Christmas Baking, and I'm new at this! (Oreo Truffles, and Holiday Kisses, Chocolate Bark shortbread cookies

I'm 28, and I've discovered that I LOVE cooking and Baking! I also discovered that through blogs and Twitter posts, one can find amazing food ideas and recipes.

I just wanted to share my most recent cookie experience:

First, The FABULOUS Oreo Truffles:

SO, so so EASY: All you need to make 3 dozens:  1-pkg cream cheese, 1 pkg Oreo cookies, Chocolate to melt (I used one package of Baker's semi sweet and about 4 pieces of Toblerone Chocolate), and something to coat ( I used grated  Holiday Hershey's kisses), but you could use Coconut, more cookie crumbs, other chocolate, oh! Even crushed candy cane pieces:

1) Crumble the Oreo cookes in a ziplock with a rolling pin,  2) combine with Cream cheese (mix well with hands), 3) roll into small walnut size balls and deposit on cookie sheets 4) refrigerate for a good hour 5) melt chocolate in a metal bowl over boiling water (have your dressing ready and available) 5) drop two balls at a time in chocolate and remove with two spoons, 6) cover your balls as you like (here you can see I decorated my balls with grated holiday Hershey's kisses.... many, many never made it to the grater ... YUM)!  Let your little truffles stand for an hour or  two for the chocolate to set), and eat... EAT!

If you want a little less chocolate... you could dump the truffles into confectionner's sugar once the melted chocolate has set, or even skip the melted chocolate and simply go with the confectionner's sugar... I myself wouldn't have mine any other way...

The other Holiday cookies I had on my table is a new favorite of my husband... Holiday Kisses, Chocolate Bark Shortbread cookies:  This is a recipe from http://www.recipegirl.com/

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 large egg yolk
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (or use chocolate chips)
1 cup chopped Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses (or use crumbled candy canes)
2 ounces white chocolate

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13×9x2-inch metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Line bottom of pan with long strip of 9-inch-wide parchment paper, leaving overhang on both short sides of pan.

2. Whisk flour and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar. Continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla, then egg yolk. Gradually add flour mixture, beating on low speed just to blend.

3. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls into prepared baking pan, spacing evenly. Using moistened fingertips, press dough to form even layer over bottom of pan. Pierce dough all over with fork.

4. Bake cookie base until light golden brown and slightly puffed and edges begin to come away from sides of pan, about 30 minutes. Place pan on rack; immediately sprinkle bittersweet chocolate over. Let stand until chocolate softens, about 3 minutes. Using small offset spatula, spread bittersweet chocolate over top of cookie in thin even layer. Immediately sprinkle chopped candy cane kisses over (or candy canes).

5. Stir white chocolate in medium metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. If it’s too tough and thick to stir, add a tiny drizzle of vegetable oil or 1/2 tsp. of shortening to thin it out. Remove from over water. Using fork, drizzle white chocolate all over cookies. Chill until white chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.

6. Using paper overhang as aid, lift cookie from pan and transfer to work surface. Using large knife, cut cookie into irregular pieces.

No changes needed here... I myself preferred the Oreo Truffles, as I already have a love-hate relationship with regular Oreo cookies, but my husband fell in love with this not  only yummy, but ''beautiful'' cookie....

What can I say, they looked great on my Christmas table.

Enjoy!