Zack and I got to go to the first Christmas party of the season last weekend. His boss had a dinner party for the management and office employees. I really enjoyed going, because I got to meet the people that Zack works with. It was really nice to get to put faces with names that I’ve heard Zack talk about.
Everyone was so nice, too! Plus there was lots of good food.
Zack and I took a platter of desserts – peanut butter and chocolate fudge and cookie balls and a plate of jalapeno cheddar bite appetizers. People seemed to like both plates of stuff.
There were some leftovers on both plates, so I took them to work with me Monday and every bit got snatched up 🙂
I forgot to take a picture of the platter of goodies which sucks, because the fudge and cookie balls looked so cute arranged on the platter! Oh well, at least I got individual pictures.
Christmas Tree Cool Mint Oreo Cookie Balls
Prep: 30 minutes, plus refrigerating. Makes about 24 cookie balls.
– 6 oz package cream cheese, softened
– 1 pkg (15. 25 oz) Oreo cool mint cream cookies, finely crushed
– 2 pkg (6 squares each) white chocolate, melted
– 6 drops green food coloring
– red and green decorating icing
Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until well blended.
Shape into 1″ balls; place on waxed paper covered baking sheet. Freeze 10 minutes. Mix melted chocolate and food coloring until well blended. Dip balls in chocolate; return to baking sheet. Squiggle green and red icing onto balls to make Christmas trees. Let stand until chocolate is firm. Keep refrigerated.
Chocolate Fudge
Prep: 10 minutes. Cook: 30 minutes. Cool 2 hours. Stand 1-2 hours.
– 4 c sugar
– 1 1/3 c milk
– 1/4 c corn syrup
– 1/4 t salt
– 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
– 1/4 c butter
– 2 t vanilla
Grease bottom and sides of square pan, 8×8 with butter.
Butter sides of heavy 3-qt saucepan. Place sugar, milk, corn syrup, salt, and chocolate in saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and sugar is dissolved. Cook, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, to 234 degrees on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into a cup of very cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from water; remove from heat. Drop butter on top, but do not stir.
Cool mixture without stirring to 110 degrees, about 2 hours (bottom of saucepan will be lukewarm). Add vanilla. Beat vigorously and continuously using wooden spoon until fudge begins to thicken. Then, continue beating 5-10 minutes until mixture is thick and no longer glossy.
Quickly, spread or press into pan. Let stand about 1-2 hours or until firm. Cut into 1-inch squares.
Peanut Butter Fudge
– 8 T butter, plus more for greasing pan
– 1 c smooth peanut butter
– 1 t vanilla extract
– 1 lb powdered sugar
Combine the butter and peanut butter in a 4-qt microwave safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 2 minutes on high. Stir and microwave on high for 2 more minutes. It will be HOT. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar to mixture and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Mixture will become hard to stir and lose its sheen. Spread into a buttered 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper. Fold the excess parchment paper so it covers the surface of the fudge and refrigerate until cool, about 2 hours. Cut into 1-inch pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Jalapeno Cheese Bites
– 1 can pizza dough
– 2 jalapeno peppers, halved, seeded, blanched, and sliced
– 1 – 1 1/2 t olive oil
– salt & pepper
– 1 t mixed dried herbs (oregano, parsley, basil)
– ~ 1 c Tex-Mex shredded cheese
Center a rack in the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Press down the dough on a lightly floured surface. Then pull and stretch the dough into a rectangular shape.
Spread the oil on the dough and gently press it into a 14×8 inch rectangle. Sprinkle some salt, herbs, pepper, cheese, and jalapeno peppers onto the dough.
Roll up the dough as tightly as you can. Pinch both ends, and slice the log into 3/4″ – 1″ rounds. Place the rolls on the baking sheet, cut side up, and bake for about 16-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and light golden brown in color.
Makes about 14 bites.
Baking Jenn 