Bars n' Brownies | Just About Baked

Peanut Butter Berry Brownie Pizza

Ever heard the expression “Waste not, want not?”

Of course you have. But have you ever really thought about it? What does it mean? If I don’t waste the half-eaten banana my kid left on the floor by hurling it immediately into the garbage, then…I’ll eat it? And I won’t be hungry?

I mean, I’ve done that. Eaten scraps my family leaves around. But I gotta tell you, I still want. Food. Of my own. That wasn’t left on the floor. Or in a doll’s bed.

While I do admit (and yes, I’m ashamed) to being pretty wasteful in some aspects of my life, I am very good about using what I have in the kitchen. Last week I made these S’more Brownie Cupcakes and I had brownie batter left over. So what better to do than take the batter, put it in a tart pan, bake it up and make a brownie pizza?

Raspberry Crumb Bars

Every now and then, the people I love let me go to a farmer’s market on Sunday morning. You see, kids are really impatient. They don’t find stalls full of jewelry and baked goods and produce appealing. They think it’s kind of dull unless they happen to be eating the baked goods. The whole time.

During one happy farmer’s market outing many moons ago, I sampled the best raspberry crumb bars in the universe. No, I’m not being hyperbolic. They were incredible. I would actually pick one over a Reese’s. That should give you an idea of how amazing they were.

Mega M & M Peanut Butter Bars

Camp started this week, and every morning is a blur. My husband and I take turns working out, and whoever is not exercising or getting dressed is getting the kids ready. Lunchboxes are packed, bathing suits put on, sunscreen slathered into every crevice, and then there is so much more to remember. Is it pizza day? Did we sign a permission slip to let our son go on a boat? For our daughter to ride a pony?

Now that I’m on a teaching hiatus, I’m actually less efficient. Routines make me work harder and better. Not that I’m complaining. Summer is kind of cool. But when I’m running around in the morning like a nutter butter, I need to have some quick baking projects. This is one of them.

Cinnamon Pecan Crunch Bars

My middle daughter is quite a diva. At age four, she is already demanding in ways I never remember being.

I was doing her hair the other day and she asked for me to do it “just like Elsa’s.” I swear to all the powers above, Frozen is doing me in. My hair is turning gray from that movie alone and how addicted my kids are to it. Anyway, no matter what I did to her hair, she continued to insist that it didn’t look right. I mean, duh. She has shoulder-length dirty blonde curly hair. Elsa has waist-length platinum flowy masses of Pantene commercial hair.

But try explaining that to a preschooler. To say she threw a tantrum would be an understatement.

She’s also been planning her fourth birthday party with way too much intricate detail. Have I mentioned she has two themes? Hello Kitty and (duh again) Frozen. Luckily, when it comes to party prep, I actually bake enough to satisfy her. And these cinnamon crunch bars are all part of the pre-party baking binge!

S’more Brownie Cupcakes

June 23, 2014
Mir
Bars n' Brownies, Cupcakes and Cheesecakes
11 Comments

Camp starts next week. Thanks be to all the powers above. I’m totally destroyed.

Listen, I love being a mom. But part-time mommyhood is kind of my thing. I need to be elsewhere during the day to fully appreciate all of the stuff my kids pull, like covering the walls in sidewalk chalk or leaving raisins all over the house like animal droppings. I wish I were strong enough to handle them 24/7, but I’m just not.

Summer is a great wake-up call for me about my job and why I love it. I get to be an at-home mom for two months while not teaching, and then I can fully appreciate being with my kids all day. But man, is it ever the most exhausting job in the world. That’s why we need cupcakes!

Monster Cookie Dough Fudge Bars (Gluten-Free!)

My husband is very romantic, but not in the way people might consider stereotypical. He’s never stood outside my window with a giant boom box blasting “In Your Eyes,” nor has he borrowed his friend’s dad’s Ferrari to impress me as we cruise around downtown Chicago on a school day…

Wait. I’m confusing real life with John Hughes movies again.

Yesterday, my husband installed a much better spam filter for my site. You know, so I can stop getting comments like, “There are many women body types and depending on your shape, you will definitely get the best design that fits you perfectly.”

Say what? And that’s one that makes more sense than most. Most are not in English.

So yeah, my husband has filtered my Spam. And in return, I’ve made him another gluten-free treat. A really fun one, if I do say so myself!

Scotchmallow Caramel Blondies

This time of year is just so fabulous. I know everyone is writing about the fourth of July, but what’s the rush? Our nation’s birthday is a few weeks away. What I’d rather write about is the end of school. Sweet, sweet freedom. Can you tell I’m a teacher?

I love my job dearly. I also love getting up later, wearing shorts and t-shirts every day, and tooling around the DC area sightseeing. I love being a tourist in my own city, and that’s what summer is about. Blazing, searing heat as I walk from Dupont Circle to Georgetown, stopping along the way for sips of frosty drinks. Or simpler pleasures are also nice. Scooping out ice cream for my kids as they play in the sprinkler, blowing bubbles. Drinking margaritas on the deck.

So don’t rush my season! July 4th isn’t close yet. Seize the day! Don’t let life speed by!

Skinnier Cheesecake Bars

June 13, 2014
Mir
Bars n' Brownies, Cupcakes and Cheesecakes, Healthier Indulgences
8 Comments

There are certain facts of life that are indisputable, so here are a few:

1) A perfect nap is harder to find than a good life partner.

2) Summer dresses are the best part of being a girl.

3) Beaches are magical.

4) Even if it sucks, you have to sweat every day to feel good.

5) Cheesecake is the best and worst dessert of all time.

What was that last observation?

I love cheesecake. LOVE it. Most people do, you know. But when you see how much gets loaded into the batter, it’s kind of sad. Because all that deliciousness usually comes at quite a price, health-wise. Fat? Check. Calories? Check. Indigestion? Double check.

But fear not! You don’t have to drop cheesecake from your repertoire. These bars do the trick quite nicely and you will never know they’re skinny!

Fudge Crumb Bars

I sometimes get weary, people. Bone-tired. Can’t-take-it-anymore tired.

Whoops, I lost myself for a bit there. But there’s this thing that happens when you have small kids. It’s commonly known as “stomach flu,” but annoying know-it-alls will constantly tell you that this scourge has nothing to do with the flu. Thanks, smarty pants. Wanna feel what I’m feeling right now?

Okay, that sounded bitter. It’s just that I’ve had, on average, five friendly stomach viruses per year since becoming a mom. And as someone who loves to eat, I always resent the havoc these episodes wreak on my taste buds. Because for days and even weeks post-sickness, my palate reverts to childhood. All I want are chocolate chip cookies, cheese sandwiches and hot dogs. With the occasional sushi roll. Weird.

Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Brownies

Have you ever had Magic Middle cookies? If not, you are missing out. I’ll be baking some in the next few weeks to share with you. Basically, it’s a chocolate cookie with a peanut butter center. It’s the best thing ever!

Well, along with these brownies. I’m a big fan of putting peanut butter cups in everything, and these are no exception. Except instead of using just mini-cups, I’ve used two sizes. Why not? Sometimes a girl just needs to go that one step too far!