Cookies, Wine, Love, and Girlfriends

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Last night was one of those “I don’t want to be anywhere else or with anyone else in the world right now” kind of nights.

I’ve been feeling lately like my female friendships are the things that go by the wayside when work/life gets hectic and busy, which is way super lame, I know.  But last night, we made being together a priority and I can truly say that I haven’t felt that whole, that content in quite a while.

Tofu lasagna, 6 bottles of wine, 6 different kinds of cookies and the girls that definitely make up a part of my “home team”…I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday night.

Cooking Lesson Learned: melt chocolate in the microwave.  Doing it on the store without a double boiler makes for chocolate that closely resembles hummus.  Super gross and inedible.

Life Lesson Learned:  girlfriends are one of the best gifts in the world, not only just at Christmas.  Get together, drink wine, and bake more often.

Cookie Roundup:

Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Peanut Butter cookies w/ Kisses, Chocolate Covered Oreo Balls, Wreaths, Almond Balls, and Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

On Baking: Cookie Exchange Edition

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Tomorrow, a group of girlfriends will convene at my friend Amanda’s darling Lincoln Park apartment for a cookie baking party and exchange.  From my understanding, her grandmother does this with the family every year and now Amanda is bringing the tradition Chicago-side.  We’ve been instructed to bring the ingredients for our favorite cookie to so we can spend the evening baking together and then trade up at the end so we each go home with a taste of everything.  We were also told to bring wine.  I don’t think that has anything to do with cookies.

After much (internal) debate, I have decided to make Chocolate-Covered Oreo Balls.  A co-worker’s Mom made them for a work event once and for as decadent as they tasted, I was so surprised to learn how simple they were to make.  With any luck, my contribution to the cookie exchange will look like this:

Oreo Ball Recipe Ingredients

  • 8 ounces softened cream cheese or whipped cream cheese
  • 18 ounces package of Oreo cookies, crushed (crush the entire cookie- don’t remove the filling!)
  • 2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon shortening

Oreo Balls Recipe Instructions

Mix cream cheese with electric mixer until fluffy. Add the crushed Oreos and beat on high until well mixed. Chill for at least 2 hours in the freezer. Then roll Oreo cookie mix into one inch Oreo Balls.

Next, melt the chocolate chips and shortening with a double boiler or in the microwave.

Dip the Oreo balls completely into the melted chocolate using tongs or a toothpick.

Put on wax paper. After the Oreo balls harden, keep them in the refrigerator.

Makes about 3 or 4 dozen Oreo Balls, depending on the size.

 

What about you?  I’d love to hear what your favorite holiday recipes are!