Old School Nutty Brownies

Old School Nutty Brownies

My dad loves snacking on nuts.

When I was growing up, I got used to the sight of him sitting down at the kitchen with a bowl of shelled nuts and a nutcracker. He’d crack away, and I’d sit next to him and crack an almond here or there, since they were my favorite. Every now and then, he’d crack a walnut and I’d be in awe, since those are really tough to manage.

Well, my dad still snacks on nuts, and he also likes them in his baked goods. When given the choice between chocolate chips or nuts, he’ll go nuts all the way. But I say, why choose? So these brownies are full of both chopped walnuts and chocolate chips. Hello, old school brownies!

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Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies (GF)

Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies (GF)

Do you ever buy new items at the grocery store without a clear idea of what you’ll do with them? It’s just that, you know, you’ll need them later?

Because I do that all the time. Several months ago, I saw a gluten-free version of Pillsbury’s funfetti cake mix on the shelves, and I knew I had to buy it. After all, Kenny is a funfetti addict, but he also eats a primarily GF diet. My original plan was to go home, bake him the cake and be done with it.

But you know, I’m a baking blogger. What does that mean? I have fun with mixes! So instead of just baking the cake, I let the mix alone for a while to brainstorm ideas. Finally, these cookies came to light. And they’re great!

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Double Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread

Double Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread

It’s 100 degrees out and we’re trapped in the house. Who wants to turn the oven on?

Well, I do. I know, I know. No-bake treats are all the rage this time of year, but heck, I like to bake. A baker’s gonna bake. That’s how it goes. That’s why somebody smart invented air conditioning.

Every weekend, I find myself staring at tired bananas. They call to me, and sometimes I ignore them. That’s usually when I’m just as tired as they are. But sometimes I cut them up and freeze them for smoothies that I never really make, and that’s an effort right there. But if I’m feeling really energetic and serious, I’ll bake them into something. And this double chocolate chunk banana bread is probably one of the best ways ever to use those bananas!

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Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Cups

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Cups

Oh, weekend. I’ve been waiting for you.

One day a week, the possibility of sleeping in until 6 looms. It’s so lovely. On Friday nights I snuggle into bed with the knowledge that I can just loaf in the mornings. Well, no. But I can be dragged out of bed by a child, go downstairs, sit on the couch, and hope that nobody wants to play with me so that I can read my book in peace.

Another special thing about weekends? Good snacking options! While I’ve always been a big fan of peanut butter blossom cookies, I’m not as into how they need to be made with shortening to prevent spreading. I don’t like shortening much. So instead, I put them into cookie cups, and that works just fine!

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Rocky Road Fudge

Rocky Road Fudge

Summer is fudge season! Didn’t you know?

Well, you might not realize that if you don’t live near an east coast beach town. For those of us who are in the know about boardwalk treats, we get the joy of candy shops with thick slabs of fudge for sale everywhere. It can’t be beat!

I’m not due to hit the beach for another month or so, and I could just throw up my hands in despair and decide to wait. Or I could make this rocky road fudge, which takes about five minutes to put together and tastes oh so beachy!

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Cinnamon Caramel Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Cinnamon Caramel Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Happy National Ice Cream Day! It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

For a special day like this, I couldn’t just make any ice cream. No, siree. I had to really stretch my creative boundaries and think of a flavor that I wish someone would just go ahead and invent already. And you know what? Jackpot!

This is probably my favorite ice cream that I’ve made, and I’ve made a lot of winners. The base is creamy cinnamon with the best mix-ins in the world: cinnamon chips, chocolate chunks, and Rolos! Prepare to swoon.

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