Thin Mint Truffles

Friends, this is probably one of the easiest recipes you will see.  Truly. There is no baking.  You will need three ingredients.  Four, if you want to decorate them.  But when you eat them, you will feel like you worked hard enough to eat the whole batch.  I quickly mailed most of mine out to my Bakin' Friend to protect myself.

Thin Mint Truffles

one 9 oz box Girl Scout Thin mints (or use Grasshopper cookies) crushed

4 ounces softened cream cheese

dark chocolate candy melts or dark chocolate almond bark

sprinkles of your choice for decorating

Crush cookies either in a food processor or place them in a large Ziploc and crush with your rolling pin (my option of choice).  You will want them to be a very fine crumb.

Place crushed cookies in a large bowl and mix with cream cheese.  Most likely you will need to use your hands to really mix the cream cheese in.  Keep mixing until cream cheese is completely incorporated and no longer visible.  Roll into about 1 inch balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet.  Chill in your refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Dip the truffles in the melted almond bark or candy melts, using a toothpick. Shake off any excess chocolate.  Place on parchment lined baking sheet and immediately add your sprinkles.  Chill for at least an hour, or until chocolate is firm.

Rumor has it people also make these with Oreos. I might need to try that.  I thought these truffles were a perfect little bite of mint and chocolate.  I think I still have one more box of Thin Mints in the pantry. Right next to a package of Oreos......

9 months of motherhood

I think this is the first time I have actually posted within days of Peyton celebrating her next month! Super Mom!  This has been a huge month.  Huge.  Someone has two little teeth beginning to poke out of her bottom gums.  She really likes it when I try to stick my finger in there everyday checking the status...really likes it.  My days of annoying her have begun!  And, we have complete crawling.  One day she just got it and she hasn't stopped!  She usually will grab a couple toys and crawl around with them.  Multi-talented.

She hasn't managed to get into too much trouble yet.  She is definitely obsessed with our cat though.  Will go out of her way to crawl towards him.  Unfortunately, the feeling is not mutual.

The dog, however, seems to like her just fine.  He may be slightly terrified of her, but likes her anyway.

To help keep our sanity, we are busy with activities.  We enjoyed our first story time at our local library.  I was surprised at how many kids were there.  Some even as young as a couple months.  The librarian was very energetic and led the kids in songs, stories, and puppets.  Can't wait to go back.

We attended a Super Bowl party at her Auntie Nikki's house and she had fun playing with some of the other kids there.  She didn't seem too bothered by the fact that her mother made her shirt...

We had a lot of love in our house with Valentine's Day and the celebration of our second wedding anniversary.

This is something I even hesitate to say, but I think we finally have sleep down!  It only took about 8 months, but she pretty much sleeps through the night and she takes two good naps a day.  We had a couple rough weeks there when she would get up before 6am.....um, Mommy really can't do that.  Now we're usually up by 7am and going strong until about 7pm. (I hope I didn't jinx myself! Sleep baby!)  At this point, Peyton is, in baby terms, 40 weeks old.  Which is equal to how many weeks I was pregnant with her.  She and I have spent a lot of time together! It truly is amazing to watch her turn into a little person right before my very eyes.  I can't believe that in a few short months we will celebrate her first birthday...but I'm getting ahead of myself.  Time just truly flies with a baby around.

On another note...my recipe for Tagalong Waffle Cookies has been selected as one of the top 5 finalists in the Girl Scouts of Western Washington recipe contest!  I was truly surprised and excited to get that email.  After seeing the other finalists, I can say I am in some very good company!  You can see the other recipes and cast a vote for your favorite  here.  The winner gets to prepare and share their recipe on TV!  What is it those famous people say?? "It's an honor just to be nominated!"

Tagalong Waffle Cookies

Oh, it's a great time of year.  Those sweet little faces perched outside your grocery store pushing their tempting cookie treats.  Never mind that I just bought four boxes.  Sure, I'll take more.  They freeze well! (We all know those cookies will barely make it out of my car, let alone into the freezer)  This is the second year the Girl Scouts of Western Washington have sponsored a recipe contest featuring their tasty cookies.  Local bloggers were asked to put on their thinking caps and come up with a recipe, savory or sweet, using their choice of cookie. Tagalongs are my absolute favorite Girl Scout Cookie.  I knew I would have to use them in a recipe. 

The great thing about this recipe is that once you mix together your ingredients, you can have cookies in 2 minutes.  The cookies have a peanut butter base with the Tagalong cookies folded right in.  
You can eat these hot off the waffle iron, or if you're feeling extra naughty, drizzle them with chocolate...and add more chopped Tagalongs.  Drink with a glass of milk if it makes you feel better.  I definitely recommend them for breakfast.

Tagalong Waffle Cookies
Makes about 20-24 cookies
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup browned butter (read here for directions on browning butter if needed)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped Tagalong cookies
Brown butter and set aside, allowing to cool.  Once cool, combine with peanut butter, egg, vanilla, and brown sugar.  Add in flour, baking soda, and salt.  Lastly, fold in chopped Tagalong cookies.  
Preheat your waffle iron and coat with cooking spray.  Drop batter by tablespoons about 1 inch apart.  Cook for 1-2 minutes. (I removed mine at 1 1/2 minutes) Remove carefully with tongs and cool on wire rack.  Repeat, repeat, repeat!  Garnish with chocolate drizzle if desired.  Store in air tight container.
For the chocolate drizzle, just melt about 3/4 cups chocolate chips in your microwave in 30 second intervals until completely melted.  Use a spoon to drizzle over cookies.
Keep your eyes peeled for the Girl Scouts to be selling their cookies starting March 1st.   Head on over to the Girl Scouts Website to see the top 5 finalists starting February 19th.  You can then vote on your favorite! I can't wait to see what everyone else came up with! Thanks to the Girl Scouts of Western Washington for this fun contest opportunity!