Better Than Tagalong Bars

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.

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Chocolate-Dipped PB Cookie Dough Ritzies

Chocolate-Dipped PB Cookie Dough Ritzies

I had no idea what to call these. But they’re awesome.

Let me backtrack. After a week of the flu and another week recovering from the flu, I’m still waiting for my appetite and taste buds to return to normal. The flu is evil in so many ways, but I never expected it to alter my eating this dramatically.

Pretty much, I’ve wanted two things since the fever broke: sushi and truffles. When the fever was raging, all I wanted was Coke Slurpees. So basically, any healthy eating habits have gone right out the window.

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Peanut Butter Overload Dip

Peanut Butter Overload Dip

I’ll be honest. I said I was going to post recipes containing cocoa all week, and I really meant to.

But then I realized that New Year’s Eve is tonight, and what better to ring in the year than my favorite combination in all the world? I mean, really. It had to be peanut butter and chocolate.

So cocoa will be back Friday. For now, I’m all about this dip. This fantastic dessert dip is perfect for a New Year’s party and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It’s also easy and it can be made without gluten. So don’t stop yourself this time!

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Peanut Butter Meltaway Cookies

Peanut Butter Meltaway Cookies

Winter break is so exhausting.

Yes, I know I’m lucky to be a teacher with a week off, and no, I’m not exactly complaining. But I maintain that there is absolutely nothing vacation-y about amusing three kids every day for any length of time.

Like today, we hit a play zone. Who doesn’t love a play zone? Bouncy houses, and bouncy slides, and car racing. It sounds great! Except my littlest one (who is in the whopping third percentile compared to all children her age) is too young to bounce. So I wound up carrying her around on my hip for three hours while my older two bounced. And I was so upset, because I really wanted to bounce, too.

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Monster Cookies

Monster Cookies

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.

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Pies In Review

Pies in Review

Tomorrow, Fudge Week begins! I’m teaming up with Gayle from Pumpkin n’ Spice to give you some fantastic fudge recipes. We’re so excited to share with you!

Before that starts, though, I wanted to make sure your holiday pie plans are all set. The week of Thanksgiving I shared four pie recipes with you, but there are so many more that I love. Here’s a review of my favorites!

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Peanut Butter (Reduced) Sugar Cookie Bars

Peanut Butter (Reduced) Sugar Cookie Bars

A few months ago, a reader wrote in to ask if I ever make recipes that are lower in sugar. To be honest, I typically don’t. My dessert approach is extreme, but to clarify, my lifestyle doesn’t reflect what I do on this site.

I love dessert. And so when I enjoy it, which is every day, I enjoy it at its best. But I also do so in moderation. Every recipe on this site gets tested by yours truly, but after those initial bites, the rest goes to other people. Sometimes I eat quite a bit more than a few bites, or something is just too amazing to give away. But I also temper that with lean proteins, veggies, and a daily and extremely rigorous exercise schedule.

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Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Cups

Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Cups

Hang on, kids. This is gonna be one heck of a ride.

Sometimes I don’t have to do any thinking. The wonderful food manufacturers do it for me. And I love them for it!

This past Sunday, I was embroiled in our weekly grocery trip. Translation: I was hoisting my 2 year-old on one hip, dragging my 4 year-old by the hand through the aisles, and snapping at my 6 year-old to stop touching everything he saw. That’s why I prefer to shop alone, but whatever. It’s usually not an option.

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Peanut Butter Intensity Bars

Peanut Butter Intensity Bars

Hey, it’s been almost a week since I’ve posted a PB and chocolate recipe. In my world, that’s one week too long!

There are times when life gets a little intense, friends. This is one of those times. It’s been a rough month, and reading the newspaper really doesn’t help. I don’t understand how people can watch the news before they go to bed. Do they want to have nightmares? Lie awake in their beds imagining worst-case scenarios?

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