Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

It was one of those blah kind of days, where nothing particularly bad had happened but the hum-drum of day-to-day tasks left me unmotivated. But then, sunshine convinced me to take the dog on what turned out to be a most refreshing walk along a new path. And what beats watching a puppy race along a creek whilst you sing songs because you're in the woods by yourself? That would be heading back home to discover a recipe gem on Twitter for which you have all the ingredients.

A few clicks and a couple of hours later, I was molding Tollhouse dough around Oreos, the only store-bought cookie I care much for (besides Milanos). Some people tweeted its similarity to a turducken (chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey), but I liken it more to fair food like the fried Snickers, combining sinfully decadent treats.

Conclusion: Sharing colossal cookies with chocolate-cream gooey centers at the end of the day, that makes people smile and reminds me that ordinary wintry Wednesdays are for loving life too. Of course they are best eaten hot out of the oven, but the Oreo center stays nice and soft for a few days afterward too.

Update March 2012:
My mom's coworkers says the highest points of his life are:
1. coming to know Jesus
2. his wedding
3. the birth of his children
4. eating an Oreo-stuffed chocolate chip cookie last year

Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Nestle and Picky Palate

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
16-24 Oreos (I used about 16; other bloggers used up to 24.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

Place one scoop of dough on the top of an Oreo and once scoop underneath it. Use your (clean) hands to mold the dough around the Oreo so that there are no wholes. Place on cookie sheet and repeat until you have used up all the cookie dough.

Bake for 9 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.