SWEET Memories

Time is flying by. We have only one week left in Oklahoma...the kids at school have been incredibly sweet...and emotional. Whew. These last few weeks have been one performance after another, one crying fest after another, one doughnut after another (to cheer us all back up, of course). They are awfully special!

Tomorrow marks 2 married years with my best friend....and 9 "together years" :) Since being married, we've been doing a lot of cooking. I should have been sharing all of those recipes along the way, but some are Josh's prized treasures, and I don't know that he wants to release them yet! haha! But, in honor of our relationship, I'll post a new favorite dessert. Sweets always go along with good times. I actually made them for a shower for my 2 best friends at school...who was/is expecting 2 little girls! So excited for Megan & Lorryn!
And now, for the most moist, delicious cookie sandwiches you could ever, EVER ask for...whether you're celebrating times together, an anniversary, a baby, or summer time!

Zucchini-nut-bread Cookie Sandwiches

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
coarse salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup finely grated zucchini
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
8 oz cream cheese, room temp
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted

1. Preheat oven to 350. Sift flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt into a bowl.
Beat 1 stick butter and the sugars until pale and fluffy.
Beat in egg and vanilla.
2. Beat flour mixture into butter mixture. Mix in zucchini, oats, and walnuts. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
3. Using 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop (2 tbl), drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
Bake until edges are golden, about 17 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
4. Beat together remaining 1/2 stick butter, the cream cheese, and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread 1 heaping tablespoon filling onto the flat side of 1 cookie, and sandwich with another cookie. Repeat with remaining filling and cookies.

Makes about 14 cookies. So, take it from me and make 2 batches because you're really going to love them, and so is your neighbor.