Odds N’ Ends

Odds n' Ends

So I know I usually bake stuff and show it to you, and I promise I’ll be doing a little bit of that in this post. But I also wanted to share my mini-vacation with you, because it was just so nice.

Once a year, my parents (who are the most awesome parents in the history of the world) give my husband and me a little chance to get away from it all and recharge. You’d be amazed at what a two-night, two-day vacation can do for exhausted parents!

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Key Lime Pie Bars

Key Lime Pie Bars

Once again, Friday is here and I’m in need of a serious dessert kick! It’s been a really nice week with Cinco de Mayo, my mini-vacation and the weather warming up, so let’s celebrate with some key lime!

I’m all about lime, all year long. But this time of year is special because it’s socially acceptable to like lime in May. In November, not so much. That doesn’t stop me from squirting lime juice onto everything all the time, from salads to fish to salsa. Mmm.

Key lime is even more fun. Those little limes are so cute! They come in a bag and they just look so happy that someone is loving them and using them in dessert. And boy, are they right. I don’t know what I’d do without those little suckers.

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M & M Cookie Bark

M & M Cookie Bark

I’m back from sunny Williamsburg, VA, where my husband and I had a mini-vacation without kids. It was magical. If you’ve never been, you need to go! I’ll be sharing some of my favorite parts of the trip over the coming days. But first I have to share something else with you, and I’m excited.

Oh, my goodness. Hold on to your hats. Because I never realized that bark, one of the best treats ever, could be made in cookie form. Guess what? Epiphany time, people!

I was in the grocery store minus my children (wow, am I ever with them?) the other day, which is known in my world as a vacation. It was so lovely. I was wandering up and down aisles, looking at packaging without having to tune out a baby shrieking in my ear or feeling harassed, when I came upon the Brownie Brittle display. Have you seen that stuff? Basically, there are several different flavors of these thin, crispy brownie pieces. Some of them have chocolate chips, others toffee. It doesn’t really matter. The point is, when you bite in, you taste brownie. And I wanted to do the same thing, but with a cookie instead. So cookie bark was born!

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Margarita Mini-Bundts

Margarita Mini-Bundts

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone! I hope you’re reading this with festive food in front of you. It might be early, but how about a margarita? Honestly, I’m going to have to be careful here. If I don’t watch myself, I’ll wind up writing a 20-page essay about the glory of the margarita and never actually get to the dessert I made.

Because margaritas are just…yeah. I don’t have to explain, do I? They’re nice. Let’s leave it at that. But because it’s still morning where I am, I decided to start the day with these little bundt cakes instead.

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Chocolate Cinnamon Pastry Strips

Chocolate Cinnamon Pastry Strips

Happy Sunday! Days like today are perfect for pastry. Easy pastry for people with little to no time! I’m already having tons of fun, and it’s only eight o’clock!

Ah, cinnamon and chocolate. It’s one of the best and definitely most underrated combinations out there. Have you ever had cinnamon sugar donuts dipped in Mexican hot chocolate? No? Then you’re missing out, buddy!

Years ago, I went to a super-trendy DC restaurant that is now pretty hard to get reservations for. It’s called Komi, and it’s genius. But I digress. They had a dessert that was fairly simple, but the best food in life is that way. They had those cinnamon donuts and the richest, best chocolate sauce to dip them in. I’ve never forgotten, and that experience is the root of my love for cinnamon with chocolate.

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M & M Cookie Dough Fudge Bars

M & M Cookie Dough Fudge Bars

When I was a kid, people didn’t worry about raw cookie dough. So I happily licked the beaters, knowing in my soul that eating batter was the best part of baking anything. But then the dark forces moved in and exposed the dangers of eating cookie dough.

I know a lot of people aren’t afraid. But me, I live in fear. I get nervous around fire and water, I wash my hands obsessively during flu season, and I always wait for the walk sign before crossing the street. Eating raw cookie dough used to be absolutely taboo. Until, of course, everyone realized it was possible to have your dough and eat it, too. Just don’t put in the egg, add condensed milk, and you’re good to go!

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