Sweet Treats for the Weekend

 It's raining here, and a rainy Saturday makes me want to bake something or make something.

If you haven't had them yet, watch out.  They are addictive and unfortunately, very easy to make, so when you've run out, it's not that hard to whip up a new batch, that's the only downside.  No baking involved.

You will need:

1 full package of oreos
1 8oz package of cream cheese
2 8oz package of baker's chocolate (you can use white, milk, semi-sweet or dark - whatever you like)
*If you bake during the holidays and have leftover CandyQuik or Chocolate Bark you can use that as well.

1 cookie sheet
Wax paper or parchment paper

-Crush the oreos in a food processor, which is the ideal way, but if that is not available, you can put them in a ziploc and use a rolling pin to crush them.  Get them as fine as you can.

-If using the food processor, you can add the package of cream cheese until it is blended with the cookies.  If crushing manually, you can use a medium bowl and blend cookies and cream cheese well.

-Once blended.  Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls, this should make about 42.

-Melt chocolate and dip balls in the chocolate.  Place on wax paper on top of a cookie sheet.

-Optional:  You can sprinkle the chocolate coated oreo balls with nuts, sprinkles, colored sugar, crushed candy bars or peppermint. 

-Place in the refrigerator for one hour until firm.  Enjoy!

St. Patty's Day Recipe

If you don't already own a crock pot, I would get one asap.   They aren't that expensive and I actually picked mine up at Target three years ago on sale for $12.99.  The best thing about crock pots is that you put all the stuff in the pot in the morning, you set the temperature and anywhere from 4-10 hours later depending on the recipe you have a pretty good meal.

This is for Corned Beef and Cabbage and it will cook on low from 11-12 hours or high from 5-6 hours.

You will need:
6 carrots (peeled and cut into sizes of your choice)
2 onions (cut in big slices)
2-3 lb. corned beef with seasoning
12oz. can of beer
2 tblsp  yellow mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
8 wedges cabbage (1-2 heads)

Put carrots and onion in crock pot.  Rinse corned beef and pat dry.  Place corned beef in CP and sprinkle with seasonings that come with the meat.  Pour beer over meat and the spread mustard on beef.  In a small bowl mix sugar and water, the pour over meat.  Cover CP and put on low for 11-12 hours or high for 5-6.  Remove corned beef and cover with foil to keep warm.  Add cabbage wedges to CP and put CP on high for 30-40 minutes.  Slice corned beef against the grain and serve with mustard.

I make this every year and love it.  Hope you enjoy it too.