Peppermint Creme Bars

These are delicious. They are like a peppermint patty with an oreo layer. Pretty easy to make, just need a food processor and time (they are a bit time consuming, it seemed to me at least).

• 1 package crushed chocolate sandwich cookies with white filling
• 
  
  6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 
  
  6 cups powdered sugar
• 
  
  6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 
  
  6 tablespoons milk
• 
  
  2 teaspoons peppermint extract
• 
  
  1 pkg. semi sweet chocolate chips (or 1 1/2 depending on how chocolatey you like it)
• 
  
  4 teaspoons shortening

1.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 9x13-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over the pan edges; set aside.

2.

In a medium bowl, combine crushed cookies and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Cool slightly in pan on a wire rack.

3.

Meanwhile, combine powdered sugar and softened butter in a food processor. Cover and process until butter is evenly distributed. With processor running, add milk and peppermint extract to make a paste. Spread peppermint mixture evenly over the prepared crust. Put in freezer for 45 minutes.

4.

In a saucepan, melt chocolate and shortening over low heat. Pour chocolate over mint layer and spread evenly. Freeze again, or let set out until chocolate in firm (I put in freezer for about 20ish minutes). Using the edges of the foil, lift the uncut bars out of the pan. Cut into square.

*I added Christmas sprinkles to the mint part, and snowflake sprinkles on top the chocolate part (before the chocolate hardens).

*adapted from HERE. The original recipe is in a 8x8 pan which I thought was way too small for the amount of time put into these, and I made a change in the peppermint layer part, I like more peppermint creme, so I more than doubled the original recipe, but don't worry, it's been tested and works just great.

Oreo and Peanut Butter Layered Baby Lattice Pies

I saw this on Picky Palate and decided to make it for my husband's lunch club dessert. I thought they were pretty easy, and I have never done anything lattice before. They were also pretty delicious; I thought at least. The only things I would change would be to not be skimpy on the peanut butter. I wish I would have added twice as much in the layers, and the lattice actually looked pretty neat (although you can't see in the picture) but I would make the strips thicker. The recipe says to make long thin strips, so I did that, but on the pies that had thicker strips so that the lattice completely covered the top looked better. I also used a 4 inch round cookie cutter to cut out the dough instead of just "eyeing it" like the recipe says to. Someone at my husband's lunch club suggested to crush the oreos and then do the peanut butter, which I thought would be neat too, however you wouldn't get those cool looking layers. I also thought of putting chocolate chip cookie dough instead of the oreos but I didn't know how well that would transfer for cooking times, ect.

Click here to go to the recipe at Picky Palate.

Ladybug Cookies

I made these cookies for a friend's daughter's birthday party. She turned one and was having a ladybug birthday party. I got 2 packages of oreo cookies, some red melting chocolate from Michael's (they are called Wilton Candy Melts and come in a variety of colors for $2.99 a bag, one bag was plenty for this) , and some chocolate frosting tube (from Walmart) found by all the birthday candles and sprinkles in the baking isle. First I melted the red chocolate, then dipped the oreo in it (I just covered the front side, I didn't completely cover the whole oreo. Then I put all the oreos in the fridge for a while for the chocolate to harden. Then I took out the chocolate frosting tube and made little heads. I put them back in the fridge for about 15 minutes for the little heads to harden, then I made a line down the middle (wings) and three dots on each side. Refrigerate until ready to eat. I decided not to do eyes. I thought they looked cute just how they were. Pretty easy and the kids loved them!

I am linked to THESE parties!

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day everyone. I wanted to make a little treat for my husband to take to his scouts (he is a webelos leader) and since today is Earth Day, I thought this would be perfect. It was really quick and easy and the kids LOVED it. I am sure you have all had this before, or know the recipe, but just in case, or just as a reminder, here it is:

2 boxes of instant chocolate pudding

1 box of instant vanilla pudding

small clear plastic cups

oreo cookies

gummy worm/bugs/frogs (whatever you like)

whipped cream (optional)

Crush the oreo cookies (I used my magic bullet and made them really fine). Mix up the vanilla and chocolate puddings according to the package directions. Now you are supposed to mix them with whipped cream, but I forgot to get that at the store, so I just used the pudding as is, and it worked fine. Now this is how I did it, but you can creatively come up with whatever layering or what not you want. I put one spoonful of crushed oreos in the bottom of each cup, then one spoonful of vanilla, then a spoonful of oreos again, then a a couple spoonfuls of chocolate pudding (till it's almost full), then top it off with more crushed oreos and stick some gummy worms on top.

...and to really make them Earth Day appropriate, make little 'Happy Earth Day' flags with toothpicks.

Valentines Day Kids Craft

First a good joke I heard:

A woman woke up and told her husband, "I just dreamed you gave me a diamond necklace for Valentine's Day, what do you thin it means?" "You'll know tonight," he said. That evening the husband came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it--to find a book entitled “The Meaning of Dreams.”

Don't we all love Valentine's Day! :) I know it is technically a 'lovers' holiday, but I am really a holiday person, I like to celebrate all the holidays, and make them special for my children as well. So every year, I look for fun things I can make and do with the kiddos.

Kids crafts:

I love doing fun kids crafts for the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, ect. ect. Here are some cute, easy, cheap, simple ideas that you probably already have everything for:

Children's Handprint Bouquet

(to see step by step directions and pictures, go to "Artists helping Children".

*I think the lilies are so cute, but I did this for my mom once with my kid's handprints on all different colored paper, and put them in a vase.

(mine)

The Valentine's Day Scroll

Got this idea from "All Free Crafts". I think it is so cute. The directions are to first put the painted handprints on canvas or construction paper, then paint on simple leaves and stems, then have the child write a message. Sponge gold paint around the edge of the paper, dry, then roll it up and tie ribbon around it like a scroll.

Cream Filled Strawberries from Cafe Johnsonia

Don't these look so delicious and yet simple - something you could do easily with your children.

Recipe:

2-16 (more or less depending on the size) large strawberries
4 oz. cold heavy cream
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
2-4 Tbsp. confectioner's sugar (make is as sweet as you like)
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
a little vanilla extract

Beat the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar with an electric mixer. Add the heavy cream. Continue beating until the mixture thickens. Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Place in the fridge for several hours, or overnight.

Cut an "X" into the bottom of each strawberry.

Fit a pastry bag with a star tip and fill it with the cream. Carefully pipe the cream into the center of each strawberry, allowing some of it overflow from the cuts you made on the strawberry.

Serve immediately, or cover with plastic film/wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

*if you want REALLY simple and quick., you could always, just 'X' cut the strawberries and spray whipped cream inside.

Valentine Cookie Pops

This was taken from Pillsbury; however, my favorite sugar cookies are the powdered Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix. These stay soft and every time I make them, I always get compliments, so I would make them with that mix, rather than the Pillsbury refrigerated dough. Then place cookie dough pieces 2 inches apart. Into side of each piece of dough, insert wooden stick 1 inch, overlapping wooden sticks as necessary. Bake according to package directions. Cool completely. Spread with frosting and decorate with candies Tie 18 inches of red ribbon into bow around each stick next to the cookie.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cheesecake Cookies

I found this recipe at My Kitchen Cafe. They are very yummy. However, the original recipe calls for cherries, and I am not a huge cherry fan, so I also made some with hot fudge and caramel, and some strawberry ones. The strawberry ones were by far the most popular (just FYI). Anyway, you really could be creative and do whatever with these.

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup graham cracker crumbs

i can cherry pie filling

Hot fudge and Caramel

Strawberry jam and fresh sliced strawberries

Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In another bowl with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Refrigerate dough until firm, at least 30 minutes (very important, needs to be chilled in order to roll into balls; otherwise it's too sticky).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat liners. Place graham cracker crumbs in a shallow dish ( I crushed the graham crackers in a food processor and I think they were too finely crushed. Then I tried putting the graham crackers in a ziplock bag and crushing them with a rolling pin and this worked really well.)

Roll the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, then roll the balls in graham cracker crumbs. Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Using a tablespoon measure, make an indentation in the center of each ball. Place 3 cherries in the dimple; or put a Tab. or so of hot fudge, or a Tab. or so of strawberry jam. Bake until golden brown around the edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool for five minutes on the sheet and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. After they are baked and cooled, top the hot fudge ones with a few lines of caramel, and the strawberry jam ones with a couple slices of fresh strawberries.

This recipe made about 4 dozen cookies.

I am linked to http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com/, http://beautyandbedlam.com/, and http://allthesmallstuff-cole.blogspot.com/

Candy Cane Cookies

I love candy cane cookies. However, these are a little different. I used the Betty Crocker sugar cookie powdered mix and they were so good and stayed soft. I did NOT used the peppermint extract because I thought the crushed candy canes on top were good enough, but you could use it; just be careful how much.

• 1 package powdered sugar cookie mix
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1-3 Tbsp. flour
• 1/2-1 tsp. peppermint extract (optional)
• 4-5 drops red food coloring
• 4-5 crushed candy canes
• 
  
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Dump cookie mix into a large mixing bowl. Add softened butter, egg and one tablespoon of flour. Using an electric mixer or your hands, mix until it forms a soft dough. Divide dough in half. Add peppermint extract to one half (if you want it). Knead it into the dough until well-incorporated. Add a tablespoon of flour if dough is too sticky. Add red food coloring to the other half. Start with a few drops of food coloring, and add more until you get a deep pink color (or a red color, if you prefer). Add a tablespoon or two of additional flour if the dough is too sticky. Pinch off one teaspoon of pink dough. Roll between your palms to form a rope, about 3 to 4 inches long. Repeat with one teaspoon of the white dough. Place the ropes side-by-side and twist into a candy cane shape, pinching at the ends to seal. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake 7 minutes until cookies are lightly browned around the edges. When they are in the oven, they don't look quite done, but be careful to not overbake. 7 minutes was just right for me. Immediately after taking out of oven, sprinkle with crushed candy cane and let cool.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Got my idea from recipezaar.com, but I changed it a little. These cookies are super easy and super yummy. Only three ingredients. Here is the recipe:

1 box of spice cake mix

1 can pumpkin puree

1 bag semi-chocolate chips

Mix the cake mix and pumpkin together, stir in chocolate chips. Spoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes.

There, see, super easy.

*The original recipe calls for walnuts also