OREO pudding cookies

My husband sometimes ask me why I buy Oreo's. I still love them, and know they come in an assortment of flavors. My Florida sister will say that Grandma's cookies are the best, but I do love an Oreo once in awhile. It is not wrong

This Marshmallow crispy was a very good flavor

Lemon was delightful. I actually used them for a lemon cheesecake bar.
I did eat the apple and orange. They both went into a drink

SO, when I can across this recipe for a Oreo pudding cookie, I was all in. This was a quick cookie to whip up. It is also not a large batch.  22 cookies or so. Great for a group of people. Use Plain old Oreo's.This batter does not spread at all. This cookie needs to be smushed down after baking. When I pull them out of the oven, I immediately take the back of the spatula and smash down. I then let cool in the pan to set up. 

A nice soft cookie with a great flavor

Oreo Pudding Cookies
adapted from Amyshealthybaking.com
Ingredients
4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick) MELTED and cooled
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 oz (4 servings) vanilla instant pudding mix
1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 Oreo's roughly chopped

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper.

In a separate mixing bowl, add butter and brown sugar together. Mix until creamy. Add eggs, one at time and mix. Add vanilla extract. Mix in pudding mix until blended. Add in the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until just incorporated. Fold in by hand the Oreo cookie pieces.

Drop cookie dough on prepared sheet pans. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Remove when done, smash down with back of flat spatula and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then move to a wire rack.

Firm but not hard cookie dough

Lovely perfect circles baking away

Removed from the oven and flattened. Still cooling

Waaa Laaa.. bits of Oreos in all bits. Yummy.
My friends just loved these cookies.
A huge combo factor, eating Oreos in homemade cookies
Kind of like the best of both worlds.

Smoothie -2

I am on a smoothie mission.  Loving them. My husband actually asked me how many combinations there were. I laughed, gajillions. Zillions, more than I will ever taste. One of my main concerns with smoothies, is that they are healthy. I am working on my annual January weight loss program. I am working it. I have not gone hard line yet, I am just trying to start to lose weight. Not digging how I am looking.

Smoothies are a way to get a sweet craving solved and not load up on unnecessary calories. These two smoothie recipes are different. The first one has Oreos and ricotta cheese, and the second one is with blueberries and pomegranates for energy. A slight sweet craving with protein. Both are very good. If you are taking the smoothie challenge, really just think about what you are putting into your smoothie. If you are loading up on calorie laden products, (syrups, ice cream, cookies, cakes, and others) you will NOT LOSE WEIGHT. Try to be fruit based, (fresh or frozen) Almond or Soy Milk or Skim Milk, and Low fat Yogurt. Also, flax seed is excellent in a smoothie. Use raw nuts. They have several benefits besides flavor. Just use them in moderation.


Skinny Oreo Protein Smoothie
adapted from honeyandfigskitchen.com
Ingredients
8 ounces of Part skim Ricotta Cheese
1 cup skim Milk or Almond Milk
4 Oreo cookies
1 squirt of Agave Nectar

Directions
Add ingredients into your blender in the order listed. BLEND until everything is smooth.

Chill if desired or just drink it.

There is also a shot of Agave Nectar, NOT pictured. (optional)

Can we all say OREOS....  yummy

Have I told everyone how much I love my Vitamix. 

My friend Mary is just AWESOME.

She puts the bling in glamour

Oreo Smoothie. OMG, this was SO good. 

I drank mind immediately, my Husbands chilled in the refrigerator for a few hours. 

Totally took care of a sweet tooth. Similar to a Blizzard without a 1000  more calories

If only I would not taste the Oreos first to make sure they were good.

OK, a truly healthy smoothie. This drink is LOADED with antioxidants and will give you a burst of energy. This smoothie would be great if you had a cold. I have made this one twice. Absolutely loved it. If you drank this before a workout or house cleaning, you would go forever and get everything done..

Blueberry - Pomegranate Smoothie

adapted by ME
Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of Almond Milk

4 ounces of Fresh Pomegranates

1/2 cup of frozen or fresh blueberries

1 squirt of Agave Nectar

4-5 ice cubes

Directions

Place all ingredients in the blender in the listed order. BLEND. 

The Pomegranates have small bits of seed. Blend until you do not hear anything, or

once blended, strain through a sieve. UP to YOU

Drink immediately

If you cannot find the Pom Poms, buy the juice in the Produce aisle. 

It will work also. All the benefits, and not the seeds

This is just an energy boosting treat. 

This is ONE full glass. It was so good.

The color was just amazing.
This will do the BODY GOOD.

Oreo Cheesecake Bites

OMG ~~ these are fabulous. HOLY Cow. I could eat the whole pan. How can a dessert be bad with four packages of cream cheese and a whole package of Oreo's. ... Well, missing two or three.

This dessert went together easy, few ingredients and cut nicely. I made these for a charity event. I also dipped strawberries and made mini Boston Cream cakes. (another day for recipe). My friend Stephanie supplied the Gluten Free Brownies and Gluten Free Carrot Cake Bites. Everything was delicious and people ate all of them.

This dessert made a very full pan. I followed the instructions and used the 9 x 13 pan. I think next time, I will use a 10 x 14 pan. Not so thick, and many more pieces of heaven.

Oreo Cheesecake Bites

adapted by melskitchencafe.com

Ingredients

38 Oreo cookies, divided

1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter

4 package (8 ounces each cream cheese, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 large eggs

4 ounces semisweet chocolate

4 ounces white chocolate

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil, with ends extending over sides. Finely crush 26 Oreo cookies. Melt butter, and then mix with crumbs. Press crumb mixture into the bottom of prepared pan.

In a large mixing bowl, with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until just blended. Chop up remaining Oreo cookies. Add to batter, and gently fold in.

Oreo and Butter Crust

Oreo's and Cream Cheese

Lumps of loving goodness

This is a FULL pan

Bake the cheesecake for 38-42 minutes, or until sides are set and the center is almost set. Cool completely on a wire rack in the pan.

Just a bit toooo brown. Should have come out two minutes sooner

When the cheesecake is cooled completely, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. When chilled, remove the cheesecake from the pan using the foil overhangs. Melt the chocolates, in separate bowls at 50% power in the microwave. Stirring frequently. Pour each chocolate into a ziploc bag and drizzle over the top of cheesecake. Cut into small pieces. AND serve.

I did dipped strawberries, mini Boston cream cakes and the Oreo bits. 

The dessert table was just packed with all kinds of delicious morsels

Digging the new dress and shoes. It was a fun night with my wonderful husband.

French Silk Tart

On Sunday we celebrated my Husband's birthday. I come from a family of birthday celebraters. Most birthdays in my family last a full week. My Husband's birthday celebration did start on Friday. It was a bit of a long weekend. Since we are in the month of High Protein and Low Carbohydrates dieting and exercising, desserts are really not on the list. I did come across this lovely French Silk Tart and decided it needed to be made. Besides tasting fabulous, it was also very easy to make and just the perfect size.

I still need to work on my photography skills. 

This tart went together quickly and was on an EASY Skill level. People really can make fantastic homemade desserts that would impress their friends. This recipe was not hard to make, did not require several different ingredients and did not consume loads of time. I really could have eaten the whole tart, it was that good. BAD Shayla. I did work out twice on Monday.

French Silk Tart
adapted from Diethood.com
For the Crust
15 Oreo cookies or 2 snack size contrainers of Oreo's crushed
5 Tablespoons melted butter

For the Chocolate Whipped Cream
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 cup chocolate chips

For the Whipped Cream Topping
1 cup chilled whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon sugar

Instructions
FOR THE CRUST: Combine the crushed oreos and melted butter in a small bowl. Mix together and press into the bottom of an 8 inch spring form pan. Refrigerate crust until ready to use

FOR THE CHOCOLATE WHIPPED CREAM: Pour whipping cream into a medium size mixing bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Until hot. Add in chocolate chips and stir until melted. Refrigerate mixture for at least one hour. Needs to be cold. Once cold, attach bowl to a mixer with whisk attachment, beat until stiff peaks form. Chill in refrigerator.

FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING: In a mixing bowl, combine whipping cream, vanilla extract and sugar. Beat the mixture with the whisk attachment until stiff peaks form. Chill in refrigerator.

ASSEMBLING TART: Spread Chocolate mixture over the Oreo crust. Spoon whipped topping over the chocolate layer and spread evenly. Refrigerate for one hour and until set. Garnish with Chocolate shavings or Slivered Almonds.



The Crust barely fills the pan. Just a nice layer.

All set up and ready to dig into.

The Birthday Boy and a French Silk Tart

A vendor and some shop employees at my "DAY" job fabricated this 

Harley Davidson sign for my Husband. 

It is already hanging in the Garage. He was very happy.