Truffles

Last week I went to a Christmas party.  I was asked to bring a dessert, a chocolate dessert of some kind.  I  originally decided to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles.  I found the recipe on Pinterest and decided to try it out.

But after that decision was made, a good friend told me her Christmas wouldn't be complete without some Oreo Truffles.  So, I decided to make both!

Oreo Truffles are rather easy.  There are only 3 ingredients.  Yup, only 3.  A package of Oreo's, a package of cream cheese (softened), and some white candy wafers (or white chocolate chips.)

First step is very simple, put all the Oreo's in a Ziploc bag, seal it with most of the air out.  Go ahead and double bag it.  Then get a hammer out of your husband's tool box (or your own hammer, or a food processor or some fancy equipment that you may have that I don't) and smash the heck out of them.  You want a very pulverized bag of cookie crumbs.

Dump the bag of crumbs into a big bowl and combine with your cream cheese.  Really work it in until it's all combined.

Roll them into balls and place on a wax paper covered cookie sheet and put in the fridge for a few hours.  Let them firm up nicely.  Once they are firm, melt your candy wafers in a deep bowl.  I microwave mine for one minute, stir, and then microwave for 30 second intervals until completely melted.

Dip your truffles into the melted chocolate and using 2 forks, try to drip off the excess.  Place back on the cookie sheet and let harden in the refrigerator for a bit.  If you want to get fancy, you can melt some regular chocolate and swirl it on top.  Yields about 30 truffles.


Now, on to the Cookie Dough Truffles!


You need:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate morsels
1 1/2 pounds chocolate wafers, (candy coating, or chocolate chips to melt)


The original recipe I found also added 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts.  But quite frankly, I don't want nuts in my chocolate chip cookie dough.  I just want dough, and chocolate chips.  So, I didn't put the nuts in my truffles.  Call it bakers license.  You know, like artistic license?  Just bear with me, I'm trying to make it work here.

In your stand mixer (or large bowl with hand mixer) cream butter and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy.  Add the vanilla.  Gradually beat in flour and add the sweetened condensed milk.

Add the chocolate morsels (and the nuts if you want them) and mix well.  At this point, I found that the dough was too sticky to mold into balls.  So I stuck them in the fridge for a couple of hours.  My couple of hours turned into overnight just because I started these at 8 pm.  Goofy me.

Shape into 1 inch balls, just like your Oreo Truffles.  Put these on waxed paper also and chill for at least 2 hours.

Melt chocolate wafers how ever you want.  I do mine in the microwave like the white candy wafers.  Using two forks, dip the truffles into the chocolate to cover.  Place back on the waxed paper to harden in the refrigerator for at least an hour.  If you want to get fancy again, take some of that white chocolate that was left over and swirl it on top.  Yields 40-50 truffles.

Both recipes are easy and extremely tasty!  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas Eve, presents are wrapped, kids are tucked into bed, and my husband and I are killing time until the kids are sound asleep before those presents can be put under the tree.  Until then, I'm sitting here and thinking about the ultimate gift I have received from Jesus and singing my favorite Christmas carol, O Holy Night.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise us,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night divine.

During this Christmas holiday, please take time to remember the reason for the season.

Luke 2:1-20

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news og great job that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Happy Birthday!

Today my son turns 11.  I'm so proud of the young man he is turning into.  Here's a picture of his birthday cake.

Chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, surrounded by Kit Kats and topped with M&M's.  Yes, it's a sugar high just waiting to happen.  But that's ok, I'll deal with the sugar coma's later, I'm just blessed to have had 11 years with my boy and am looking forward to many, many more.

Holiday Humor

So, I'm kind of a geek.  I saw this comic this morning and absolutely cracked up.  It came from George Takei's facebook page.

Hope you understand what it means.  :D