October, 2014 | Just About Baked

Gimme More Peanut Butter Bars

It’s Sunday night. Translation: I’m a little cranky. Sunday is errand day, a time to get things together before the onslaught of the week begins. Also, I’m a bit peeved because my husband has tomorrow off for Columbus Day, as do most of the people who work in the DC area. Not me. Nope. I’m working a full day tomorrow!

Sorry, I’m gloomy. When this kind of mood strikes, only one thing can help. Lots and lots of peanut butter. In a bar. With chocolate.

Gimme Some More Peanut Butter Bars

Candy Overload Blondies

October 12, 2014
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
6 Comments

I like to keep my chocolate in the freezer. Have you tried it? If not, I highly recommend. The whole consistency and texture and flavor just changes in this magical way when chocolate is frozen.

What eventually happens is that the front drawer in my freezer is full of goodies: M & Ms, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips. If it’s got chocolate, it’s in there! So every now and then I have to get rid of whatever is in there and then replenish gradually. It’s the circle of life.

Autumn Candy Pizza

October 10, 2014
Mir
C is for COOKIE!
10 Comments

I don’t eat much pizza. Not for want of loving it, believe me. I love pizza. Honestly, I know very few people who don’t. Like my kids. They eat a lot of pizza.

But pizza leads to heartburn, and tummyaches, and vast regret. I guess that means I have to pretend to be a grown-up and not eat much of it. Well, the traditional kind. Nobody ever said anything about cookie pizza!

Peanut Butter Fudge Cookie Cups

October 8, 2014
Mir
C is for COOKIE!, Cupcakes and Cheesecakes
32 Comments

I have to take a break from all the fall stuff, everyone. I mean, pumpkin and apple and spice are all super nice, but my peanut butter and chocolate fiend self has been begging for satisfaction.

You know that I can only go so long without my fix. So this weekend, I thunked a jar of peanut butter and a package of milk chocolate chips on the counter. Then I stared at them for a while, just contemplating. After a few minutes, I knew what I had to do.

Writing Process Blog Tour

October 7, 2014
Mir
Odds n' Ends
14 Comments

And now for something completely different!

Any Monty Python fans out there?

Hmm. Anyway, today I’m not posting a recipe. But before you start pulling out your hair in disappointment, I have a perfectly valid explanation. Besides, more recipes (um, awesome ones) are coming fast!

Candy Corn Wownies

October 6, 2014
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
25 Comments

I’m all about food hybrids, y’all. It’s even more fun when they have cool names.

The Cronut? Sign me up. I just wish I’d thought of it first. But beware, because the Bronut (i.e., a brownie/donut mash-up) is totally mine for the taking. What can I say? It’s a dream, a glint in my eye, but it’ll happen. And the Pake? I didn’t make that one up, but who can object to pie and cake together? Or the Pookie? I love cookie and pie in the same place!

It is with this spirit of cooperation and togetherness that I bring you…drumroll, please…

The Wownie!

Caramelized Pecan and Pumpkin Fudge

October 5, 2014
Mir
Candyland
14 Comments

Remember when dessert used to be a simple affair? A brownie. A cookie. A piece of chocolate fudge, plain.

Well, folks, them days are over. And thank heaven they are, because dessert is being pushed farther than ever before, all because of food blogging. How can anyone possibly object? We’re baking as fast as genius food manufacturers are developing newer products.

Like Nestlé’s pumpkin spice-flavored morsels. I saw them at Target and bought 4 bags. I had to play with them! And the first recipe they yielded is this caramelized pecan and pumpkin spice fudge.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars (Gluten-Free!)

Back in August when people were posting pumpkin recipes, I was totally annoyed. Why ruin my summertime buzz? Really, people!

But then I made my first pumpkin recipe of the season and I couldn’t help it. Suddenly, I was eating tons of pumpkin. I was re-hooked. I forget every year how delicious pumpkin recipes are! How can I forget?

Candy Corn Cake Mix Cookies

My son just had his half-birthday. I don’t know how many of you do that, but kids seem to love it. Hey, any excuse to get a special treat one more day out of the year!

I may have mentioned before that my son doesn’t like chocolate. So whenever it comes time to bake for him, life gets complicated. Because you know, he’s picky. He’s not fond of caramel either, or certain textures really get to him. But candy? Candy is always okay. And candy corn is even better! And when baked into a cookie?

Yep. Happiness!