PEPPERMINT COOKIES

Blend:

3/4 c. shortening
3/4 c. sugar

(Using half the sugar now and the remainder to roll the cookies). Stir in:

1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla

Add:

2 c. sifted flour (add 1/4 c. at a time)

Stir in:

1/2 c. crushed peppermint stick candy

Beat egg white until frothy, roll dough into one inch balls and dip in beaten egg whites and remainder of the 3/4 cup sugar.

Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and press a chocolate bit into center of each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove immediately from cookie sheet, cool on rack. Makes about 5 dozen bite sized cookies.

CG : PEPPERMINT BARK OR OREO COOKIE BARK

Pink or green summer coating
6 drops peppermint oil to 1 lb. candy
Peppermint Crunch
Oreo cookies (optional)

Stir peppermint crunch into melted coating with peppermint oil added, until well covered. Spread on wax paper. Break up when set. Pink or green mint candy is also nice with broken Oreo cookies stirred in.

CG: OREO COOKIE DESSERT

1 (1 lb.) pkg. Oreo cookies
1/2 c. (1 stick) melted butter
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. confectioners' sugar
2 (8 oz.) containers Cool Whip
2 (4 oz.) pkgs. instant chocolate pudding
2 1/2 c. milk

Crush the package of Oreos. Measure 1 cup and set aside. Mix crushed cookies with melted butter. Pat into a 13 x 9 inch dish. Mix 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1 cup confectioners' sugar and one 8-ounce container of Cool Whip; spread over cookie crust.

Mix 2 boxes of instant chocolate pudding and 2 1/2 cups milk. Spread over Cool Whip and cheese. Top with another 8 ounce container of Cool Whip and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of crushed Oreos.