Gingerbread Oreo Truffle Recipe

What a fabulous time for a truffle post!  How do you plan to show love to others this Valentine's Day?  It may be sharing these yummy truffles or a sweet note of encouragement.  We have a couple of days, Ladies!  Let's get going!  :-)

1 Thessalonians 4:9  "Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other."


At one of my first Sunday School class parties at FBC, almost 10 years ago now, I was introduced to Oreo Truffles.  They've been a family favorite ever since.  The original recipe calls for basic chocolate Oreos with the cream centers.  In December, we discovered Gingerbread Oreos, & I snagged a package before they were gone along with the holidays.  It's been hidden away from the Oreo eaters so I could pull them out & try making gingerbread Oreo truffles for Valentine's Day.


Here's the recipe for you to try.  Next time, I may try Birthday Cake Oreo Truffles!

Oreo Truffles

Ingredients:

1 package Oreo cookies (NOT double-stuffed)
1 8ounce package cream cheese (softened)
chocolate almond bark
(mixed nuts are for leftover almond bark)

 

• Crush the package of Oreos until you have fine crumbs.  I've done this in a plastic bag with a hammer or rolling pin but it's much faster in a food processor.
• Add cream cheese & process in food processor or mix well by hand.
• Form mixture into walnut size balls.
• Lay the balls on a baking sheet & place in the freezer for at least 60 minutes.
• Melt the almond bark according to package directions.  Dip the balls in the almond bark & set to dry on wax paper.
• Let dry at room temperature.  That's it!

These will keep well in the fridge for a few weeks or in the freezer for a few months - if they last that long!  Depending on the how big or small you make your truffles, it should make 4 to 6 dozen.  The chocolate Oreos seem to make more than the gingerbread.

This is the first time I've made these with gingerbread Oreos.  The cookies are more moist than the chocolate, so the filling is much softer.  You have to work a little harder making crumbs & mixing in the cream cheese, & you have to work quickly dipping them because they are softer - just be sure you freeze them well before dipping. After taste tests, we decided the chocolate Oreos are our favorite flavor.

A few tips:

• To dip the truffles use a fork & let the chocolate drizzle back into the bowl then slide off the fork onto the wax paper.

Reheat almond bark as needed.

 

Have some mixed nuts &/or dried fruit on hand when you make these. Toss in the leftover almond bark & spread on wax paper to try dry for a yummy treat & no wasted chocolate.

 

 

Enjoy!

Jenny

Hand of Hope

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

^“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Thirteen years ago, I learned my 16 year old son Marc's battle with cancer was about to end. The doctors said there was nothing more they could do. As hard as my dear and close friends tried to understand my pain and anguish, they couldn't. They had never lost a child. I needed a friend who understood. Then I was introduced to Pam, a mom who had lost her 16 year old son to cancer the year before. Pam understood and was able to walk with me (through email) during those last agonizingly painful months.  She was a source of support, strength and comfort because she had navigated the path I was on. Her friendship was priceless, and the amazing thing is, she said being there for me proved helpful to her healing too.

God is so good!!!

This is the idea behind Hand of Hope.  All of us have faced challenges in life that leave us wanting someone who understands, that we can talk to. Maybe you have gone through a divorce or had an eating disorder or have lived with drug abuse and or alcoholism. Maybe you had an abortion when you were a teenager or lost a husband or have faced severe health and/or financial challenges.  The list of life's challenges is endless and the ability to comfort others with the comfort God has provided for us is priceless. We invite you to consider offering a “hand of hope” to a hurting woman.  Hand of Hope cards are available on the Heart Life table in the ministry hall.  All information provided will be kept in strict confidence.  Offering a Hand of Hope does not mean you are making a huge time commitment.  We only ask that you agree to meet one time with a hurting woman.  

Come to our Hand of Hope Orientation on Sunday evening, March 3, 6-7 pm to learn how you can offer hope to a hurting woman. Amazingly, God may use this to bring healing and redemption flowing back to you.

Childcare is available upon request.

 

Southwestern Meat & Potato Stew

This year our HeartLife ministry theme is "Living Sent, Loving Others."
'Love one another deeply, from the heart.' I Peter 1:22b

As a mom & a wife, my favorite way to show love to others is cooking. Here's a recipe that is very easy to make & share. I hope it will give you some encouragement to "Live Sent."

I love one dish suppers, & this is a favorite at our house. We eat a lot of soups & stews during the fall & winter months. I like this one because it is so flexible. I rarely follow the recipe but use up leftovers or whatever I have on hand. I found it years ago in a Taste of Home magazine & have made it every winter since.

Here are the ingredients as they're listed in the recipe.

2 pounds ground beef, chuck, turkey OR sausage (your choice)
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup water, divided
1 can (28 oz) tomatoes with liquid, cut up
1 bag (16 oz) frozen corn
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup salsa
1 tsp salt (optional)
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Directions:

In a Dutch oven or large kettle, brown meat & onion.
I used ground chuck & ground sausage this time.  I often just use one pound of meat instead of two, or I use leftover taco meat.

Drain

Add 3/4 cup of water & all remaining ingredients except flour.
This time, I used a bag of frozen tomatoes from last year's garden instead of canned & a partial bag of frozen corn. You can see it's a mix of yellow pear tomatoes & red cherry tomatoes. I just use what I have. When I'm not following the recipe, I don't add the water until later.  Sometimes you don't need the water or you may need more, depending on the leftovers you're using. For example, sometimes I use canned corn with the liquid so I don't use the water.

Cover & simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. If you're in a hurry, you really don't have to let it simmer more than about 20-30 minutes. You can use canned potatoes with leftover or precooked meat for a shorter cooking time.

Combine flour & remaining water and then stir into the stew. Cook and stir until boiling & slightly thickened. The flour is optional at this point as well. If you like your stew more like soup, leave it out.

Yield: 6 servings.

I like to serve it with cheese wedges, grapes & crackers, but it's great all by itself.  It's even better the next day.  Don't you love recipes that save you a day of cooking?!?  I usually freeze half of it to pull out on a busy day & send some to work in my husband's lunch - make sure to save some for your own lunch too!

Here are some hospitality tips:

• Make it on Saturday & serve it for Sunday lunch with guests after church. Just pour it in your crock-pot before church & let it simmer on low until you get home. It would be great served with crusty bread!
• Double the recipe & take it to a working mom to give her a day off cooking supper for her family.
• Divide into single serving sizes, add a cornbread muffin & deliver to some single friends, elderly neighbors or a college student studying for finals.
• Invite some girlfriends over for a quick lunch while your family is out during the day.
• Take it to a family going through a hard thing & let them know you care.

Enjoy!
Jenny