Neiman Marcus Cookies

I received this recipe years ago when I got married. My husbands Aunt gave it to me, and I just love these cookies. There are many different recipes and variations out there, but I always come back to this one!

2 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 c. brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
5 c. flour
5 c. oatmeal (place in a blender and blend until it's a fine powder)
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
12 oz. chocolate chips
Hershey bar grated
1 c. chopped nuts (I use walnuts)

Pre-heat over to 375 degrees
1-Cream butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla.
2-In a bowl mix together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add chocolate chips, grated Hershey bar, and nuts.
3-Roll into walnut size balls and place 2 in. apart on a cookie sheet.
4-Bake 8 min @ 375 degrees.

This makes 112 cookies (can be halved)
*Tip: Try adding 1 c. coconut. YUM!!

Oreo Delight

My new brother-in-law LOVES Oreo's. Oreo cake, oreo ice cream, oreo's and milk, you name it. So when we had him and my sister over for dinner one Sunday, I decided to make this dessert just for him. It turned out AMAZING. I think even I have a new found love for Oreo's now!

1 package Oreo's, crushed
6 Tbsp butter, melted
1/4 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 (12 oz) cool whip, thawed
3 1/4 c. cold milk
2 packages chocolate INSTANT Jell-o pudding

1- Mix crushed cookies and butter in a medium bowl. Press firmly onto the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Refrigerate for 10 mi. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and 2 Tbsp. milk in a medium bowl w/ wire whisk until well blended. Stir in 1 1/4 c. cool whip. Spread over crust.
2-Pour 3 1/4 c. milk into bowl. Add both pudding mixes, beat with wire whisk for 2 min. Pour over the cream cheese layer. Let stand five min. Drop remaining cool whip over pudding and spread. Sprinkle more crushed Oreo's over the top. Refridgerate at least four hours before serving.

*If your like me, then you love the MINT Oreo's! You can use the mint cookies for this recipe as well. At the end sprinkle Andes mints baking chips over the top. Yummm!

Chocolate Glazed Pumpkin Cake

I love this time of year! Especially because of pumpkins. Not only are they fun to decorate with but also delicious to eat. This is a great cake recipe because it's not your "predictable" pumpkin pie, it's a cake! And to top it off, it's covered in chocolate. Does it get much better than this??

Cake:

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 c. sugar

1 c. vegetable oil

2 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 c. canned pumpkin PUREE (make sure it says "puree" on the can!!)

Glaze:

1 c. chocolate chips

1 Tbsp. light corn syrup

1 c. heavy cream

To make the cake:

1-Heat oven to 350 degrees

2-Grease and flour a 9 in. bundt cake pan. Set aside

3-Beat eggs and sugar until smooth. Beat in oil. SIFT flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt into egg mixture.

4-Fold in dry ingredients and pumpkin puree. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until a tooth pick inserted in to the center comes out clean. Appx. 50-60 min.

5-Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 min. Turn over and remove from pan, then let it cool completely before frosting

To make the glaze:

1-Place chocolate and corn syrup in a heatproof bowl. In a pan, warm cream over medium heat until it simmers. Pour cream over chocolate, let stand 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Let cool at room temperature.

2-Place cake on a rack over a baking sheet. Drizzle glaze over cake. Let sit until set.

Andes Mint Cookies

I LOVE Andes Mints, so I bought a package of their baking chips at the store the other day, and this is their recipe that's on the bag. Try them they are delish :)

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 package Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips

2 2/3 cups flour

1 handful chocolate chips

1-Cream together butter and sugars. Add baking soda, baking powder, vanilla and eggs. Stir until mixed well.

2-Add Andes Baking Chips, chocolate chips and then flour. Chill for approximately 1 hour (I don't do this).

3-Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Sweet & Crunchy Snack Mix

This is perfect for an after school snack. And much better for them than cookies, or pizza..... My kids really like this :)

2 cups miniature pretzels (I buy mine at the dollar store!)

1 c. honey roasted peanuts

1 c. frosted cheerios cereal

1 c. dried banana chips

1 c. M&M's candy

1-Mix all ingredients, store in Tupperware container.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Well chocolate chip cookies are my ALL TIME FAVORITE and I have searched literally high and low for the BEST recipe out there. Believe it or not, I have even PAID for recipes that didn't turn out "just right" Well I decided to go back to a classic and guess what? IT'S THE BEST! It's the original Nestle Toll House recipe. You've gotta try these, they are addicting. If your feeling especially sinful, serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!!!

2 1/4 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 c. (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened (Instead of this I use 1 cup of the butter flavored Crisco, tastes much better)

3/4 c. sugar

3-4 c. packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups (12 oz. pkg) Nestle Toll House semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 c. chopped nuts, optional (I always use walnuts, when I want nuts in mine)

1.Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees

2.Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.

2.Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in a large mixer bowl, until creamy.

3.Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition

4.Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts

5.Drop by rounded spoonfuls on baking sheets.

6.Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown

7. Move onto racks to cool, or serve immediately with vanilla ice cream.

Layered Chocolate Pie

This recipe has been in my family for years. It is best to make it if you are having a family party or get together since it makes enough to fill a 9x13 pan. This is always a favorite of adults and children

Crust: 1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. flower

*1-mix and spread in 9x13 pan, bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 min. Let cool COMPLETELY!

1st Layer: 1/2 container jumbo cool whip, 8oz pkg. cream cheese, softened, 1 c. powdered sugar

*1-Cream together and place on cooled crust

2nd Layer: 1 large pkg. choc pudding
3 c. milk

*1-Mix pudding and milk until combined. Spread on top of 1 st layer

3rd layer: Top with remaning cool whip

-Place in fridge until you are ready to serve! Enjoy!

Mom's Easy Score Cake

1 Box chocolate cake mix
1 Box chocolate pudding (not instant)
5 score candy bars
whipping cream/vanilla ice cream (optional)

1. Cook cake mix as directed on the box
2.Cook pudding on stove top as directed on the box
3.Place score candy bars in a freezer bag, and crush up w/ a rolling pin
4. When cake is finished, let it cool and cut it into large squares
5. Place cut up cake squares in a LARGE glass bowl, take a tooth pick and make holes in each square of cake
6.When pudding has finished cooking, and has thickened up, let it stand for about 2-3 min.
7. Poor 1/2 of warm pudding mixture over the cake
8. Top with half of your crushed score bars
9. Do one more layer of pudding, and another layer of candy bars.

*Serve WARM, in bowls and top with fresh whipping cream or vanilla ice cream! This is the EASIEST dessert, and soooo yummy! Thanks Mom!

Chocolate Berry Parfaits

This is a great summer treat, not to heavy, and delicious if you served it chilled. Great for those hot summer night BBQ'S! When I make these, I serve them in goblet (wine glasses) they look really cute. If you dont own any goblet's go pick some up at the dollar $tore!

2 c. broken (not crushed) graham crackers or Nilla wafers (Oreos are great too)
2 c. Instant chocolate pudding
2 c. fresh raspberries, or sliced strawberries
1/2 c. light cool whip, thawed
additional berries optional

1. In goblet glass place about 4 tablespoons of your choice of crushed cookies
2. Add 1/3 c. of pudding and 1/4 cup berries
3.Sprinkle a few more cookies
4. Blend remaining pudding in a bowl with your cool whip, and add a heaping spoonful to your goblet
5. cover with additional berries.

* I have also tried this using white chocolate pudding, chocolate cookies, and raspberries. And it was delicious!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispies

This is literally a ten minute dessert! Really great if your in a pinch for time, but want a sweet after dinner!

1 c. sugar
1 c. corn syrup
1 c. peanut butter
6 c. rice crispies
1 package almond chocolate bark

1. Combine sugar and corn syrup in a large pot on the stove. Mix these two together until the sugar is dissolved. Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon (the sugar sticks to bad if you use plastic)
2.When the sugar has dissolved add your peanut butter, and stir until it is mixed well. Reduce the heat.
3. Stir in your rice crispies, mix thoroughly coating all of the cereal.
4. Place cereal mixture in a COATED 9x9 baking dish
5. Melt almond bark in the microwave until melted thoroughly
6.Pour melted bark over the top of the rice crispies and spread evenly with a spatula

*If you don't want to make a 9x9 pan, you can still use this same recipe, but use less chocolate and a smaller baking pan. They will just be thicker, thus because if using a smaller pan. I do this if I am just making them for the 4 of us.