The Forbidden Fruit

It was my turn to bring dessert to last night's bookclub.  Since we were reviewing The Fortunate Fall, Dawn suggested I use apples.  I thought about it but had the ingredients for this instead (oh and by the way, the once-18-oz pkg of refrigerate chocolate chip cookie dough is now only 16 oz so make a smaller circle or whip up a small batch of your own).

1 pkg refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
2 squares (1 ounce each) white chocolate for baking
2 T milk
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup thawed, frozen whipped topping
12-16 strawberries, cut in half
1 can mandarin orange segments, well drained
some grapes halved (opt, i used)
peanuts (opt, i used)
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 t. vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350.  Shape cookie dough into a ball and place in center of a round stone (or whatever you have).  Using lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough to a 12" circle, about 1/4" thick. Bake 12-15 minutes or til edges are set.  Cookie will be soft. Do not overbake. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes. Carefully loosen cookie from the stone; cool completely on baking stone (or surface of what you used).

Place white chocolate and milk in small bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute; stir til chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.  Microwave an additional 10-20 seconds if necessary.  Cool slightly.

In another larger bowl, combine cream cheese and powdered sugar; mix well. Gradually stir in white chocolate mixture;mix until smooth.  Fold in whipped topping. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cookie.

Arrange strawberries and mandarin oranges over cream cheese mixture. Place chocolate morsels and vegetable oil in microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 30 seconds or until chocolate is melted and smooth. Drizzle over fruit. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Cut into wedges

Yield:  16 servings...thanks and credit given to Pampered Chef

Chocolate Orange Peel

When I was in Provo, UT...there was Sweet's Candy and my favorite was a chocolate covered orange stick. I mean I REALLY loved that.  It's truly about the only candy of theirs that I did love.  Now I gather they only make it maybe during the holidays.  So I was delighted to discover the following recipe and submit it for your sweet enjoyment.

Peel 3 oranges.  Cut the rind into strips and boil in water for 15 minutes, then drain and rinse.

Simmer 3 cups of sugar and 3 cups of water.  Add the peel and cook until soft, at least 45 minutes ( Mine went for 1 hour).

Drain and toss in sugar.  Transfer to a rack to dry for about 8 hours.

  Dip in melted chocolate of your choice.  Allow to harden...and eat.