Mir - Just About Baked

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Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

April 14, 2016
Mir
C is for COOKIE!
14 Comments

We all love chocolate chip cookies. Can we get on board with peanut butter chip cookies?

If people’s reaction to them so far is any indication, then absolutely. I had these on my desk at work wrapped in foil, and someone actually opened the foil (they can see my baked goods coming a mile away) and ate a few. Then others joined in making happy noises. To me, that’s success.

I mean, there are other ways to be successful. But few ways are more rewarding than a chewy chocolate cookie with peanut butter chips inside!

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Triple Threat Brookies

Do you know what a Triple Threat is?

In theater (yes, I used to be a theater nerd), that term refers to someone who can sing, dance and act. They don’t just barely pull it off, either. They can do all three with amazing ease and style. We tend to hate people like that. I kid, I kid.

Consider this bar the triple threat of the cookie bar world. All other bars look at this bar and they’re jealous. You know why? Because we have three things going on here: brownie, cookie, and more cookie. Sandwiched between the layers of brownie and chocolate chip cookie is…Chips Ahoy!

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Ruby Grapefruit Tart

We haven’t talked about grapefruit yet.

I. Love. Grapefruit. I know it must come as a shock that a sugar-addicted fiend like me actually eats fruit, but my diet is reasonably healthy. And I eat half a grapefruit every day.

In fact, I love grapefruit so much that I’ve specifically avoided going on a medication because it would ban grapefruit from my diet with some awful chemical reaction. I can’t do that. Every day I need my fix, and if I bake it into a tart, well, so much the better. This is a tart for the ages! You’re going to love it.

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Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

My son doesn’t eat much of what I bake.

See, he’s a vanilla kid. He loves plain desserts, like sugar cookies. He’ll usually opt for crackers or tortilla chips instead of something sweet. He’s also as blonde and blue-eyed as the day is long, whereas I have extremely dark hair and eyes. So much for dominant genes!

One of the only desserts I make that he’ll eat are peanut butter cookies, the plain kind. No mix-ins allowed. I tried it once with peanut butter cups and he was pretty annoyed. So until he can bake, I’ll keep making the plain cookies. This recipe is pretty old school, and it works great!

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Melted Ice Cream Cake

April 5, 2016
Mir
Let Them Eat Cake, We Scream for Ice Cream!
38 Comments

This one is a total game-changer. Oh, how I love it. Ready, everyone? Here we go!

So I was browsing through one of my oldie but goodie cookbooks a while back, The Cake Doctor. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the author takes cake mixes and turns them into other treats. It’s a great book and I suggest you buy it immediately, if not sooner.

While browsing, I came across this magical recipe. It’s so easy: a box of white cake mix, three eggs, and a pint of ice cream (flavor of your choice) to give the cake its taste. That’s it, folks. I picked coffee ice cream and away we went! Results are right here.

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Oatmeal Fudge Crumb Bars

I’m back! Back from sunny Florida, refreshed and ready to work again.

Well, sort of. I mean, I’m not ready. But this is the closest I’ll be. We can’t spend life on a beach. Or maybe we can’t. I keep wondering if I could change my life and live on a beach. I mean, they need teachers everywhere, don’t they?

While I’m contemplating a change in location, I might as well bake. In fact, it’s one of the things that keeps my life grounded. Whether I stay in colder climes or not, I will always love crumb more than anything. These bars are all about the oatmeal crumb, which sandwiches a layer of fudge. The whole thing gets topped off with M & Ms. Did I say these were happy? Or was that just too obvious?

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No-Butter Fudgy Brownies

My mother is canola oil’s biggest fan.

Years ago, she started championing canola as a healthier alternative for people who need to keep their cholesterol low and their hearts in tip-top shape. She tries to bake with it instead of butter, and to be honest, I’m not usually with her. After all, I make a lot of dessert. Dessert usually requires butter.

But my parents did me a huge favor this past week, so I baked them heart-healthy brownies as a way of saying thank you. And want to hear the best part? You won’t even miss the butter. These are easy, quick, and taste totally decadent.

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Chocolate Chip Sticks

March 29, 2016
Mir
C is for COOKIE!
20 Comments

I didn’t make this one up, but boy, do I love it.

As a baking blogger, I try to invent the majority of the recipes I share with you. After all, part of the joy is in the creation. However, there are times when somebody else’s recipe is just too good not to share, and this is one of those times.

A few weeks ago, we had lunch with friends, and their eight year-old daughter made these chocolate chip sticks. Not only were my kids impressed that someone their age baked a treat all by herself, but they also loved them. I’ve had the recipe sitting around in a cookbook called The Kosher Palette for years, but I need to make them more. These cookies are a cross between biscotti and chocolate chip cookies, and you don’t want to miss out!

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Chocolate Almond Swirl Bread

March 27, 2016
Mir
Bread Basket
24 Comments

Nothing beats fresh bread. Well, maybe some things do. But not much.

Like, I’ve heard that winning the lottery is pretty awesome. But if that happens to you, you’re not supposed to tell anyone or they’ll be trying to bum your winnings. I guess you’re supposed to pretend that the new mansion (complete with pool, personal trainer and stylist) came from a modest amount that a rich uncle left you upon his passing.

Fresh bread is nothing to keep secret. Oh, no. You have to share it liberally, announcing to one and all that you have a fresh loaf to be eaten. Especially a loaf like this one. It’s got a delicious almond chocolate filling, so it bridges the gap between actual food and dessert. I had it for breakfast!

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The Easiest Blondie Base

March 24, 2016
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
18 Comments

Being a social butterfly and all, I get invited places with some degree of frequency. And when I’m attending a party or gathering at someone’s house, it’s pretty likely I’ll be asked to bring dessert.

I guess it makes sense. After all, I’m the dessert girl. But every now and then, could I bring a bottle of tequila instead? Sharing is caring, ya know.

Oh, well. When I’m asked last-minute to bring a dessert somewhere, an old faithful recipe is the one to save me every time. No, I’m not talking about passing off slice and bake as my own, though that’s tempting. I’m talking about an easy bar cookie. These blondies are chewy, thick, easily customized and, most important, fast.