Cookies: Andes Mint Cookies

This is a recipe I really loved from last year's cookie exchange.  My friend Melissa brought these, and I was really intrugued when I saw it only required four ingredients, and they really were pretty with the glossy chocolate tops. Yes, mint is a great Christmas recipe, but for some reason I've always associated it with Saint Patrick's Day as well, so...a fun cookie to celebrate Saint Patrick.
Andes Mint Cookie Recipe
Ingredients:  1 Devil's food cake mix, 1/2 c. oil, 2 eggs, 1 pkg Andes Mints
Instructions:  Mix cake mix, oil and eggs together.  Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 6-9 minutes. 
Take the sheet out of the oven and while the cookies are still very hot, place a mint on top of each cookie.  In about 5 minutes, the mint will be melted.  Take a spoon and smooth out each mint like frosting. 

DIY Thin Mints

My friend Sarah shared this recipe this past Christmas at our annual cookie exchange.  With girl scout cookie season on the way, I decided to share her recipe now for DIY thin mints.  These just use a few basic supplies, and they were really tasty.  So....once you've gone through your box, you won't have to despair until next year. 

Homemade Thin Mint Recipe (Makes 1 1/2 dozen)
Ingredients:  18 ritz crackers, 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (melted), 1 T vegetable shortening, 2/4 t. peppermint extract

Instructions:  Line a baking sheet with wax paper.  Combine chips and shortening and head for 1 min to melt.  Stir and heat 10-15 seconds burst until chocolate stirs smooth.  Add peppermint extract to the melted chocolate.  Dip 1 cracker in the chocolate.  Coat it and remove with a fork.  Allow excess to drain off fork tines.  Place on wax paper and repeat.  Place tray of finished cookies in fridge to harden. 

....and then, thank your friend for sharing a great recipe.  Thanks again, Sarah.  :O)