Hey y’all! Things are a little crazy around these parts as we get things ready for my Today Show appearance, but I’m so excited to bring you this amazing recipe and guest post from one of my most favorite people in the whole world – my wife! We were chatting this past weekend about getting things up on the blog and she said, “Well, why don’t I just do a guest post?” What a fabulous idea! I’m not sure why we didn’t think of this before, but I’m so glad we did. So without further ado, here’s Heather…
Hello out there! Unfortunately this is not another amazing, flawless post from my wonderful husband, Stacey. I decided after seeing my very excited but very tired blogger husband, that maybe I should take this opportunity to introduce myself and try to help out during this important week. I find it very humbling that I am sitting on the couch and looking over at my husband as he contemplates his success with the book over this past week.
He cannot seem to understand how people, like you guys, would want to spend your hard-earned money on something that he wrote! He has no idea how talented he is! From a very appreciate wife I would just like to take this opportunity to say “thank you.” Thanks for all the joy that you bring him every single day. I know so many of your names and your stories. Please keep following Stacey as I am quite sure that you will not be disappointed at what is still to come from his creative mind.
Well back to the helping out idea… I was out putting pine straw in the flower beds this past weekend (so that I could impress the Today Show folks coming to film Stacey this week) that a next door neighbor saw me in the yard and came over to introduce herself. After we began talking she bent over and helped herself to a handful of pine straw and simply began spreading it around my yard. Did you guys know that neighbors still do stuff like that? I was floored! I love how this neighborhood that we just moved into feels like a neighborhood that we have lived in for decades.
This was especially true around Christmas in our new home. Neighbors would just drop off food, house plants, and other goodies all during the holiday season. Most of them also enclosed a card with their personal cell phone numbers so that we could call if we needed anything, at any time. One of the goodies given to us during this past Christmas season was a simple cheese ball.
Now you guys may think that my husband is a simple man, but he has extravagant taste buds. He is sometimes timid about eating something so simple and especially something that does not include, a ‘cream of something soup’, whipping cream, or bacon grease. Well, he bit into this and had me on Facebook quickly thereafter begging for the recipe as he was actually unable to tell what the exact spice was that was in the recipe. It was hilarious how mad he kept getting at himself because he could not place the spice! Hilarious! Little did we know that this amazing little cheese ball only has 3 ingredients!
I hope that you guys enjoy this as much as we have over the past few months. It is so easy to make but make sure that you take the time to make it the night before so that the spices have time to blend before your friends and family devour it the next day.
I really hope that you guys don’t stop following my husband after this post. I am quite sure that I am a much better nurse practitioner than blogger, or cook for that matter, but we are so excited about what is in store for Southern Bite. So stick around! Thanks Y’all!
Recipe Card
Peppery Ranch Cheeseball
Ingredients
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 (1-ounce) packet buttermilk ranch salad dressing mix
- Lawry's Seasoned Pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and the ranch dressing mix very well. Roll the mixture into a ball. (You might find it easier to refrigerate the mixture for a few hours before rolling into a ball.) Sprinkle a generous amount of the seasoned pepper on a sheet of wax paper and gently roll the cheese ball in the pepper to coat it well, adding more pepper if necessary. Refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to develop. Serve with your favorite crackers, veggies, or pita chips
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Nana
Oh Stacy-we need to build your self esteem! Hot is a state of mind for the giver and the receiver. A smile is hot, a man helping others is hot, a man caring for his family is hot. a man who respects God, his community, and country is hot! I am an older nana and I know these things. Stand tall and proud and never compromise your values because they are what makes a man HOT!
LOL!! Thanks so much!
Susan
Delightful post! Received your cookbook yesterday in the mail, DVR set for Sunday. Best wishes and congratulations on your success.
Thanks so much for the support, Susan!
Lorelei
I have made this for years with a packet of Italian dressing. It is by far the best cheese ball I have ever made or eaten. I had never thought of using ranch, but I will surely try it. Thanks.
Hope you enjoy the variation!
Jennifer Salins
Cannot wait to try this!
Enjoy!!!
Mimi
Thank you for all the blessings we receive from your blog. You are two beautiful people (with a beautiful son), and we wish you all the best. Thanks for the yummy recipe…can’t wait to make this! Have a great weekend. See ya on TV!
Thanks, Mimi!
Unhip Chick
You both are blessed to have each other and to appreciate each other in the way that you do. Congratulations on your success and on your debut on the Today Show. I always enjoy reading your funny, inspiring, heartfelt, and entertaining stories that go along with the yummy recipes.
That we are! Thanks so much!!
JoAn Real
Stacy and Heather, Congrat’s on all of your success. You are just the type of cook I love because it’s home cooking and I don’t do fancy recipes. I have my tv all set for March 30th Today show so I will not miss it while we are at church. Keep them coming. I love making simple but good recipes.
Thanks so much, JoAn! I hope you enjoyed the show!
Peggi Anderson
Oh my goodness…can’t wait to make this cheese ball.
It looks incredible!!! A big Texas thank you to both of
you. Heather, you look beautiful in the picture.
Love y’all
Peggi Anderson
Thanks, Ms. Peggi!
Tina
This cheese ball sounds and looks delicious! Thank you Heather for sharing with us today. I can easily see one reason why Stacey is the success that he is….he has a very loving and supportive wife at his side! I am so excited for you and your family as this journey continues!
She IS pretty awesome!! 🙂
Joan in VA
Heather, I’ve used that basic recipe for years. We love it. Thanks for reminding me about it.
Stacey, I’m pretty sure you are ‘hot.’ At least, in my book any male who cooks is ‘hot’. And any male that cooks Southern, is ‘hotter.’
Thanks, Joan!