I couldn’t wait to try these. Oreo AND cheesecake AND chocolate chips in a cookie? Yes!

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

Ingredients:

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
½ cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and well combined.

3. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and mix until the ingredients are well combined. Add the flour and mix on low until the flour is incorporated. Stir in the mini chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

4. Place the Oreo cookie crumbs in a small bowl. Scoop the cookies into about 1½ to 2″ balls and then roll in the cookie crumbs. Place the cookie balls on the baking sheet.

5. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the tops are slightly puffed.

6. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Makes about 2 dozen

Recipe from Brown Eyed Baker

Where I live, halfway up the state of Vermont, not a lot of good music passes through. That is, until recently. Tupelo Music Hall, in White River Junction is bringing all sorts of fun stuff to the area. It’s nice not to have to drive to Boston (or further) every time we want to see a well known act. I don’t see The Decemberists or Muse booking any time soon but, hey, I’ll take what we can get.

Last night The John Jorgenson Quintet played at Tupelo. My husband is a big fan. Considering the number of concerts that I have dragged taken him to, it felt good to be out watching a band that he really loves for a change.

I really loved the concert, too. John Jorgenson is one very talented fellow. The whole band was. Man, did the Bass player work hard. My fingers were sore from watching all of them as their hands flew across their respective strings.

The John Jorgenson Quintet calls their stuff Gypsy Jazz influenced by the French guitarist, Django Reinhardt. At one point, Jorgenson demonstrated how Reinhardt would have played the guitar using only two fingers since his other two were damaged due to an old burn injury. Fascinating.

Every song was fantastic, but the stand outs for me were Swingapore, which was my favorite going into the concert, and Souvenirs Des Nos Pères which was dedicated to the fathers of Peter Frampton (a Jorgenson family friend) and Jorgenson’s dad. The ‘brush brush’ percussion and the clarinet and violin doing an almost burlesque turn was really wonderful.

Finally, the only real beef I have with John Jorgenson’s music is the lack of singing. BUT!! Last night he sang! The closing song during the encore, Dr. Jazz, had him crooning away. In a really good voice, too. I’m in awe of so much talent.

Since it was such a small venue we got to chat with Mr J. himself as well as the violinist Jason Anick. Jorgenson signed for us his latest cd, ‘One Stolen Night’. We also picked up the disk, ‘Sleepless’ by violinist Jason Anick. He signed that one for us, too.

What a bunch of nice guys these were. If you want a musical treat, go check out the Jorgenson Quintet when they pass through your area.

John Jorgenson-Swingapore

John Jorgenson Quintet-Souvenirs Des Nos Pères

John Jorgenson Quintet-Dr. Jazz

Jason Anick-Landslide

You can buy The John Jorgenson Quintet’s music here.

Jason Anick’s music can be bought here.

Cheers!