cooking club: Oreo cake bites

I guess I'm never going to write all the blog posts I have planned in my mind. It's so sad. Here's one that made it. It is copied from another lady's blog. (all things simple is the name of it.)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012

cooking club: Oreo cake bites

I had a bunch of friends ask where they could order the cake bites we served at Patrick and Ashlee's reception. Apparently they were amazingly delicious. I wouldn't know, I never got the time to taste one. Even more surprising, neither did Ashlee. And she helped make all 350 of them! She confessed she was on the LGN (look good naked) diet at the time. :) She cracks me up.

So, I convinced my new daughter-in-law (love saying that :)) to do a demo for our RS Cooking Club. At first she laughed because she said they were so simple to make they didn't need a demonstration. But that's what we love--simple and yummy. And chocolate. And samples to try. And just getting together to have a good time.

We had a "filled to capacity" crowd in my kitchen. Ashlee did a wonderful job. And yes, they weresimple to make.

I don't know that I'd actually consider these "cake-y." The filling ingredients are Oreos and cream cheese, so they're more moist than a cake filling would be.

We placed a duo in mini red and white polka dot liners and packaged them in small cellophane bags. Then we tied them up with pink grosgrain ribbon. (I will forever love pink and red together.) They're the perfect little Valentine's goodie for the sisters we visit teach. Hope they make it that long (*wink*). The liners are from Wilton.

I get asked all the time how to tie a pretty knot. I just use a simple square knot--right over left, left over right. Give yourself plenty of ribbon to work with and then trim the excess off at an angle when you're done. Packaging always looks nicer when you don't scrimp on the ribbon.

Adding a sucker stick makes the perfect "cake pop" for the little (or big) ones. How darling would these be for a baby shower or any special occasion?

Here's the recipe Ashlee used:

OREO CAKE BITES
from the kitchen of: Ashlee McCrary
Yield: 30-35 bites

30 Oreo cookies (about 1 package)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. melting chocolate (I like Wilton brand)
2 squares vanilla almond bark

Using a food processor or placing cookies in a Ziploc bag, crush Oreos into a fine crumb. In mixer, combine softened cream cheese and Oreos. Mix until a soft dough forms. Chill in freezer 20-30 minutes or in fridge for an hour. Measure one tablespoon scoops and form into round balls. Place on wax paper on cookie sheet that will fit in freezer. Chill for 30-45 minutes until firm.

Melt chocolate, following directions on package.

Insert toothpick into frozen Oreo ball and dip in chocolate to cover. Let excess drip off, then place on cookie sheet covered with wax paper. When chocolate is no longer shiny, remove toothpick by twisting to leave only a very small hole. Fill hole with melted chocolate.

Melt almond bark, following package directions. Transfer to Ziploc bag. Make a very small cut in the corner of the bag. Drizzle back and forth over cake bites.

Store in airtight container in fridge.

Ashlee's Tips and Tricks:

• Use only regular Oreos.
• I prefer Wilton brand melting chocolates because they're made with real cocoa, instead of chocolate-flavored like other brands. (I've found them at Walmart in the craft department and at Joanne's.)
• Don't be tempted to use regular chocolate chips to melt. They have a tendency to seize up and become lumpy. Melting chocolate is formulated for melting and dipping.
• Make sure you measure when forming balls to make uniform cake bites.
• As dipping chocolate starts to cool, it will get thick and start to clump. Simply put back in microwave for 30 seconds at 50% power to thin again.
• White almond bark can be found in the baking section of your grocery store.

My Trip continued

Ok, so that idea didn't happen. The trip was long and hectic - also fun and rewarding. I'm settled (kinda) and working and oh so tired.

Day 2 of the trip started with a wreck happening in front of me. I stopped to help and realized the guy had some sort of agenda of his own. He was ticked that others called 911 even though he was the victim of a hit and run. I got back on the road and caught up with the car that hit him. He was having engine trouble from the crash and couldn't go very fast. I called and gave his license plate number and went on to a day going through the mountains (bye Blue Ridge Mountains) and Tennessee. I can't remember where I stopped that night without checking my records but I slept comfortably on an air mattress, sleeping bags and blankets in the back of my car which I was towing. I slept at a truck stop with a whole bunch of truckers and was very safe. I slept with my feet up so that helped with the swelling in my feet, legs and ankles. This problem was the part of my trip that was not good. I'm still fighting the effects today.

Day 3 continued across the country and ended in Overland Park, KS where I spent two nights with Sarah, Isaac and Allie. They were wonderful hosts and showed me around the town. The best part was just being with them. I miss them so much and could have just looked at them for hours but Sarah would have bonked me over the head. Allie still remembers me. That's pretty awesome. She's the one who changed my opinion of Chihuahuas and I still love that little stinker. I guess you can figure out that saying goodbye to those three produced the watery (aka sobbing) miles for the beginning of Day 5.

My Trip - Day One

This day was hectic and scary. Most of the truck was packed. I had some things in a storage unit that still needed to go in, getting the tow dolly put on and getting on the road. The hardest part was saying goodbye to friends. Ruth and Brother Johnson helped me load the truck and Amy got there in time to watch us close the door. (SMILE). Leah got there in time to say goodbye too. I've been trying very hard to not blubber like a baby (at least until I pull away) when I say goodbye. Those first few miles down the road were watery.

My first leg of the trip was going to Nadine's house and visiting with family. It was so good to see everyone. Allison tried to keep me in tears. Just kidding. We had a great time talking and laughing. We shared stories and remember whens. Felicia didn't know I was at her house on the night she was born. Some of the stories were the kind where you have to say "I have no knowledge of those events . . . " Hmmmm . . . Allison knew most of those.

We had some great Chinese food and I got lots of hugs. It wasn't a long stretch of my trip but it was fun.