The best ideas are born of random conversations. For example, this morning Alexis and I were rambling our way through the grocery store and I asked her what we should make for a picnic we were hosting later in the day.
"Dip," she replied.
The answer to all of the questions in life is "Dip," for what it's worth. That has been established. However, it's not the most specific of answers, so I asked Alexis to continue with her train of thought. I asked if there were any certain kinds of dip that would be right.
She thought for a moment then said, "I wish there was some sort of cookies and cream dip. Like Oreo Dip I could dip Oreos in."
Challenge accepted.
Not only was this Alexis' idea, but where it went from the original thought was partly her fault as well. She's the one who demanded that there be crushed Oreos in it, for example. She also was in charge of taste testing to make sure I had the base just right. Here's the recipe for the version that she said was "just right."
Oreo Dip
1 8-oz package cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 5-oz container vanilla Greek yogurt
1/4 cup powdered sugar
15 or so crushed Oreos
1. In a large non-stick skillet, melt the butter. Whisk in the brown sugar to make a caramel-like deliciousness. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla. Stir a little more.
2. Refrigerate the caramel-like deliciousness for 15-20 minutes.
3. Stir it up then toss it in a large mixing bowl. Add in the cream cheese and vanilla Greek yogurt. Mix until smooth.
4. Slowly add the powdered sugar while mixing some more.
5. Stir in the crushed Oreos with a spoon or spatula.
6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or longer) before serving. I served it with animal crackers, Nilla wafers, chocolate graham crackers, and Oreos. Not a single one of those was a bad idea.
7. Watch your kid dip an Oreo in Oreo Dip and declare herself "such a good cook." It's kind of the best.