Mir - Just About Baked

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White Chocolate Pistachio Cookies

Okay, kids, I’m gonna keep this one short. I was out late with the girls last night eating really amazing food and I’m worn out. I can’t party like I used to, which is a shame. But at the same time, I don’t really want to be up until two dancing the night away with bruised feet. I’d rather be in bed, snuggled up with my iPad and Netflix bingeing.

Anyway, the idea for these cookies came from a Godiva truffle. They have this summer ice cream parlor line, and the pistachio flavor is so incredible. I could eat way too many at once. They remind me a bit of marzipan, but with white chocolate in the mix. So amazing

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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!

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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!

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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!

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Peanut Butter Oreo Pie

June 20, 2014
Mir
Pie Day
4 Comments

Every now and then, a dessert comes along that is so darn special that you cut all the garbage and get right to the point.

This, my friends, is one of those times.

I was messing around this morning and wound up with this miracle of a pie. This can’t-stop-eating, peanut buttery cookies and cream madness of a pie. And it’s so ridiculously easy to make that I’m smacking myself for all the wasted years!

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Candy Bar Cheesecake

I’m on summer break now. Translation: Camp Mommy has started! We survived day one. My son, forever sick these days, spent the day snoozing at my parents’ house while I had adventures with the girls.

We went to a Mommy and Me at a local outdoor shopping square, and I have to be honest. It was pretty uneventful. There was a stage where a bunch of mothers were singing along to a CD player blaring “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” The rest of the square was littered with local vendors trying to lure us into their stores. That was slightly more appealing, but I couldn’t justify walking into adorable boutiques with breakable items while I was dragging sticky people around.

By the time we got home, I was having a major sugar craving. Luckily, this cheesecake was at the ready in my freezer. I made it a couple of weeks ago, served half of it to guests, ate a couple of slices, and froze the rest. And boy, has it been coming in handy for those hot tired days when you come home ready to collapse!

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Strawberry Cream Pie

It’s Monday morning and I’m a little on the exhausted side. Father’s Day was great, but crazy partying comes at an expense to my beauty sleep.

You see, my husband and I had to have margaritas last night. I knew at the time it wasn’t going to feel good this morning. I knew it. But I went ahead anyway. And I know that my past self isn’t sorry, and my future self won’t be either. But man, my present self is a little ticked off.

On the plus side, we made it through the holiday with a minimum of our usual string of disasters, with the exception of my son getting sick once again. What is it with my child? Does he enjoy curling up on the couch with his stuffed animals and conking out? Actually, that sounds pretty good right about now. Or anytime, really.

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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!

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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!

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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.