Oreos

These oreos have been used for years as a way to acquire positions of power in the PTA, bribe neighbors and coworkers into getting something, and mystify the masses with magical cooking abilities.

Once used, do not expect your children to accept just any old cookie. Do not be shocked when they turn up their noses at a packaged, store bought oreo.

Simply, these little cookies have the ability to change your life.

Homemade Oreo Cookies

1 package Devils Food Cake Mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup shortening

Combine ( the hardest part. At some point when I make these I give up the spoon and use my hands.)

Roll into 1/2 inch balls. Place 16 in 4 rows of 4 on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for exactly 8 minutes.

Once all of the oreos are baked and cooled its time to make the frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 brick cream cheese

2 cups powered sugar

A small splash of vanilla (During Christmas we add a few drops of peppermint extract instead and dye it green)

Soften (not melt!) cream cheese in the microwave at 1/2 power until it is pretty easy to stir.

Stir in the vanilla then gradually add the powered sugar until it is the right consistency for frosting.

When you frost the cookies, be generous! The best oreos have the most frosting.

-Taci

Fondue!

I had the chance to celebrate New Years Eve in Hagerman with my inlaws again this year. It was fun because I got to watch my father in law play in his band but my favorite part was the fondue.
After a few hours of extensive google research I decided (with the aid of my mother in law) that a simple cheese sauce and a dessert sauce would do the trick. I found the coolest recipe for "any flavor dessert fondue" and I will swear by it always. I am officially in love. Here it is:

Any Flavor Dessert Fondue

1 (16 oz) can of frosting, any flavor. (we made a chocolate one and a coconut pecan one)
1/3-1/2 cup heavy cream

Combine in a small sauce pot on low heat until smooth.
This literally took 5 minutes to make, it is cheap and super easy.
Great, I found another way to gain weight.

What we dipped in the stuff:
Maraschino Cherries
Angel food cake cubes
Banana Slices
Sliced fruit on a tray from costco

Things I have dipped in chocolate before:

Marshmellows
Rice Krispy Squares
Swedish Fish
Lady fingers
Cheesecake squares
Cream puffs

Cheese Fondue (also pretty darn easy!)
4 tbsp butter
5 tbsp flour
1 can evaporated milk
2 tsp ground mustard (enhances the cheesy flavor)
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 -2 cups grated cheese, any kind ( we did some cheddar jack and mozzarella)

Melt butter in a small sauce pan and add and stir/whisk in flour to make a roux. Add milk, salt, and mustard and stir until thickened then stir in cheese. Keep this one warm or it may be a little stringy.

What we dipped in our cheese:
Green and black olives
Pieces of bagel
Cubed leftover steak

What I wish we also had to dip:
Roasted fingerling potatoes
Cubed ham and turkey
Roasted pearl onions
Chunks of steamed tender crisp carrot and broccoli
I never knew fondue was so easy! I found a pot at D.I. for 5 bucks and it came with a warmer and a bunch of sticks. I hope this has converted the people sitting on the fondue fence.

Happy New Year!

-Taci