Make your own edible arrangment

We had a tea party/brunch for Mother's Day and one of the very neat things we made was an edible arrangement. Not only would we have to drive to pick, but we would have to pay $$$ a great deal more than if we just made it! I figured that we save at least $72 by making our own!                                                          So this is what you'll need to make your own edible arrangement:
Fruit (I would suggest grapes, pineapple, watermelon, honey dew, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, peaches.... stay away from fruit that is really soft, like bananas!)
skewers (12''-18'')
A large vase, basket, or decorative container
Foam (To support/hold the skewers)
Chocolate chips for melting (Optional)
Kale or Lettuce for covering the foam around the base

Wash all the fruit (Use a drop or two of grapefruit seed oil, more on that later!)

Cut your fruit into wedges, balls, cubes, and other fun shapes! (We used a cookie cutter to make heart and star shapes.) 

 Place the strawberries on the skewers and dip in chocolate. I then had an extra vase or two on hand to place the strawberries in rather than laying them down on a pan. (That would make an undesirable flat side on the strawberry!)

 

This was the final product!  Amazing!

 

I would like to say that a little creativity goes a long way on projects like these, and that this was Audrey's project (except for the strawberry dipping ;D) and she did an amazing job!

                                           

Holiday Oreo Truffles

This is one of my favorite deserts! Oreo Truffles are good, but when the special edition Oreos are put out on the shelf the truffle possibilities are even better.

                         This is what you will need:                                         

   1. 16oz One package Peppermint Oreos (LEAVE THE CREAM IN THEM...PLEASE!!!)
   2. 8 oz soft cream-cheese (do not freeze)
   3. 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips melted in double boiler with about 1 tsp. olive oil added
   4. finely chopped peppermint candy to decorate (optional)

Directions:

1.  Crush whole cookies to fine crumbs in the food processor; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Place dough in fridge for about 1 hour
2. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls (aprox), about 1-inch in diameter. 
3. Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
4. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator. They can last in the freezer for several weeks!

Footnotes

•  I leave most of the cream in the Oreos while every other recipe (that I've seen) does not use the cream.... (So sad :(   I think it taste a lot better this way!)
  Place truffle ball in melted chocolate to coat; roll if necessary. Lift truffle from chocolate using 2 forks (this will allow excess chocolate to run off) before placing on wax paper. 

I've never made snowmen out of the truffle recipe, but it sure is cute.