Triple Threat Brownies (Or should I say Triple Treat?)

     Disclaimer: These brownies are only sort of homemade. They're homemade in the sense that you make them at home. But they are very easy. You can put them together very quickly. And they are very good. Here's what you'll need:

     Double Stuff Oreos, brownie mix, and refrigerated cookie dough. Yep, that's it. Three things. (If you don't count the extra ingredients that go in the brownie mix, anyway.)

     Here's what you do. First, line a 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper or nonstick foil. Press that refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough evenly over the bottom of the pan. Cover the dough with a layer of Oreos. Mix your brownies according to the directions on the box and pour the batter right over the top of the Oreos. That's it. Bake it at 350 degrees for about 40-45 minutes, or until the brownie layer is done. Cool completely in the pan, then slice and swoon.

     Since I'm trying to practice moderation in all things sweet, I cut them into small bars. But if you want something a little more festive, you could cut them big enough to hold a scoop of vanilla ice cream with some fudge sauce poured over the top. Visit Kevin and Amanda for their wonderfully decadent "even more homemade" version of these. Just be prepared to drool!

Reindeer Bark

This stuff is "sweet"- literally as well as figuratively! I saw this treat here (on Your Home Based Mom) and felt the overwhelming need to make it myself. It's festive and full of sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy goodness. It's truly yummy, and it makes me hope that Santa has a good dental plan for his reindeer! It's basically Oreos, pretzels and Reindeer corn (who knew?) coated with melted white chocolate or candy bark. I added some chopped almonds and a few M&Ms to mine just because I had them and thought they'd go well with the other ingredients.

Reindeer Corn Cookie Bark
Very slightly adapted from Your Home Based Mom-she has very detailed instructions on her website here.

1 lb. White chocolate, candy melts, or almond bark
14 Oreos, broken into pieces-I used the holiday ones with red filling
1 and 1/2 cups pretzels, broken
1 cup reindeer corn (red and green candy corn)
1 cup coarsely chopped almonds
1/2 cup holiday M&Ms
red and green sprinkles

Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper or foil. Spread the broken cookies, broken pretzels, almonds, and about 3/4 of the candy corn onto the prepared cookie sheet. Melt white chocolate until smooth- follow the directions for melting on the package.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the pretzel/cookie mixture, spreading with a spatula if needed. Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle on the rest of the candy corn, the M&Ms and red and green sprinkles. Place tray in the refrigerator until set, and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container and enjoy!

Oreos- All Grown Up

Oreos have always been a favorite at my house. There are those who twist the two halves apart to get to the filling first. Others prefer dunking the whole cookie in a nice cold glass of milk, and some just like to eat them as they come out of the package. This recipe gives us yet another way to enjoy them. I've never made truffles before, but when I saw these on Bakerella I knew I'd have to give them a try. Three ingredients, and they look like you've been in the kitchen for hours!
Oreo Truffles
(recipe adapted from Bakerella)
1 package (16-18 oz.) Oreos (not Double Stuffed)
1 (8 oz.) block of cream cheese, softened
1 bag candy melts or pkg. of white chocolate "bark"

• Reserve 6-8 cookies for garnish (or a snack). With a food processor or blender, process the remaining Oreos into fine crumbs.
• Put the Oreo crumbs in a bowl with the softened cream cheese and mix together. (Elbow grease and a sturdy spoon help here.)
• Form dough into small (1 inch) balls. Put these in the freezer while you are heating your chocolate or candy melts. (This helps them stay together when you dip them.)
  
• Melt the candy melts or chocolate bark.
• Dip each ball in melted candy and place on waxed paper to dry. Make sure you tap off the excess melted chocolate before putting them on the waxed paper to avoid a big puddle around your truffle.
  
• Crush remaining Oreos to sprinkle on top for garnish if you wish. (After mine were set I drizzled some more melted chocolate over the top. That was to cover up the crumbs that got in my melted white chocolate because I didn't put my truffles in the freezer before I dipped them.)
  
• Refrigerate and enjoy! (Then wonder how they'd be with a maraschino cherry or chunk of peppermint patty in the middle...)