Making The Most Of Those
Girl Scout Cookies

For just a few more weeks, we can still enjoy those mouth-watering once-a-year treats that we’re finding on nearly every corner of The High Country. Unfortunately, we can only find them this time every year, but we’ve found a few good ways to put your box of Girl Scout Cookies to good use. Most of them freeze well – so don’t think you can’t hide some back for later. In fact, just as they were returning earlier this month, I pulled the last sleeve of Thin Mints from its hiding place in the back of my freezer and they tasted nearly as good as the fresh ones! Few things in this world make a difference like this annual fundraiser for Girl Scouts, so do yourself (and your favorite Girl Scout!) a favor while you still can!

Thin Mint Delight

2 pkg. (8 oz.) instant chocolate pudding
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine (melted)
1 pkg. (8 oz) softened cream cheese
1 pkg. Thin Mints (crushed)
4 cups whipped topping
3 cups milk

Combine cookies with melted butter or margarine. (Save ¼ cup of cookies for topping). Press cookie mixture on bottom of 13" x 9" pan. Chill. Combine cream cheese with 1 cup whipped topping. Spread over cookie mixture. Chill 15 – 20 min. Prepare pudding and pour over cream cheese mixture. Chill 1 hour. Top with remaining whipped topping and cookie crumbs.

Peanut Butter Pie

1 1/3 cups Peanut Butter Patties, crushed
5 Tbs. butter, melted
1 package (3 ½ oz.) vanilla pudding
1½ cups milk
1/3 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy

Combine crumbs and butter. Press into a 9-inch pie plate. Combine pudding and milk. Stir in peanut butter. Pour into pie shell. Refrigerate.

Caramel Chocolate Coconut Delight

1 box Girl Scout Caramel deLites
3 Tbsp. margarine, melted
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sugar
2 Tbs. milk
1 ½ cups non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 ¼ cups cold milk
1 pkg. (4-oz.) instant coconut creme pudding and pie filling
¼ cup toasted coconut
3 Tbs. semi-sweet chocolate mini morsels
Non-stick cooking spray

Place cookies in a food processor or blender; process until fine crumbs. Spray bottom of a 9-inch square pan with non-stick cooking spray. Combine cookie crumbs and margarine; press evenly in bottom of prepared pan. Using electric mixer beat cream cheese with sugar and 2 Tbs. milk until smooth. Blend in ¾ cup whipped topping. Spread evenly over cookie layer. Pour1¼ cups milk into a bowl. Add pudding mix and beat 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Pour over cream cheese layer. Chill several hours or overnight. Spread a thin layer of coconut on a baking sheet and bake in 325 degree oven for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently; cool. Just before serving, spread remaining ¾ cup whipped topping evenly over top of dessert; sprinkle toasted coconut and mini morsels on top of dessert.

Thin Mint Pizza

1 pkg. (18 oz.) refrigerated chocolate chunk cookie dough
½ pkg. Girl Scout Thin Mints
½ cup white chocolate morsels
Vanilla ice cream, optional

Press cookie dough evenly in the bottom of ungreased 12-inch pizza pan or a large baking pan. (Dough will barely cover the pan.) Break Thin Mints into halves or thirds; press cookie pieces into dough, covering evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes until golden brown. Place white chocolate morsels into a small self-closing bag. Microwave the bag of morsels on MEDIUM for 40 to 50 seconds or until melted. Snip one corner off bottom of bag. Hold bag tightly at top and drizzle white chocolate stripes over top of pizza. When cool, cut pizza into wedges. If desired, top each serving with a scoop of ice cream.

Thin Mint Milkshake

8-10 Thin Mint Cookies (whole)
3-4 Thin Mint Cookies (crushed)
1 cup milk
2 scoops Chocolate, Vanilla, or Mint Ice Cream

Place milk and whole cookies into a blender, and blend on a medium speed until smooth. Add ice cream carefully, and blend on a high speed until fully blended and creamy. Place most of the crushed cookies on the bottom of a shake glass (saving some cookies to put on the top). Slowly pour the shake into the glass and top with remaining cookies. Serve with a straw AND a spoon, as it will be VERY thick. Makes 2 shakes.

Chocolate Caramel Apple Dessert

1 box Shortbread
2 Tbs. butter
8 ripe apples
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 ½ boxes of Carmel deLites
1 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Crush Shortbread into crumbs. Melt butter and mix into Shortbread crumbs. Pack into bottom of pan to make crust for dessert. Slice apples thin so they bake evenly. It is best to store the apples in cold water until done slicing to prevent them from turning brown. Add the cinnamon and brown sugar and mix so apples are thoroughly coated. Spread apples evenly over the Shortbread crust. Crush Carmel deLites coarse, to use as topping for the dessert. A food processor works well for this. Spread the crushed Carmel deLites evenly over the apples. Bake the dessert in the oven for about 20 minutes or until apples are tender. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. Drizzle melted chocolate over warm dessert.

 

 

Don’t forget your copy of “Lovin’ Spoonful . . . Cooking With Family and Friends,” a compilation of nearly 400 mouth-watering recipes by Sherrie Norris. It is available at all locations of High Country Media – Boone, Banner Elk, West Jefferson, and at The Avery Journal in Newland, all Boone Drugs, Black Bear Books, Trailway Laundry, Wilcox Emporium,( top level, booth 312-W,) and beginning June 15 at Mast Store locations.