L.O.V.E. and Cookie Dough Truffles

Is there anything that says LOVE better than a cookie dough truffle?

Yes, there is.

My family!!

This right here folks is the whole entire word (LOVE).

This is my Grandmother who just turned 90 in November. She is the most beautiful woman in the world. When you look up the word love in the dictionary you will see her picture.

She was born in 1920 and her life-time adventures are very interesting. I love to sit and listen to her talk about her childhood, marriage, and the depression.

Iva Schelling has taught me everything I know about life, love, survival, and compassion.

How does your family spell L.O.V.E.?

Mine begins with, L is for Laughter and Lounging:

Have you seen the containers with the goo in them for kids? Okay, adults can play with them too.

If you take the goo out and squeeze it back into the container, you end with those funny bodily noises that everyone can't help but laugh at. So every time Lydia put the goo back into the container, everyone laughed....

Lydia looks so sad here....

She spent quite some time going around pulling on every one's shirt-tail, "Do you have some Kool-Aid?"

She finally gave up and located the lounging comfort of her mother's (Cassie) lap.

O is for Over-eating:

Since you can obviously see our spread of food, that is why we over-eat. One thing that I thank God for every day is, "We are not hungry".

My sweet mother and her husband Bob entered dessert mode....

Did you notice the gingerbread cake and cookie dough truffles on their plates?

This little girl here (Lydia) was demonstrating the proper way to eat a cookie dough truffle.

She tells me, "Grandma, I love your cookie candy." Then she had to tell her Aunt Randi the same thing because we produced them together.

V is for Volume:

Isn't it great when families get together and everyone talks at the same time? I am talking about volume here.

Then when someone across the room wants to talk to someone at the other end they have to yell. Thank God for our voices and being able to hear every mixed conversation.

And here is where the volume got real loud.

Some one touched my camera!!

I am right in the middle of saying, "What do you think you're doing?"

No one touches my camera.....it's kind of like asking someone if you can barrow a pair of their underwear. You just don't do it!!

E is for Entertainment:

When this side (Schelling) of the families get together we always spend the whole entire day playing BINGO. Every family member is responsible for bringing two BINGO prizes (cost below 5 dollars), and then there are a few grand prizes that the parents of the families are responsible for. Full card cover BINGO enables a grand prize.

This is so much fun, and everyone enjoys playing, receiving gifts, stealing opened BINGO gifts (robber BINGO), and going home with little odds-and-end trinkets.

And guess who went home with the coffee mug that everyone was fighting over???

Yup, you guessed it, ME.

I was the very last person to BINGO and I stole the coffee mug. It is mine, all mine....MUHAAA

More entertainment that was supplied was a pool table.

That right there is my grandson Ashton, who is now known as a "pool shark". His side-kick in the picture (David) taught him everything he knows.

I had to remind you one more time of the bodily funny noises that were coming out of that goo container. The best entertainment of the day.

Now to get down to business with the truffles....

Why is chocolate called chocolate? It should be called LOVE.

There is nothing more soothing in the world. Stick a piece of chocolate in your mouth and the world just stops for a moment. No noise, no movement, just pure bliss.

Add a little cookie dough into the mix and you have double LOVE.

Cookie Dough Truffles

1/2 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. packed brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. flour

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c. miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 c. chopped walnuts (opt) (I don't put them in)

1 1/2 pounds semisweet candy coating, chopped

In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour, alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Shape into 1 - inch balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1 - 2 hours or until firm.

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating; stir until smooth (I use a double boiler). Dip balls in coating, allowing excess to drip off; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. If desired, remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candies. Sore in the refrigerator. Makes 5 1/2 dozen.

Good Luck~Happy Eating~Enjoy

"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt.18:20