chocolate chips - Just About Baked

Better Than Tagalong Bars

Last week, I wrote about food blogging and its attendant challenges. Well, one of the biggest ones came up just a few days ago.

I was reading one of my favorite blogs for peanut butter desserts, Averie Cooks. I’m sure you’re familiar with Averie, but if not, she’s a peanut butter goddess. I own her cookbook, Peanut Butter Comfort, and I like to sit around and drool at her pictures.

Anyway, last Friday she posted these Tagalong bars. And as soon as I saw them, I slapped myself on the head and cursed. Because you see, I had a very similar bar cooling on my kitchen counter.

Samoa Magic Bars

February 27, 2015
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
26 Comments

When in doubt, always follow behavior patterns that have proven successful in the past.

Example: when I’m not sure what to bake, the answer is magic bars, pure and simple. Because no matter how basic a magic bar is, different flavors and combinations abound. And when there are Girl Scout cookies in the world, attention must be paid.

This is my one-year blogiversary, everyone. You’d think I’d be celebrating by popping champagne and downing one of my decadent desserts, and perhaps that will happen, too. At the moment, though, I’m feeling more contemplative than celebratory.

Hidden Treasure Girl Scout Cookies

February 25, 2015
Mir
C is for COOKIE!
20 Comments

Having choices never makes life easier. It just makes life better. Think about it: 40 years ago, women couldn't do so many important jobs because we weren't considered worthy. Gradually, thanks to women's rights and some common sense, the general…

Kit Kat Brownies

February 13, 2015
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
19 Comments

When I was little, my grandmother used to give me Kit Kats to eat when I went over for lunch. Even so, I was pretty surprised when I heard her tell someone that they were my favorite chocolate bar. Say what? Don’t you know me? It’s Reese’s PB cups, then, now, forever.

But my grandmother hated peanut butter. Wouldn’t even keep it in her house. So you can imagine what a disappointment I was. And I kept getting those Kit Kats.

Cappuccino Mousse

You know how people say that chocolate is a great substitute for, you know, human contact? Ahem. Wink.

They need to try this cappuccino mousse. Because if anything will get your dopamine flowing and trigger a happy moment, this is it. Honestly, this mousse is pure wow. And it’s easy.

Fudge-Covered PB Cup Cookie Dough Squares

January 21, 2015
Mir
Bars n' Brownies, C is for COOKIE!, Candyland
28 Comments

Yeah, yeah. There’s been a lot of peanut butter in these here parts recently.

It’s hard to resist always baking your favorite thing. Like when my brother bakes, he chooses lemon-based desserts because that’s his favorite. And when my husband bakes…nope, just kidding. That never happens.

Ganache-Frosted Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

January 16, 2015
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
22 Comments

How many days can you go without a brownie? Because I can last two days. Then it all falls apart.

There are two desserts in this world that I can never say no to. The first is a chocolate chip cookie. I know very few people who can ever resist one. I even love the Costco ones. They’re processed. They’re huge. They’re delicious.

And then, taunting me always, is a perfectly fudgy brownie. You’d think that there aren’t a lot of good ones out there, but man, is that wrong. There are incredible brownies everywhere. It’s kind of encouraging, really. What kind of world would we live in if good brownies weren’t available on every street corner along with Coke Slurpees and Starbucks?

Cinnamon Breakfast Cake

January 5, 2015
Mir
Cakes, Dessert for Breakfast, Gluten-Free Goodness, Let Them Eat Cake
32 Comments

Happy 2015, everybody!

In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been absent. It was totally beyond my control this time. That flu epidemic the CDC declared the other day found its way into my house. I’ve never been so sick in my life. A week down, unable to do anything but moan. And in the process, my blog just kind of stopped.

But now it’s back, and it’s a new year! Don’t expect me to go with the trend here and start posting healthy recipes. I have very strong feelings about resolutions this time of year. It’s not that I don’t believe in making healthy decisions, but doing it on January 1st is just plain odd. Why would you want to? That date seems to have an alarming failure rate.

Holiday Leftover Bars

December 26, 2014
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
4 Comments

Well, it’s Friday, and the Big Day is over.

You might have noticed that I didn’t really write a lot about Christmas, other than fact that the religion I belong to doesn’t do that holiday. Nope, I don’t have a tree. But I love baking for others during the holiday season even more. It’s such a great time for cookies and cheer!

Monster Cookies

December 22, 2014
Mir
C is for COOKIE!
16 Comments

Folks, I just threw a heckuva party.

Adam Sandler wasn’t kidding when he called Chanukah “eight crazy nights.” And last night, I had all of our relatives (and believe me, there are a ton of them) over for our annual family party. And it was so much fun. But I think I’m going to be recovering for at least a week.

For one thing, children were literally pouring out of every floorboard in my house. When did I get so lucky? I have my own brood, and then some super-delightful nieces and nephews, cousins…they’re everywhere. And all but one range in age between 7 and 2. At one point, I actually saw a latke plastered to the ceiling. Kids in college don’t get this wild.