Thursday, December 16, 2010

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!


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!

27 comments:

nomo wino daph said...

Girl, you know I can't really (havne't, ha) been running and you post a COOKIE CAKE RECIPE? I thought you liked me?? :) I have never heard of such but mercy, may be baking that up soon!

Thanks for putting on the swap/exchange S!!! I love my ornament from Sweet Momma T:) I am glad she liked hers. I don't have one....just may have to go back and get me one!

Kiss that sweet GG for me-
do you think we crossed paths yesterday??

Love Ya, D

Anonymous said...

That cake looks amazing!!!

Shannon- thanks for the ornament exchange. it was so fun and you did such a great job!!!

Jennifer said...

First off, thanks for hosting. This was a great idea and I am so glad I participated. What a great thing to do with bloggy friends. I love the ' ya'll' ornaments. I think they are hilarious :) Looking forward to seeing what everyone got...I know I love mine :)

Joni said...

i am so jealous i didn't get in on this. definitely next year. going now to check out everyone's ornaments.

Blogs said...

i sent my ornament out: it was through a different exchange but it was a lot of fun...i love things like this! makes it special to find friends in bloggy land! that cake just blew me away.....ok not really the cake! the face:) haha...YUMMY! Love it!:)

Heather said...

WOW, that recipe looks delish!! Too bad about your ornament, but I am so happy you got to post your mom's -- love that it's almost just like the one you posted the other day! I wish more people said y'all up here in the North :-) I also wish we had your weather, LOL!! Have a great day!

Aly @ Analyze This said...

The recipe looks devine! I want to try it :)

I've been on the go so much the last few days traveling with work and doing events for work well into the evenings that I forgot to take a picture of my ornament!! I will do that tonight and just be a day late! Better late than never, right?

Lindsay said...

Oh my I LOVE your mommas ornament. Does the designer have a shop? SO CUTE!

A Little McD said...

Ahhh! I got behind on my google reader and when I finally caught up and was going to sign up for the exchange I was too late! Boo. Please tell me you'll do it again next year! I'm so in!!

Traci said...

You know I love that ornament but I have to say you & your mom are sooo pretty!!

Adrienne said...

Thanks for hosting the ornament exchange. it was a blast.

Jumping Jack said...

That's a great pic of your and your momma! I love that ornament too. I must find one for my tree!

That cake looks so good! I'm in charge of desserts for Christmas dinner this year, so that cake will be making an appearance on our Christmas table! Can't wait to try it. Looks like GG loved it!

I'll be linking my ornament tomorrow.

Tina L. Hook said...

I love this ornament swap idea! Too cool.

Liz said...

YAY for the "Ya'll" ornament!

Stephanie M. Page said...

Holy guacamole! DELISH!!!

The White House said...

Thanks to you and Karne for hosting the swap! I thoroughly enjoyed shopping for Jessi! =) It truly is better to give than to receive!

I'll be linking up as soon as mine arrives!

The cake looks delish!! GG sure liked it huh?! lol! Sweet girl! It's amazing how much their personalities already shine at that age! I didn't realize she ans Keller were SO close in age! Kell was born on 7/13/09! We may have been hospital neighbors! =) Happy Thursday!

Terri said...

Oh yeah!!! Love, Love love the 'Merry Christmas Ya'll' ornament!!! Very southern indeed!!!

Mama K said...

Love the ornament your mom got!! Too cute! Y'all look beautiful!

That cake looks delicious as well! I still need to post my recipe...it will come sometime :)

Julie @ The Smitten Mintons said...

Shannon,

Thank you for hosting the swap! It was so fun, and I'm happy to find some new blogs, including yours! :) And I might go buy the ingredients for that cake...right now! Looks amazing!

Beanz Thingz said...

I'm sorry I didn't sign up for the ornament exchange! There were some really cute ones. The snowman with the tutu was super cute.

And that cake??? Naughty girl posting that. Of course, I had to share and spread the word. It looks too cute and TOO YUMMY!!!

Christina said...

That is a super cute ornament!!!! I love sentimental things like that :) We have a few plain ball ornaments to take up space, but our tree consists mostly of ornaments for our family, our son's first christmas a few years ago, there are two on the tree I bought for each christmas we've lived in Hawaii. Last year it was two starfish in shades and bathing suits, this year it was a santa dressed in a lei and trunks with a surfboard that says "aloha" on it. We definitely need to find some more though our tree is a bit bare when it's not lit!

Auntie D said...

Love the ornament and oh my heavens girl!! That cake looks SO GOOD! I was needing an idea for dessert for Bunco on Monday night..I think I have found it! Thanks! :)

Suze said...

I'm linking up tonight on the ornament swap! :)

I'm so making that cake too! sooo yummy! my mouth was watering looking at and checking out GG's look . You can tell it was delicious!!!!! :)

Hope you've had a terrifc thursday!

Cory (playdates and prescriptions) said...

Okay so after I saw that ornament on your blog a few days ago, I just had to find it! I finally found and ordered it yesterday!! It was soooo me! :) And OMGOODNESS!!! That cake is RIGHT up my alley! I can not WAIT to try it! Thanks for sharing!!

Jenn said...

I hope to catch you on the "2nd annual " swap next year! It looks like everyone had loads of fun spreading Christmas cheer.
And the recipe looks awesome! I'll have to give it a try, but not until my mouth heals up. :( That wouldn't be fair to make something yummy that I can't even eat, now would it! Haha....

Valery (CEO Wanna Be) said...

I came across your blog somehow and happy that I did. I am a new follower and I have to say I look forward to coming back. I love to bake and I am sorry I missed the ornament exchange.
http://thisnthatboutiqueblog.blogspot.com/

Closer to Lucy said...

OMGoodness you had me at cookie cake!!

Surfin in from the Sunday Hop...come by Lucy's when you get a chance.

http://closertolucy.blogspot.com