Change of Season

Isn't amazing how a change in weather can put you in a whole different mindset? It's still hot enough to hit the pool, but it's cooled off just enough that it feels like football season. Cool or not, the games started Thursday, and by Saturday, we were ready for Alabama football.



We watched the game with some friends and my job was to make cake balls. Have I mentioned our engagement pictures are Sunday? And after months of eating whatever I wanted I picked the kickoff of football to try to lose the couple pounds I've put on? And volunteer to make one of my favorite desserts? That involves lots of interaction with cake batter and icing? If not, I'm mentioning it.

Here's the recipe. Because everyone should experience cake balls in some form or fashion.

It really gets your hands dirty if you don't have a melon baller (more on that later), so my apologies for the lack of pictures for every step.

You'll need:
Cake mix (and the ingredients to actually make the cake)
Frosting
Almond Bark
Sprinkles

These are great because there are a million combinations you can make. For football, I made red velvet cake with almond bark. For obvious reasons.

Make your cake in a 9x13 pan following the package directions.

When it's done, let it cool. Cut the cake out of the pan, eating discarding the edges. You don't want the crispy parts of the cake in your mix.

Break the cake up in a bowl. Like this:

Then add the icing. I used cream cheese. If you know me in real life, this is also an obvious choice. Here's where its hard not to just sit on the couch with a spoon and the bowl and watch episodes of Teen Mom. But keep moving forward.

From here you make balls out of your batter. Here's where a melon baller or a small cookie scoop comes in handy. Red velvet is especially messy. Melt the almond bark. Yes, you will use the whole package. And then some. I put a little vegetable oil while its melting to make it creamier.

Dip your cake balls in the almond bark, place on a greased and foil lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle. With sprinkles.

To tack on to Friday's post, another lesson: The $3 tiny box of bakers white chocolate that you have to buy two of and totally ruin your Publix total for the week does not work near as well as the almond bark.

They were a nice sweet to complement all the salty food on the spread. See that near empty dip bowl? That's the buffalo chicken dip I've mentioned. It's totally diet friendly if you use celery as a dipper.

Is there any other way to watch football in the South?

Roll Tide!!!