3-ingredient oreo truffles

This simple recipe from Kraft is perfect for potlucks, babyshowers (not at my age!), to share with co-workers or friends, or let's be real here... split the 40 truffles with your lovey. I ended up doing a comination of the last 2 and let me tell you, they did not last long.

I'm actually really excited about trying this recipe again with just a slight variation, but I'll get to that later. Now, here's the recipe:

What You Need

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 pkg.  (16.6 oz.) OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 4-1/4 cups), divided

2 pkg. (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Mix cream cheese and 3 cups cookie crumbs until well blended. **(I popped the mixture into the fridge for a bit just to harden it up so it would be easier to ball up.)
 
Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls. (I also popped the balls in the freezer for a bit to make them easier to dip.)

skeleton hand!

Dip in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.(I didn't save any crumbs for this... )
 
Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

xo Janelle 

I left some un-dipped, dipped some & then rolled some in peanut pieces.

So, even though I made a couple variations I'm looking forward to trying more. I want to try mint oreos dipped in white chocolate, or vanilla oreos with semi-sweet chocolate.

Also, a tip I gathered from the comments on the Kraft website was to use forks to dip the balls in the chocolate. This helped the extra chocolate run off and made it a lot, A LOT, less messy!

Bottom line: quick recipe, easy recipe, yummy recipe. That's good enough for me!

summer wardrobe staples

I thought it might be fun to do a little list of clothing items that are really great to mix & match in the summertime. Most of these things I already own, but some are on my "to-buy" list. Either way, all great versatile pieces for summer!

1) Jean shorts

I made my own pair of jean shorts with a pair of old, flared jeans that were no longer my style. I just cut em across, folded them up like the ones in the pic and then stitched a line up along the seams. Easy & cheap. Mine don't have the distressed details on them. I think they look a little dressier without the rips.

Pair them with: a white tee, patterned flowy chiffon top, black tank and vest.

2) Gauzy white shirt

My "Romeo" shirt from H&M. I love wearing light long-sleeved shirts like this one on a hot, sticky day.

Pair with: a cardigan when it gets cold, olive shorts, skinny capris & a brown belt

3) Brown belt

Again from H&M. This belt was definitely worth the 17$ I paid. I wore it almost everyday in the summer. It makes any outfit look pulled together but in a casual way.

Pair with: a flowy sundress, a light slub knit tunic, the white shirt above

4) Low wedges

Payless. I am searching for a cute pair of low wedges like these in a bright fun color like yellow, orange or teal. I think they would bring a pop of playfulness to a neutral outfit. The airy-ness of the shoe and peep toe is perfect for warm days.

Pair with: a flowy skirt, dressy shorts, skinny jeans

5) A slouchy, "hobo" style bag

Hobo bags like these from BlueLondon & Urban Outfitters are great for those long days when you'll be out all day and you need a place to stash your water bottle, sunglasses, snacks and sunscreen. I never leave the house without either my brown slouchy one (similar to the blue one in the photo) or my beige fabric hobo with rings. Anyone who knows me is aware that I carry a lot of stuff with me, "just in case"! That somehow includes various meds, kleenex & band-aids... hey, surprises happen.

Pair with: any outfit!

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed my different feature.

xo Janelle

Introducing Abby...

Isn't she adorable?

'

We picked up this little cutie 2 weeks ago on Saturday. So far, so good... Even though she's a little troublemaker sometimes, we love her so much.

Oh, and she eats sticks.

2 ingredient "Cheesecake" in a pinch

Okay, well it's not really cheesecake, because there's no cheese in it. But it's got that similar sweet yet tangy taste to it and it definitely does the trick when you don't have the ingredients (or time!) to make cheesecake. I was craving something sweet last night. I didn't want fruit and I didn't have any chocolate, so this concoction came to be. I used to love putting fruit & granola on my yogurt, or even cereal but I got this idea from my habit of dipping graham crackers in applesauce or yogurt. Hope you like it!

All you need is Activia sweetened plain yogurt & graham crackers. You can't go wrong with only 2 ingredients! Pour the yogurt in a bowl & crumble some graham crackers on top. That's it. Eat up!

* I imagine this would also taste delicious with other types of yogurt too. If you want to add something to take it up a notch, try adding frozen blueberries or drained canned peaches.


xo Janelle