Great Dessert!
The baby in the pic is sooo cute! And the fudge looks so yummy, I like the way you served it with the animal crackers.
Any excuse to eat animal cracks…I take it! She is seriously the cutest thing. Now she is 15 months and every time anyone said touchdown she’d put her hands in the air….even for Green Bay. To funny!
da Bears! So glad to see you’re a fan 😉
So glad you are a fan…being from WIS and all…ha ha!
I love the Hanukkah cookies! My family has very very old Jewish roots (like 500 years ago), so we always have to throw in some Hanukkah traditions with our Christmas celebrations.
That is amazing! What an exciting piece of your history to know and celebrate with all of your current traditions. Thanks for the comment!!!
What a fun tradition! And, that dessert ball… OMG 🙂
[…] begin, I thought we’d kick it off with 2 ‘recipes’. Today was our Somethingth Annual Bears Chili Party. I was in charge of fruit and decided to make a healthy dessert dip to go with […]