Celebration food.....

Back to our Southern food groups, lol.  This post makes me happy because it is all about two of my favorite things--food and family gatherings.  I can spend hours planning a special menu for an occasion to be celebrated.  Nearly anything can turn into a celebration!!!  Graduation parties, baptism parties (yes, we baptists make a huge deal of this), birthday parties, retirement celebrations, etc.  Throw in all holidays and it's very easy to have a party nearly every weekend.  That, makes me happy.  What kinds of foods are served at a Southern celebration?  Our best dishes, of course.  In my family, we love to have themed parties.  At my mom's house, we quite often have "Mexican night".  We make quesedillas, refried beans, rice, homemade tortilla chips and guac...yummy!  We've been known to have dessert parties as well.....cheesecake, banana puddings, chocolate mousse, I could go on and on.

My momma is famous for her cheese ball recipe.  It has been served at countless celebrations and people beg for the recipe.  Today, I'm going to share it with y'all and maybe, just maybe it might make it's way onto your table.  Hope y'all enjoy.

Peggy's Dried Beef Ball

2 pkgs.  dried beef (Armour, in small glass jars)

1tsp accent

4 dashes Worcestershire sauce

4 small green onions, diced

2-8oz pkg cream cheese

Rinse each slice of beef under water.  Place all in paper towels to remove excess moisture.  Place in food processor and chop.  Remove and set aside.  Place green onion in processor and chop finely.  Add cream cheese, accent, Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 of the chopped beef.  Pulse until well blended.  Wrap cheese mixture and refrigerate several hours or overnight.  Place remaining beef in refrigerator also.  When cheese mixture has chilled, while it is still wrapped in plastic, roll it in a ball.  Remove plastic and roll in remaining beef.  Serve with ritz or toll house crackers.

A couple of notes from me....

Even people who don't like green onion (myself included), love this.  The key is to really process it well.

Also, many of you may not have heard of the chopped beef.  You shouldn't have any trouble finding this if you look around the canned meat aisle in your grocery.  Think canned salmon and you should find it.