Oreo Cheesecake Truffles

Truffles are soo easy to make!! I am always amazed at how much they cost at specialty shops and how impressed most people are when they find out they are homemade. You will be shocked at how simple and easy truffles really are....AND my family and friends could not stop raving about them.....:)

To change the subject, I have been doing alright lately. This has by far been one of the best semesters I have experienced at Point and my last....:/ mixed feelings on that I guess. Right now I am trying to figure out money issues now and in the future, spring break plans, summer plans and fall 2010 plans.

For money issues, I found out my hair cut and color will cost me around 105.00!!!!! That is more than I have ever spent on my hair in my life!!! I had a hard time dishing out 40.00 for a cut and some highlights when I was in high school (when life was full of money and riches...lol). Now, I just cut my own hair and hope my natural color will sufice. Then there is headshot costs with reproductions (400), Wardrobe costs (300-350), Trip to New York (300-500 min.), postcards/business cards, resumes cardstocked, man I better get a job within the year so I can get a few deductions from all of these expenses!! All of this just for a class I have to take this year.....It's def. worth it....but I wish I had the money.

Spring break sounds oh so exciting right now but that will be quite costly as well (300-400) by the time the trip is over. Right now there are two possiblities:

1. Fly to Los Angeles and spend two days exploring the city I may live in this fall, go to the beach, check out some theatres, universal studioes, visit some bakeries, check out museums and parks.

Then take a boat to the channel islands to hike, bakpack and camp for the rest of break, returning to LA to spend one more day having fun.

Flight: 238 round trip

hostel: 55.64 (2 nights, 2 guests)

food: 150

camp fees: 30.00

check in bag: 20.00

transportation: 5-30.00

boat transportation: ?

That adds up to ~500-550.00 total!!! yeesh

2.Fly to Phoenix Arizona and hike the grand canyon for a week (It's not LA, but still great fun!)

Flight: 258.00 Round trip

food: 150

check in bag: 20.00

Camp fees: 30.00

bus transportation: 30.00

total: 480-500 dollars!!!!!!!! YEESH

both trips look to be about the same....that's actually surprising. I would LOVE to see LA before moving there, especially if Lars could share this experience with me, but I would be happy to backpack as well. hmmphhh any suggestions?

Plans for this summer:

1. Go home and Work for the summer

pros: free room and board, love the area, make med. amount of money, see friends and family

cons: Move back home for summer, not making as much, crappy job, harder to leave to LA when the time comes, far from boyfriend

2. Move to Madison, work as much as possible

pros: 30 min. away from my boyfriend (Could be great fun), friends in the area, new city life, living on my own in a new city would be great experience,

cons: Cost of living (room and board 300-350/month = 900-1000 for summer), far from family and friends, difficult finding job

3. Move to LA after graduation

pros: get life started in the big city, begin career, get to know city for awhile, warm summer, beaches, friends moving out this summer

cons: EXPENSIVE, scary, EXPENSIVE, no job, far far away, EXPENSIVE, do not have any money, EXPENSIVE!

4. Missionary Work

5. Work in Point for the Summer (Summer camp)

6. Internship for theatreAnyways, enough worrying, just eat, live and see what life and God brings....that's all that ever works anyways.

Oreo Cheesecake Truffles

Ingredients:

1 package oreo cookies
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
1 package baker's semi-sweet chocolate
8 oz. white chocolate chips (optional)

Remove 10 oreos from package and place remaining oreos in food processor. Process oreos until crumbs. Mix in the 8 oz. cream cheese (softened at room temp.) Process until combined. Roll in to 1- inch balls and place on cookie sheet. Chill in fridge for 30min. to overnight.

Meanwhile, crush remaining oreos in food processor until fine crumbs form. (this will be the topping)

chop chocolate into fine slices and place in glass bowl. Place over boiling water making sure water does not hit bowl directly- (Double boiler). If you would prefer using your microwave, place finely chopped chocolate into microwave safe bowl and put in microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir and heat for another 20-30 seconds. Continue this process until the chocolate JUST begins to melt (There still should be chips unmelted at this time). Take out chocolate and whisk or stir chocolate until all chips melt and chocolate is smooth and liquid-like.

Take out oreo balls and dip in melted chocolate. Can remove easily with two forks. Place dipped ball onto parchment lined baking sheet. Continue to coat all oreo balls with melted chocolate. Before chocolate hardens, sprinkle reserved oreo crumbs on top. Let harden, then place in fridge until ready to serve.

You can also melt white chocolate chips at this time in either double boiler, or in microwave (BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL WHEN MICROWAVING WHITE CHOCOLATE- it can harden quickly in microwave, take out earlier than dark chocolate to finish the mixing/melting process.)
The white chocolate can be drizzeled on top if preferred.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!