OREO'S

The other day as I was making plans for the annual Clawson family camp out I asked for suggestions for camp treats.  You know every family has their favorites.  There has to be homemade marshmallows, tinfoil dinners, eclairs on a stick, but James' must have suggestion was homemade Oreo's.  Funny thing is, I didn't even know he loved these little tidbits until a few years after we were married.  I made them once while we were dating to take on a fun trip with a bunch of friends to Jackson Hole, and I don't think he ate one.  Even then at my early stages of cooking I was hurt deeply by the fact that he didn't like what I had made.  I seriously wondered if I could even date the boy again if he wasn't going to enjoy my cooking, or at least fake liking it.  Since then though, I have found that he loves these Oreo's and he just didn't want to be a piglet on the Jackson trip years ago.   I don't make them very often because I have a hard time getting them to completion.  I will admit, I could eat the whole batch of chocolate cookies without the white frosting centers even.   Dang, when those cookies come out hot, you can shove a whole cookie in your mouth and nobody knows it's even gone.  Unless of course Emma lives at your house and she counts the cookies.  "Mom there is an odd number of cookies here.  Where is the other one?"  she says, and I am busted.  So I must eat another to keep the cookie count even.  It is a terrible cycle.  

This recipe comes from my Grandma's world famous cookbook. 

 I wish I had 200 copies to give to all my friends.  It is one of my favorite cookbooks.  You know all of my favorite cookbooks just happen to be family or ward cookbooks.  There is something about trying a recipe from someone you know and trust.  About 14 years ago my granny and her sister compiled all their favorite recipes and made this fun cookbook.  My cousin Chris did the illustrations.  My granny gave a copy to all of her grandkids and loved ones.  They had a second printing and I was able to procure a few extra copies, but dang it I gave them all away.  I wish I had one for Emma someday.  Maybe I could persuade grams to print again.  Who knows.  We could sell them at Trout and Berry Days or something:) There are so many treasures in this book.  I'm sure you've had these Oreo's and if you haven't you must make them tomorrow.  Next time I make them I'm going to add mint extract to the frosting and a little green food coloring.  I'm a sucker for mint Oreo's.  

Homemade Oreo's

2 pkg. Devil's Food cake mix

1 1/2 c. shortening

4 eggs

Combine together and mix until smooth.  Drop by spoonful onto a cookie sheet.  Bake in a 350'F oven for 8-10 min.  (Mine actually baked 12 minutes.  My cookies were a bit on the large side.)  Do not over bake.  There is nothing that ruins a homemade Oreo like a crunchy cookie.  Cool and then frost with frosting and place a second cookie on top.   Let sit a few hours and then enjoy!!  Don't let these sit for longer than a day or two.  I doubled the recipe and it made about 48 big cookies.  If you scoop your cookies smaller it is the perfect mouthful.

Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese

2 lbs powdered sugar

1 cube butter

1-2 T. milk

Beat until smooth and creamy.