Cheesy Spider Food

CHEESY SPIDER DIP

Steps:

• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, Cheddar, Monterey Jack cheese, butter, salsa and some salt and pepper and beat until smooth. Alternatively, mix all the ingredients in a large bowl with a spoon. Reserve 1/3 cup of the dip and wrap in plastic wrap.
• Make 2 balls with the remaining dip, one twice as big as the other, wrap in plastic, and shape into balls. Refrigerate all three portions of the cheese until hardened and cold, 2 to 3 hours.
• Unwrap the two balls and coat in the crushed tortilla chips. Place on a platter directly next to each other and make eyes in the smaller ball with 2 olives. To make the legs, arrange 8 green beans to stick out of the "spider's" side, then place a small ball made out of the reserved 1/3 cup dip on the end of each bean and connect another bean to each ball to make long legs.
• Serve with vegetables, crackers or tortilla chips.

SPIDER CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Combine cream cheese, Italian seasoning and 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
• Shape into 24 balls, using 2 Tbsp. cheese mixture for each. Roll in remaining shredded cheese.
• Top crackers with cheese balls. Decorate each cheese ball to resemble spider, using noodles for legs and currants for eyes.

HAM 'N' CHEESE SPIDERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Using small pieces of foil, make forty 1/2-in. foil balls for shaping spider legs; coat lightly with cooking spray., For filling, mix first 4 ingredients. On greased baking sheets, pat 5 biscuits into 3-1/2-in. circles. For legs, cut each of 10 breadsticks crosswise in half; cut each piece lengthwise in half. (Reserve remaining breadsticks for another use.) Attach 8 legs to each biscuit, twisting and pressing onto pan to adhere. Tuck a foil ball under the center of each leg., Spoon filling over biscuits. Fold cheese slices into quarters; place over top. Pat remaining biscuits into 4-in. circles; place over cheese, pressing edges to seal. , Whisk together egg yolk and water; brush over tops. Attach olives for eyes; fill centers with pimientos. Sprinkle with poppy seeds., Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Serve warm.

SPIDER SLIDERS

Steps:

• Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle position. Preheat oven to 400°. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 1/4-in. julienne strips. Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Mix salt, cumin, thyme, cinnamon and pepper. Drizzle sweet potatoes with oil; sprinkle with spice mixture. Toss to coat., Bake on bottom oven rack 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and tender, turning once. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine beef, onion and seasoned salt, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Press onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake on top oven rack 15-20 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. , Drain fat from baking dish; place cheese slices evenly over meat. Bake 2-3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Cut into 12 patties. Place one patty on each roll bottom; arrange eight fries to form spider legs. Replace tops. Press two olive slices onto cheese to form eyes.