Do Leprechauns taste like mint?

It's already March! What the...? Wasn't it just Christmas?

I guess that means it's time for another made-up holiday! I love these fake holidays, and St. Patrick's Day in particular is a favorite of mine.  First off, my name is Kelly (Irish). Second, I look really great in variations of green. All the obvious makings of a great holiday! 

The one St. Patty's downside? Leprechauns.  Those little buggers are creeptastic. It's the small hands and pointy ears. There is even a 1993 horror movie about them, due to their high-skeeze factor. It stars Jennifer Aniston, so you know it's a scary film.

Thankfully, I know of one sure way to overcome any fears of fake holidays and miniature men with small hands.  Sugar!

While perusing the local Target recently, I found these delicious looking dark chocolate mint m&m's.  Dark. Chocolate. Mint! Oh my, these little guys called to me.  I didn't really even think of what to put them in - just that I needed them.

Yesterday, when I was looking through my pantry right at these minty little darlings, I immediately thought of a St. Patty's cookie.

I began with my very favorite sugar cookie recipe stirred all up in one bowl:

Next, I threw some crushed chocolate sandwich cookies into that bowl of delicious:

Pre-packaged for lazy people

Followed closely by a bag of chocolate chips dumped right in:

No measuring, just a whole bag!

Finally, the minty-green star of our show makes it's best impression:

Bake those all up at 375-degrees for 10 minutes and....ta dahhhhh!!!

All of the St. Patrick's Day celebrating!!

Now go forth and celebrate all things minty green, St. Patrick, and even those sneaky little leprechauns!

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1 egg

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 cups crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos)

2 cups chocolate chips

1 bag dark chocolate mint m&m's

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets.

2. Cream butter, white sugar and confectioners' sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and the vanilla.

4. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar together.

5. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir.

6. Add 2 cups of crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (I found mine pre-crushed in the ice cream toppings section of Target, but crushing your own would work brilliantly!) and fold in.

7. Add 2 cups (one 16oz. package) chocolate chips to the dough and stir them in.

8. Shape dough into 1-2" balls and place on the prepared baking sheets. 
9. Take 2-3 mint m&m's and press them into the dough balls.

10. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.