Shelly's Recipe

Chocolate Cheesecake Filled Strawberries

Category: Fruit Desserts

Yield: 8 servings

1 pound strawberries -
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips -
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese - room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar -
1 graham cracker - crunched to crumbs

Wash each strawberry. Cut the top off of each strawberry and using a knife, core out the middle of each strawberry. Cut off a small piece of the bottom, (evenly) so they can sit up on the plate.

In a double boiler or microwavable bowl, melt the chocolate until just melted. Set aside to cool.

In a small bowl, blend the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar and mix until combined. If you want, you can add the powdered sugar in 1/4 cup increments, until you get to your desired sweetness. Since it is not strawberry season and the berries are not that sweet, I sweetened the filling up good.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza Dip
yield: 6 servings

8 ounces cream cheese - room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream -
2 cups monterey cheese - divided
1 chicken breast - chopped
2 cloves garlic - minced
1/2 cup tomato sauce -
3 tablespoons hot sauce -
1/4 cup ranch dressing -
2 tablespoons cilantro - chopped

Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, 1 cup of the Monterey jack and salt/pepper to taste together in a bowl. Set aside.
Preheat a pan over medium high heat. Once hot, add the canola oil and then add the chicken. Season with salt/pepper to taste and toss for a few minutes until cooked through. Add in the garlic, tomato sauce and ranch dressing. Toss to coat and allow to warm through. Remove from the heat.
In a pie plate, add the cream cheese mixture. Smooth into an even layer. Pour the buffalo chicken mixture over the top. Top with the remaining cup of Monterey jack cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 - 25 minutes or until browned on top. Remove from oven, garnish with cilantro.
Fold in the chocolate.

Mixing until incorporated.

Add to a piping bag or plastic Ziploc bag and pipe decoratively into the strawberries. Sprinkle the graham crackers crumbs over top of each strawberry.