Ornament Link Up & Recipe

When my dear bloggy friend, Karen, and I teamed up to host our first ever Ornament Exchange, I have to be honest---I wasn't sure how it would ultimately turn out.

Would people participate? Will it be fun? Those questions plus about a gazillion more ran through my head!

Luckily both Karen and I have tremendously supportive and fabulous readers, willing to share their Christmas spirit and give something new a try!

There's certainly no Ebenezer Scrooge in this bunch, that's for sure!

With the exception of a few ornaments still trying to make their way to their intended recipients through the ice and snow, most packages have been delivered and, from what I'm hearing, have now found a home on the family tree.

Let's Share!

My sweet partner Katie has sent my ornament, which I'm sure will arrive any minute, no thanks in part to the postal delays caused by some seriously frigid and hazardous conditions down here in the South. So though I won't be posting a picture today, thank you, Katie, a little ahead of time! I'm so excited to see what you've chosen just for me!

And since I know I'm not the only one with a delayed package, today's Ornament Exchange Linky will be open for a week. Once your gift arrives, please be sure to snap a few pictures, and swing back by to link up! After all, we want to see what sweet goody your partner has sent your way!

But being the lucky girl that I am, my mom has asked me to share the ornament she received from her partner, and my across-the-bay neighbor,  Daphne!

Mom and Me

Mom was elated to discover that Daphne had chosen for her a Merry Christmas, Y'all ornament, very similar to the one on my tree that she's coveted for years!

What can I say? Daphne and I have very similar good taste! Lucky, lucky Mom!

Cute, right?! Good job, Daphne! Thanks for hooking my Mom up with an adorable ornament! If I didn't already have one, I might just have to steal borrow it!

Now it's your turn! Show us what you got!



Recipe

No one should know better the details and requirements of a weekly theme link up,  than the co-host herself---or more specifically, me!  It wasn't long after my Home Tour Tuesday hit the bloggy airwaves last week that I began receiving comments asking about my missing recipe! Whoops, my bad, y'all!

So as is my philosophy for many things in life---better late than never! But believe-u-me, this one is well worth the wait!

Chocolate Covered Oreo Cake

What You Need:

1 pkg. (2-layer size) devil's food chocolate cake mix
4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
12 OREO Cookies, coarsely crushed

Make It:

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

PREPARE cake batter and bake in 2 (9-inch) round pans as directed on package. Cool cakes in pans 10 min. Invert cakes onto wire racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.

MICROWAVE chocolate and butter in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Cool 5 min.

MEANWHILE, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gently stir in Cool Whip and crushed cookies. Stack cake layers on plate, spreading cream cheese mixture between layers. Spread top with chocolate glaze; let stand until firm. Keep refrigerated.

Nutritional Info:

Noooo way,  I'm posting that! Just enjoy, life's short. Eat plenty of dessert!

Image

Want proof that this cake is downright delish? Check out this face!



{Stay tuned tomorrow for the Stella & Dot and Friedasophie winners!}

Happy almost Friday, friends!