Holiday Balls

Hello!
I have been falling behind in blogging. Since it is the Holiday season of course i have been baking like crazy, but I have found very little time to blog about it. So here are some of my fantastic Christmas cookie recipes after Christmas is already over :).
Like I said that I have been baking like crazy. I made 11 huge cookie plates for my friends, baked multiple cookies and pies for my family, and had a baking day with my friends. That's a lot of cookies!! I will try to share most of the recipes with you, dear readers. Some are very simple, so are a little more complex, but are all are equally delicious.
Here is a list of what I have made
-Oreo Balls/ Reindeer Turds
-Peanut Butter Balls
-Almond Bark pretzels
-Minty Cookies
-Oreo Snowmen
-Turtles
-Spritz cookies
-Sugar cookies
-Cut-out cookies
-Chocolate chip cookies
-Apple pie
-Pumpkin pie
-Chocolate pie
As you can see I have been busy since Thanksgiving. I would like to share two of the easiest and nomiest recipes, Oreo balls and peanut butter balls.

Oreo Balls
Ingredients
-1 package oreos
-1 8 oz. package cream cheese (softened)
-Almond bark
First you crush up the oreos. (This would be really easy in a food processor, but if you are like me and do not own one of those a pastry blender or a meat tenderizer and a plastic bag work very well too!) After all of the oreos crushed are mix in cream cheese. (This might work better with your hands.) When it is all mixed together make balls of whatever size out of the mixture and set it in the fridge or outside if it is winter to harden. Once they are hard dip them in almond bark, let dry, then enjoy!!

Crispy Peanut Butter Balls
from the Taste of Home Holiday cookie magazine

Ingredients

• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 cups crisp rice cereal
• 4 cups (24 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon shortening, divided
• 1/3 cup white baking chips

Directions

• In a large bowl, beat peanut butter and butter until blended; gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Stir in cereal. Shape into 1-in. balls. Refrigerate until chilled.
• In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and 1/4 cup shortening; stir until smooth. Dip balls into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on a waxed paper-lined pan. Let stand until set.
• In a microwave, melt white baking chips and remaining shortening. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over candies. Refrigerate until set. Yield: 6 dozen.

I could be very immature now and say I hope you really enjoy the balls, and make other inappropriate jokes about balls, but since I am mature I will not do that. ;) I really do hope you enjoy these easy and amazing recipes. I will try to share more recipes with you in the future.

Nancy