Cheese pumpkins

This cute idea was in the Betty Crocker newsletter today:

Cheese Pumpkins


8 tablespoons smoked Cheddar cold pack cheese food (from 8-oz container), well chilled
2 teaspoons finely chopped peanuts
4 butter-flavored pretzel spindles or sticks, broken in half
16 tiny pieces fresh parsley leaves

1. Line small serving plate with waxed paper. Roll each level tablespoon cold pack cheese food into a ball; place on waxed paper-lined serving plate. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes for easier handling.

2. With end of toothpick, draw ridges around balls to resemble pumpkins. Dip bottoms of cheese balls in chopped peanuts.

3. Just before serving, insert pretzel halves into cheese balls for pumpkin stems. Decorate with parsley for leaves. Store in refrigerator.

Philadelphia Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

In the Kraft Food & Family newsletter that I just received there was a delicious looking recipe that I am definitely going to have to try! It has excellent reviews :)

PHILADELPHIA Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

Prep Time:
15 min

Total Time:
5 hr Makes:

16 servings

What You Need:

50 NILLA Wafers, crushed (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans, divided
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
3 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping

Make It:

HEAT oven to 325°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends extending over sides. Mix crumbs, 1/2 cup nuts and butter; press onto bottom of pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.

BEAT cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream, flour and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

BAKE 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan. Drizzle with topping; top with remaining nuts. Let stand until topping is set.