Easy 5-ingredient chocolate graham cracker toffee

Christmas is in two days.  Christmasisintwodays!

Two.days.

I was all set to write a real, borderline-wordy (aka typical) blog about this toffee.  Toffee that I planned to make two weeks ago.  Had I done that and posted it shortly thereafter, you could've made it and included it in your tins of Christmas cookies to family and friends.

However, not surprisingly, I did not make said toffee two weeks ago.  Or even two days ago.  I made it last night.

Gulp.

But it was so easy and so delicious that I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't at least steer you in the right direction to get the (very easy) recipe for yourself so you could wait until the last minute to make toffee, too.

Last minute homemade toffee is better than no toffee at all, right?

Simple, sweet, and sinfully addictive!  Package it in pretty decorative bags, and it also makes a great gift.  Head over to Gimme Some Oven (one of my favorite new-to-me blog discoveries of 2014!) for Ali's recipe.

Friday Five: 20 Thanksgiving recipes!

TGIF!  How was your week?  It was a 5-day-er, but next week is a shorty.  Hooray for that!  It's been a busy one around here since I've been cooking and baking up a (delicious) storm, as well as getting things together for a jam-packed weekend and travel-filled holiday week.  The last home Pitt football game of the season is tomorrow, a baby shower and Friendsgiving party on Sunday, and we're hosting friends for a laidback board game night this evening.  If dinner goes as planned, I'll have another slow cooker recipe coming your way the week after Thanksgiving.

Which.is.less.than.a.week.away.  What!

Speaking of Thanksgiving (who isn't at this point?), I realize it's been a while since I posted on a Friday, so I wanted to make things up to you with an extra special themed Friday Five post.  Like recipes over the past week, this one covers everything but the turkey.  In case you missed it, I made cranberry & lime salsa, rosemary & garlic roasted mushrooms, and pumpkin cupcakes with gingersnap cookie crusts and marshmallow frosting.  All incredible, BTW!

For those of you still looking to complete the turkey day menu, here are my favorite recipes to consider serving family and friends for breakfast, appetizers, sides, and dessert.  Friday 5 x 5 x 5 x 5, if you will.  Enjoy! :)

Breakfasts (all can be made or assembled the night before!)
1. Crock Pot breakfast casserole (gluten-free)
2. Banana muffins
3. Quiche: mushroom cheddar spinach or broccoli cheddar
4. Peanut butter granola - serve with fruit and yogurt for a DIY breakfast
5. Breakfast apple granola crisp

Appetizers
1. Bacon, cheddar & spinach pinwheels
2. Matt's ranch pretzels
3. Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts
4. White bean dip (gluten-free & vegan)
5. Three-layer salsa, guacamole & bean dip (gluten-free & vegan)

Sides
1. Sweet potato biscuits
2. Green bean casserole (from scratch!)
3. Farro salad with butternut squash, cranberries & spinach
4. Peas with pancetta & shallots
5. Easy homemade cranberry sauce

Desserts
1. Sweet potato pie
2. Pumpkin gooey butter bars
3. Apple crumb pie
4. Mini pumpkin whoopie pies
5. Chocolate chip pecan pie

Pumpkin cupcakes with gingersnap crusts & marshmallow frosting

One week from tomorrow, Matt and I will pile into my parents' Jeep and drive to Maryland for Thanksgiving.  I'm so excited!

...to see family, you guys.  Not for food.

(Okay, a little bit excited for the food.)

The number of family members expected at my aunt's house has taken a hit -- make that a big thwack! -- this year, thanks to mid- and cross-country moves and military assignments. While we'll be missing those that can't make the trip (you know who you are!), it will still be fantastic to spend the day laughing, eating, drinking, and playing Catchphrase.

Chocolate chip, pistachio & sea salt cookies

If there's one thing I've learned over the past year or so, it's this: the food cravings of a pregnant woman should be taken very seriously.

At current count, four (four!) of my closest friends are pregnant with their first child.  Moreover, three more of them have a 1-year old, so pregnancy wasn't that long ago.  A few years ago, it seemed like e'erybody and their brother was getting married (I should've taken a picture of our save-the-date collection on the fridge); now it's babies.  On my calendar, there are four due dates in less than four months.  Whew!

Crispy peanut butter chip blondies

Hey, peanut butter lovers of the world!  I've got a doozy of a recipe for you.  Are you ready?  Can you handle it?

The correct answers are Yes and Yes.

There has been ample time to recover from the candy bender of Halloween; it was a whopping five days ago, for Pete's sake!  And, for peanut butter's sake, you'd be mad to deny yourself a cookie so perfect, so heavenly, and so impossibly easy.

For how much I love peanut butter, it's surprising how infrequently I bake with it.  To be honest, it's usually because I can't bear the thought of using half of a jar of our beloved Jif on a dessert that we'll have, at most, two servings each and share the rest.

13 Leftover Halloween candy recipes

Looking for some creative ways to use up any lingering Halloween candy?  You know, if you haven't already gotten rid of the surplus in the form of the office common area dump like my coworkers have.  Not that we need it -- our regular candy dishes are still quite full.  Candy for days and days.  Somebody's gotta finish it, right? :)

At any rate, here are 13 of my favorite recipes for repurposing all the candy into a new treat.  Enjoy!

• Peanut butter candy blossoms

• Giant kitchen sink cookies

• Cashew Crunch Rice Krispie treats

• Crispy Butterfinger cookies
• Nutella Kiss cookies

• Pretzel-bottom Snickers blondies

• Trail mix Rice Krispie treats

• M&M cookies

• Butterfinger caramel bars

• M&M frosting for cupcakes

• Peanut butter cup crunch brownies

• Two ingredient ice cream - add any and all candy you've got!

• Mini chocolate chip cookie sundaes - take some of that ice cream you made and top it with this for a doubly indulgent treat!  Don't limit yourself to just chocolate chips -- any chopped up chocolate candy bars would be delish.

Oreo cream cheese frosting & red velvet cupcakes

Goodness gracious, why didn't I do this sooner?

These cupcakes.  With this frosting!  It tastes like Oreo cheesecake.  How would you like a mini Oreo cheesecake atop a cupcake?

Ruminate on that for a moment while I digress.

(I tend to do that from time to time.  One of these days I'll cut to the chase, I swear.  Unfortunately for you, today is not that day.)

Halloween is just a few days away, which means Baking Season has begun... and I couldn't be happier.  Swimsuits have been stashed until next summer, and cozy wardrobe staples have taken center stage in my closet.

20 Devilishly delicious Halloween treats

I'd planned on having a super cozy and soul-warming soup recipe for you today.  Spoiler alert: There is no soup recipe here.

Over the past week, I've been trying to recreate one of my favorite soups from a local restaurant.  Twice I've attempted, and twice my version of lemon chicken and rice soup has missed the mark.  It was better than okay but not good enough.  I'm not giving up on it, simply taking a break.  Soup for lunch five days in a row, anyone?

Instead of soup, let's talk about dessert!  Halloween is just 10 days out, and I'm making final adjustments to my sweet treats to various parties.  Since I suspect you're doing the same, I decided to crawl through the archives, spiderwebs and all, and pull out some of my favorite dessert recipes for this time of year.  Friends, beware!  These are so tasty it's frightening ;)

P.S. Check back next week for one more pint-sized spooky Halloween treat 

• 3-ingredient Oreo truffles - as if you need another reason to buy Halloween Oreos and festive sprinkles, amIright?

• Black magic brownies - the newest recipe of the bunch that has dethroned my old favorite and become my go-to brownie 

• Black bottom (cheesecake) cupcakes - Creamy and chocolatey together in one bite.  Need I say more?  No, but I will -- a little orange or even green food coloring would make these look so darn cool.

• Carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting - More creaminess in the form of lick-your-lips cream cheese frosting atop a moist orange-flecked carrot cake.

• Chocolate chip cookie cake - This would be great to make for a kids' party.  Have various colors of frosting, sprinkles, and other candies and let them decorate before eating.  The idea may be mine, but I wash my hands clean of any mess that ensues.

• Chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies - Try bats, pumpkins, witches hats... oh my!

• Chocolate marble pound cake - try adding orange food coloring to the "white" batter for a spooky twist!

• Chocolate peanut butter pie - I don't mean to sound like a broken record but, again, orange food coloring would be a great addition, as would a a spiderweb made from drizzled rings of chocolate syrup (click here for the idea).

• Chocolate wafer icebox cake - A cool lighter treat that, yep, you guessed it, would look even cooler with dyed whipped cream.

• Glazed chocolate cake - Sprinkles on chocolate on chocolate.  This cake will tame even the angriest mob.
• M&M frosted chocolate cupcakes -Some might say this is great to use up leftover candy after the holiday, but I know there are never any such leftovers in our kitchen.  So, plan to buy an extra bag and make these, pronto!

• Mini Oreo cheesecakes - My girl (and world traveler!), Angela, is totally to thank for this recipe.  Mini, Oreo, and cheesecake.  All the things!  I've made them multiple times, but the Halloween version is still my favorite.

• Mini pumpkin whoopie pies (gobs) with cream cheese frosting - If the mini Oreo cheesecakes are 1A, these mini pumpkin gobs are 1B on my list of favorite Halloween desserts.  Fun fact: my coworker loves 'em so much, she requests them for her December birthday!

• Pumpkin chocolate chip cake - It may be cake, but this oh-so-fluffy item is for breakfast, too.  Not that any of the other items on this list also wouldn't be fantastic when eaten in the morning, this is just a little more acceptable/justifiable.

• Pumpkin gooey butter cakes - I tend to think of these closer to Thanksgiving because of their pie-like nature, but I think I'm going to buck that trend and make 'em next week.

• Pumpkin spice pudding cookies - Chewy, pumpkin-y, and smell heavenly thanks to all the fall spices.  Can't have just one!

• Pumpkin spice cheesecake brownies - These brownies hold a special place in my heart (and stomach) because they are the first dessert recipe I shared with you almost five years ago.  Equally gorgeous and delicious.

• Red velvet cake pops - Can't even handle how cute these are.  A little time-consuming but so worth it... unless you eat them in multiples of 3 like someone I know.  Ahem.

• Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting - Neither humans nor vampires can resist this classic cocoa cake.

• Triple chocolate mousse cake - Last but certainly not least, this showstopping cake would be perfect for an adult-only soiree since it's intensely chocolate and less sweet than regular chocolate cakes.  Can you say dec-a-dent?

Zingerman's black magic brownies

Until last night, these brownies were my favorite kind of homemade brownie.  Chewy, chocolatey, and oh-so-good.

They taste exactly like brownies made from a boxed mix, without all the funky ingredients and with the added bonus of being homemade.  It seems that the familiar taste and texture of semi-homemade brownies are what the masses desire and love.  You've gotta try them!

And then you've gotta make these black magic brownies.  Because they're my new favorite.

Orange chocolate chip cookies

I love today for so many reasons.

First and foremost, it's my baby sister's birthday!  Jenny turns a not-so-baby 28 (what?!).   It seems like just yesterday that I asked told my parents to bring home a girl from the hospital.  Okay, so maybe I simply created that memory from my parents' frequent retelling of the story.  Regardless of its origins, 28 years later, I'm happy to say I made the right call :)

Today is also my youngest cousin's birthday!  Seventeen years ago, sweet Lauren came into the world and set the bar ridiculously high for Jenny's birthday presents.  I can hardly believe the youngest of my cousins is heading to college next year.  They grow up so fast!

Last, but not least, I've got another chocolate chip cookie recipe to share.  And this one's a doozy - orange chocolate chip cookies!

Banana chocolate chip cookies

I love me some epic desserts, both the baking and the eating.  Mile-high cakes, near 8-pound pies, and ice cream creations the size of Richard Branson's private island sing to me like luxurious leather Frye boots sing to other women. 

Okay, those boots -- specifically, these boots -- happen to sing to me, too.  Such.Beautiful.Boots.  Swoon.

But, as my husband will be the first to point out, sometimes simple is better.  Sometimes, he says, life just calls for chocolate chip cookies.  (Don't you just love that guy?)

Oatmeal raisin cookies may be his new favorite, but he's never met a chocolate chip cookie he didn't love.

French apple cake

In case you didn't know it by now, I'm a big fan of celebrations.

Tell me it's your birthday, and I'll bake you whatever you want.  Just got engaged?  Let's raise a glass of bubbly!  Or, would you look at that, the calendar says that it's the third Tuesday of the month; we should definitely treat ourselves to mini chocolate chip cookie sundaes.

In other words, life is full of victories, big and small, that are all worthy of pep and commemoration and -- if we're being totally honest -- a little sugar.

Today, I'm happy to share the wonderful news that Matt has a new teaching job!!

Tropical carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting

"Just call them good!" instructed my coworker.

I wasn't sure what to call these cupcakes when I delivered them to coworkers and friends.  Naming has never been a strong suit of mine, especially when it comes to short titles that roll off the tongue.  Coughbakingdomesticityandallthingsminicough.

I'm also just a wee bit indecisive, which leads to many feast or famine situations.

For example, I once owned three white cardigans, all of which were purchased in one weekend.  I just happened to like all of them for sightly different reasons (and obviously different occasions) and couldn't make up my mind.

Fast Friday: S'mores Rice Krispie treats

Happy Friday, campers!

Congratulations to you for making it through the work week (hopefully) unscathed.  The week after a holiday always seems a little rough, since I spend the better part of it reminiscing about all the fun we had.  I think workplaces across the country should implement a "vacation recap day" -- on the first day back from holidays and trips, it's acceptable and even expected to rehash stories, share pictures, and catch up on any local news/action the traveler missed.  Someone start a petition for this, okay?  Please and thank you!

Just when we got settled and unpacked, it's time to leave again!  This weekend, we're heading to Reading to visit Matt's family.   It's our annual summer visit.  We'll laugh, we'll play, and we'll probably barbeque every single night.

Easy strawberry cheesecake ice cream - no machine required!

Happy July, friends!

Despite my love for snow, Christmas, and other trademark December happenings, July has always been my most favorite month for so many reasons.

July was and still is the only month guaranteed to be school-free.  Though I haven't been in school for nearly 8 (!) years, I still think of July as part of summer vacation.  So does Mr. Matt the teacher, who is home for most of the day and enjoying a well-deserved break from the classroom.  The only real problem is that I really struggle to find the motivation to go to work, knowing he's home relaxing.  Jealous much?  Just a bit.

Work duties aside, July is also awesome because it's filled with all the fun things a kid/big kid could imagine: Pool time! Vacations! Picnics! Fireworks! River trips!  And...

Mini chocolate chip cookie cup sundaes

It's come to my attention that Matt and I have become creatures of habit.

File this under "Least Surprising Things I've Ever Said."

To be fair, I love our routine.  It brings me comfort and happiness and a welcome sense of familiarity that the rest of the day sometimes usually lacks.  From my morning GMA ritual to Matt's 3:15 phone calls signaling that he's on his way from school to practice, we've learned what it takes for us to be a functional and happy "us."

Peeps doughnuts!

Do you believe in miracles?  If you didn't before, surely you will at the sight of the posters of Peeps doughnuts!

Brightly colored frosted doughnuts with sweet little chicks on top.  Walk Run Hop to Dunkin' Donuts to get some before they're gone.

(Somehow, I think this is one seasonal treat Matt won't oppose.)

What's your favorite springtime/Easter treat?   You know I can't resist Whoppers Robin Eggs, though I do love Peeps, too.

Chocolate chip, pretzel & potato chip cookies

It's become clear that I need to get my priorities in order.  A few recent "discoveries" have caused me question how I made it to the age of 29 living the way I do.

To start, Matt called on his way home from work one night last week and informed me that our car was overdue for inspection.  Three months overdue.

The car is kind of Matt's thing since he's the one driving it 95% of the time.  But it shouldn't have taken that long for one of us to notice.  In fact, I looked at the sticker recently and thought, "Huh, they usually write the date on the inside of the sticker, but this one's blank."  Did I bother to look at the front?  Nope.  Definitely didn't.

Chocolate marbled pound cake

After a major baking fail this weekend, I dug through the archives for a tried and true recipe that was sure to be, well, a sure thing.  What caught my attention was this bold and beautiful pound cake from 2 1/2 years ago.  Equally vanilla as it is chocolate, it's both dense and light and will appeal to all appetites.  Few cakes can get away without the addition of a thick layer of frosting or a scoop of ice cream, yet this one does so while lulling you into a blissful dessert daydream.  Sometimes, what sounded like a call for a new cookie recipe was really a request for an oldie but goodie slice of cake.

Here's the original post and how to make it:

Want to see a gorgeous cake?  Of course you do!  One that's so pretty it needs no icing or other adornments.  Ready?

Though that's just one slice, you can surely imagine what the whole cake looks like.  Need another glimpse?  Of course, I'd be glad to oblige.  I'm a giver, after all!

You'll have to forgive me for not having a picture of the untouched finished cake.  You see, I made it for our wonderful DC hosts this past weekend and didn't want to be toooo obnoxious about food photography.  Even though one of said hosts is, quite possibly, this blog's biggest groupie (thanks!).  If anyone would understand, it'd be her.  So I guess I can't blame my lack of archiving on my friends.

Giant kitchen sink cookies

These cookies... oh, these cookies.  Swoon.  Pitter patter.  Drool.  I have so many people to blame thank for these cookies.

I'd like to thank my coworker.  When we came up with the idea to have a Fat Tuesday party, it was she who requested cookies.  "Giant cookies.  With chocolate," she said.  For her, I baked the biggest cookies I've ever made.