Crispy Peanut Butter Balls

This is the second time I've ever made these and they have been a hit both times.  The recipe comes from the 2011 Taste of Homes Annual Recipe book.  These cook books are my favorite! 

Ingredients 
2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter softened
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
3 cups crisp rice cereal
4 cups Ghirardelli semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tsp shortening divided
1/2 cup vanilla or white chips (Ghirardelli brand)

Preparation
In a large mixing bowl, beat the peanut butter and butter until blended 
Slowly add the powdered sugar until all is combined
Stir in cereal
Shape into 1-inch balls or whatever size you prefer
Refrigerate until chilled

In microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and 1/4 shortening.  Microwave on high until the chips are melted, about 3 minutes, and stir until smooth.  Dip balls into chocolate and place on a pan lined with wax paper.  Refrigerate until chilled.

In small microwave safe bowl, combine vanilla chips and remaining shortening.  Microwave at 70% power until melted, about 2 minutes, stir until smooth.  Drizzle white chocolate over balls and refrigerate until set. 
Tip:  I used my Wilton Decorator Plus to make drizzle over peanut butter balls

Oreo Pudding

This is really dirt pudding, but I never make it to look like dirt so we can just say it's Oreo Pudding.

Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1 stick butter at room temperature
1 cup powder sugar
1 pkg sm box instant vanilla pudding
1 pkg sm box instant french vanilla pudding
3 1/2 cup milk
2 pkg oreos
12 oz or larger cool whip

Preperation
In gallon zip lock bag crush 1 pkg oreos.
In mixing bowl beat cream cheese, butter and sugar until completely combined.
In separate bowl mix pudding and milk.
Add pudding to butter mixture and blend together.
Stir in cool whip and then add the crushed oreos. 
Line glass bowl with whole oreos in different layers around the edge, adding pudding after each layer.  Stick remaining oreos on top of pudding.
Refrigerate 2 hours before serving.

Layering oreos around edge

Here is a photo of this pudding I made for my daughters birthday!  This is what she wanted for her party and the colors made it fun. 

Triple Chocolate Cake

This is a moist chocolate cake that my whole family loves!  I got the idea from a cake my husbands mother makes, with her using a yellow cake mix.  Well one time I wanted to make her cake and I only had a chocolate cake mix, so it was fixed up on a whim and we loved all the chocolate in it.  Then I started using Ghirardelli chips in all my baking and it really is so much better with these.

Ingredients
1 devils or fudge chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup water
1 small box instant fudge pudding
1 bag Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips

Preparation
Preheat oven 350 degrees.  Spray bundt pan with bakers joy, or nonstick spray.
Combine all ingredients (excluding chocolate chips) in large mixing bowl.  Beat on low for 30 seconds.  Turn mixer to high and beat 2 minutes or until completely combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.
Pour into bundt pan, bake 50-60 minutes or until toothpick insert comes out clean.