Busy in the kitchen!

I've been on a bread machine kick since the weekend. I make bread, and Hubs and the kids show up promptly to slice, butter, and devour it. A third loaf is in the machine now, to bake overnight so we can enjoy it for breakfast. I've made a loaf of whole wheat, a loaf of half white/half wheat, and this latest is a cinnamon raisin breakfast bread. I've made it before and can't wait to enjoy it in the morning.

Between tasks around the house and work duties, I haven't had time to share any recipes lately, so I thought I would take a minute, now that the house is quiet save the sounds of the bread machine and dryer, to share a few tasty ideas. These are taken from a cookbook that my church published in 1999, with all of the recipes contributed by church members. Many of the dishes in this book have made appearances at church potlucks, so I can attest to their deliciousness. Here are a couple of tasty appetizers:

Cheddar Cheese Olive Balls

2 cups grated cheddar cheese
6 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
48 olives, drained and dried on paper towels

Knead all ingredients except olives together until consistency of pie dough. Take off about a teaspoon to form a ball. Make a thumb print in the ball and insert an olive. Cover olive with dough and place on cookie sheet in freezer until firm. Repeat with additional olives and dough. Either remove from freezer and cook, or place in plastic bags until ready to cook. Take out of freezer. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 13 minutes.

Sausage Pinwheels

1 stick margarine
8 ounce package of cream cheese
2 cups Bisquick
1 lb sausage

Cut margarine and cream cheese into Bisquick. Mix together to form dough. Roll dough into rectangular shape. Crumble sausage to cover rectangle. Roll up lengthwise into long roll. Chill overnight wrapped in waxed paper in tin foil. Slice and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes approximately 20, depending upon thickness of slice.