Make it Monday #4: Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Time to link up with Ashley over at

for another addition of Make it Monday!

Today, I am sharing the BEST cookie recipe I have ever made!  Seriously.  MUST. TRY.  ASAP.

I originally made these cookies for our June dessert party.  The theme was "Desserts you can eat with your fingers" so a cookie seemed logical.

I found the original recipe through this pin.

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Erica on Pinterest

Here is the recipe with the changes I made and some pictures to go with the directions:

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, room temperature

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1 (4.2 ounce) package instant Oreo Pudding mix

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Hershey's Cookies N Cream Candy Bars broken into small pieces (I used 2.6 ounce King Sized bars) **I used 3 normal sixe candy bars and broke them up before taking them out of the package.**

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chipsn **I only used about 1 cup.  With 2 cups these cookies were a bit too rich for me.**

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. Cream together butter and sugars. Beat in pudding mix until blended. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add the flour mixture and mix to combine. Stir in cookies n' cream pieces and chocolate chips. Batter will be thick.  **I didn't really find the dough to be thick, personally.**

Using a cookie dough scooper, place golf ball sized dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. You do not want to overbake these! Let cookies cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet before moving to a cooking rack. Store in air-tight container. Makes two dozen.  **I did use a scooper... but I got more like 4 dozen cookies!**

As I said before, these are the BEST cookies EVER!  Everyone who has tried them has said how good they are!  You need to go bake the right now.  Seriously... GO! :) 

Oh... and by the way... here are some additional steps you should follow in this recipe if you are a mommy or a wife...

1.  Entertain your baby with the measuring cups.  Of course, only AFTER they have been used and rinsed, so as to not contaminate these delicious cookies with baby drool! :)

2.  Bribe your husband with the extra cookies and creme chocolate bar you bought to do the dishes for you! :)

Make it Monday #2: Mexican Style

Again this week, I am linking up with Ashley over at

for MAKE IT MONDAY! A bit late, I know!

Tonight for dinner I used some more of my Pinterest pins to plan a menu.  As inspiration (or should I say pinsperation), I used these pins:

Taco Pie

Source: manteresting.com via Erica on Pinterest

Mexican Rice 
(Like you get at a Mexican restaurant)
Source: food-pusher.blogspot.com via Erica on Pinterest

Now, when I say inspiration I really mean it, because I didn't follow exact recipes, I simply used them to create my own thing.  Now the first pin (for taco pie) didn't link to a recipe, so I did google it go figure out what was in it.  Basically it was, pie crust, taco beef, cheese, lettuce and tomato.  I changed it up a little.

I used a frozen pie shell and then layered it with refried beans.

Then I put in a layer of cooked beef seasoned with taco seasoning
and then sharp cheddar cheese.

I baked that @ 350 for 15 minutes.  
In hindsight, I realize I should have baked it a little more... 
the crust was a bit mushy.

Next, I added a layer of lettuce, tomatoes and crushed tortilla chips.

I served this Taco Pie with a side of peppers stuffed with the rice.
I didn't follow the rice recipe... I simply added a cup of salsa and
some taco seasoning to the already cooked rice.
I did microwave the peppers for about 4 minutes before stuffing them.
I baked them at the same time as the pie... 
maybe why the crust wasn't quite done.

I finished the pie off with a dollop of sour cream...
And like any good pie, it completely fell apart upon serving!
Notice how this meal was NOT fancy enough to serve on real plates :)

Overall, it was a great meal!  You should try it yourself...

put those pins to use! :)

ENJOY!