Patriotic Chocolate Chunk Brownies

Patriotic Chocolate Chunk Brownies

Holidays have a way of sneaking up on a girl. July 4th, here you come!

On my list of favorite low-maintenance holidays, July 4th is up there. I eat my annual nitrate-free hot dog (once a year is just enough, really), drink a cocktail, and whip up some brownies. It’s the perfect meal!

I’ll never argue with a brownie in any form, but they’re at their best when giant chocolate chunks are nestled within. Oh, and when there’s a nice thick layer of glaze on top with sprinkles. Patriotic sprinkle bling, no less!

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Mocha Almond Fudge Chunk Ice Cream (Plus A Giveaway!)

Mocha Almond Fudge Chunk Ice Cream (Plus a Giveaway!)

Back in the day, Baskin-Robbins was a way of life.

I kid you not. I grew up in a family that considered a trip to the ice cream parlor an excellent substitute for lunch, and thank heaven they did. Because my favorite drink in the world is still a Baskin-Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge milkshake with chocolate syrup. It’s just where life is at.

Today, my friend Megan is celebrating her 100th blog post with a giveaway, and a bunch of her best bloggy friends are taking part! I’ll talk more about Megan in a minute, but for now, enter to win. And while you’re at it, enjoy this no-churn mocha almond fudge ice cream, my own personal loving tribute to Baskin-Robbins!

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Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake Brownies

Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake Brownies

Whoo yeah. We’re ending the week with some much needed sugar, and then some. Who’s with me?

The end of the school year is always a little sad. We say goodbye to students we really liked, clean out our classrooms (only to set them up again two months later), take some time to reflect on what we want to do differently next year, and head out in to the sunlight.

I get much more reflective if cheesecake is somehow involved, and these brownies are the ticket. Filled with chocolate chunks, these gloriously thick cheesecake brownie bars are the stuff dreams are made of.

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Corn Flake Cinnamon Crumb Bread

Corn Flake Cinnamon Crumb Bread

Do you ever get into a breakfast rut? Because I can relate.

Over the years, I’ve cycled through so many breakfast options with the goal of keeping my first meal of the day quick to prepare and filling. Oh, and sweet. I like that shot of sweetness in the morning!

Since forever, I’ve loved cereal. And while it’s hard to beat a bowl of cereal with milk, sometimes you want a little something different. As a quick bread lover, this breakfast bread fits the bill. It’s topped with a crumbly, crunchy topping made with Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, and the recipe is easy enough to make with the kiddos!

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Frozen Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie

Frozen Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie

This is the last week of classes! Hurray! Hurrah!

Yes, in answer to your question. Teachers are much more excited about the end of school than the students. For two months, we can keep normal hours and not spend our days talking kids into learning. Sounds like a win to me! And let’s not forget the ice cream.

My summers are spent with ice cream. Whether I’m eating it straight up or incorporating it into another dessert, life is grand. This frozen peanut butter ice cream pie is made with Blue Bunny® Homemade Vanilla ice cream, and you will not want to miss one bite!

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Salted Caramel Lava Mug Cake

Salted Caramel Lava Mug Cake

Can you believe it? This is my first mug cake on the blog!

It probably comes from my innate suspicion of anything cooked in a microwave. See, I’m not a fan. I use the microwave to melt butter or chocolate, and that’s usually it. I’d rather wait longer to heat something on the stovetop or let it crisp up in the oven. The uneven cooking of a microwave just makes me all kinds of sad.

But mug cakes are different! They’re magical, really. Just a few minutes stand between you and a warm chocolate cake just oozing with salted caramel. It’s so easy!

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Oatmeal Scotchies

Oatmeal Scotchies

Butterscotch is like hair dye. I don’t think about it that often, but when I do, I’m so glad it’s there.

My dark hair has been graying for a few years now, and my approach to that is to dye my hair increasingly fun shades of whatever. Right now it’s kind of cherry cola red, but I really wanted to go blue for winter. Kenny vetoed that choice, but the game isn’t over yet. There’s always next winter!

But now it’s summer, and for some reason, I always think of butterscotch when things heat up. One of the best combos ever is butterscotch and oatmeal. These oatmeal scotchies are the perfect lazy day snack!

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Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

Peanut Butter Caramel Brownie Cake

You’ve heard of cookie cake, but brownie cake? Yeah, it’s a thing.

And it’s even more a thing when it’s smothered in peanut butter caramel and sprinkled with sea salt. If you’re looking for me, I’m hiding in a closet with a giant wedge of this and a martini. Come find me sometime next week.

Oh, and did I mention there are peanut butter chips inside the brownie? This is one of those times when you run toward making this. No walking!

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Raspberry Pecan Crumb Bars (GF)

Raspberry Pecan Crumb Bars (GF)

Oh, crumb bars. This is not the first time we’ve met.

I’m addicted to crumb. You show me a crumb cake and I’ll pick off the topping. It’s a dangerous game to play. Don’t hand me anything in the realm of crumb and expect me to eat it like a normal person.

When done correctly, any crumb cake or bar is overflowing with crumb. A crumb fiend like me has to be satisfied, after all. These beautiful bites of heaven are filled with raspberry jam and sandwiched with crumbly oat goodness. They’re also effortlessly gluten-free, which is the only way I wanna do it.

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Chocolate PB Chip Muffins (GF)

Chocolate PB Chip Muffins (GF)

The weekend is almost here! Time for breakfast fun. That’s right, sister. Throw down that smoothie bowl and grab a muffin!

Confession: I don’t really do smoothies much. As someone who rushes out the door to work in the dead of night (okay, well, 5:30 in the morning), I don’t want to be turning blenders on and waking up the sleeping monsters…oops, children. I’m more of a protein bar kind of girl.

But when there are muffins around, I’ll grab one of those instead. These are gluten-free and they even have protein in them (yay, Greek yogurt!), so they do the trick, And they’re peanut butter and chocolate. You are so welcome.

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