December Bakin' Friends

 

Our secret ingredient for December was peppermint which just screams "the holidays."  And my Bakin' Friend for this month, Dawn Perkowski, did not disappoint!

WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT TRUFFLES!!!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the box!  They looked so perfect!  Plus, she added a few other flavors she had made:  Oreo cookie truffles, gingerbread Oreo truffles and chocolate/orange truffles.  I had never heard of gingerbread Oreos but boy, do they make a delicious truffle!  I'll be on the lookout for those next year!

I cut one of the peppermint truffles in half - so smooth and creamy.  And beyond delicious, these things melt in your mouth.  And I should know, I've already had a few . . .

Dawn included the recipe on a very pretty and festive recipe card.

 

Sorry about that last photo :)

Dawn, thank you so much for these amazing truffles!  Your recipe will definitely be at the top of my holiday baking list next year.  Happy New Year to you!

If you would like to join our group of Bakin' Friends, please go to http://www.stephsbitebybite.com/bakin-friends/ for more information.

Peppermint Crunch Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I came across The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap on Facebook while attending CookieCon in Salt Lake City last month.  I made sure to save all the information so I could enter my name and blog as soon as I got home.  You see, I love to bake and I love homemade cookies so I thought what a great way to get three different kinds of delicious cookies in exchange for doing something I truly love?  A definite win-win situation!

Once I was confirmed as a cookie swap participant, I knew right away what kind of cookies I would make.  Is there anything better than homemade chocolate chip cookies???  I think not.  And I have always loved peppermint bark.  When I first started making these cookies, I would buy a tin of bark at Trader Joe's, chop it up and add it to the cookie dough.  Then I discovered Andes baking chips, put 2+2 together and have been using them ever since!

PEPPERMINT CRUNCH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs

1 - 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 - 10 oz. package Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.  Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Slowly beat in vanilla extract, then add eggs, one at a time, until combined.  Add 1/2 of flour mixture, mixing until just combined.  Add remaining flour and mix until incorporated.  Slowly mix in chocolate chips and Andes baking chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoon (about 3 inches apart) onto parchment lined OR ungreased baking sheets (I used a tablespoon cookie scoop).  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown, rotating baking sheets half way through baking time.  Cool on pans for 5 minutes then remove to wire racks and cool completely.  Makes approximately 5 dozen.  Enjoy!


I am entering this recipe for Peppermint Crunch Chocolate Chip Cookies in the Creative Holiday Recipe Contest hosted by Confessions of a Cookbook Queen and Cookies and Cups!

November Bakin' Friends

I can't believe it's the end of November - maybe that's because Thanksgiving was early this year.  When my package from my Bakin' Friend Alex Wu arrived this month, I was battling what I thought was the flu.  Fever, chills, you name it.  Fortunately, my mother was able to go to the post office and retrieve the package for me.  I had a rare burst of energy and mustered up enough strength to at least get the box open!

WOW!  Did my eyes ever light up when I saw what was inside!  I felt better already!

CRANBERRY OATMEAL WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS!!!

These bars are beyond good - so buttery, so brown sugary with tangy cranberries and sweet white chocolate chips - a wonderful combination of fall flavors.  And as you can see below, the bars are crammed with chips and crans!

The package contained more bars than shown in the first picture.  Since my mom was with me when I opened the package, I had to share.  She loved them too.  Like her daughter, my mother loves all things containing butter and brown sugar.  And adding the oats makes it a healthy treat :)  I'll confess to grabbing one or two on my way out the door to work the last few mornings!

Not only did Alex include the recipe, she also enclosed a sweet note in the package.  Thank you Alex for these delicious bars!  I love them and plan to make some to give as holiday gifts to a few lucky recipients!

Here's the recipe:

CRANBERRY OATMEAL WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS

1 cup softened butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grease 9x13" pan.  In your mixer, cream together butter, sugars, egg and vanilla.  Next add flour, salt and baking soda.  Mix until just combined.  Add the oats and mix in completely.  Stir in cranberries and white chips.

Press dough into pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.  Allow to cool and then cut into bars.


If you would like to join our group of Bakin' Friends, please go to http://www.stephsbitebybite.com/bakin-friends/ for more information.

October Bakin' Friends!

October has flown by and it's time for another Bakin' Friends post!  This month I received a yummilicious package from Dawn Perkowski, my October Bakin' Friend.  The secret ingredient for October was pumpkin and I couldn't wait to see what she would be sending me.  I was actually home when her package arrived and I doubt my mail carrier has seen a happier person answer their door when receiving something in the mail!

I immediately opened the package and came upon this adorable box

PUMPKIN BUTTERSCOTCH BLONDIES!!!

But I must confess, when I took the pictures of the cute red and white polka dot box, I had already eaten a few of the bars :)  They are DELISH!!  Especially with a nice cup of hot tea.

Dawn carefully wrapped each bar individually and this time, I actually summoned my elusive self control and only ate one bar at each tea break.  I just won't say how many tea breaks I take during the day :)  She used vanilla chips in my bars but assured me they are just as good with butterscotch.  She included a very sweet note and a recipe card so I can share the recipe with my friends and family.

  They are so moist and pumpkin-y, perfect for the fall season.

I could totally see these on a Thanksgiving buffet or as a hostess gift if you are lucky enough to be a guest at someone's house on turkey day.

Dawn said she got the recipe from The Baker Chick.  Here's a link to the recipe: http://www.the-baker-chick.com/2012/10/pumpkin-butterscotch-blondies.html

I highly recommend these bars for any occasion.  They will definitely satisfy any pumpkin cravings you may have.  In fact, make a batch and keep them in your freezer.  Then you'll never have to go without!

Dawn, thank you so much for these delicious bars!

If you would like to join our group of Bakin' Friends, please go to http://www.stephsbitebybite.com/bakin-friends/ for more information. 

September Bakin' Friends!

 

It's the end of another month and time to post what I received from my September Bakin' Friend.  Where does the time go???

I received a notice from the mail carrier saying there was a package for me being held at the post office.  So when I went to retrieve it, what a pleasant surprise when the clerk came out with an extra package for me!  I couldn't wait to get home so I could see what my September Bakin' Friend, Mary Gales, had sent!

Such pretty packaging.  And look what was inside!

BACON PRALINES!!!

And look how they are in individual cello bags tied with twine.  Each praline was sitting on its own cute little doily.  Uh oh, the portion control fairy is whispering in my ear again.  Well, whisper away because when I'm getting acquainted with a box of pralines, I throw all caution to the wind!

If this didn't connect me to my Southern roots (my grandmother was from Mississippi), I don't know what could.  The combination of a ONE POUND BOX of brown sugar, a cup of whipping cream and a smidgen of corn syrup heated together then the addition of butter, pecans and chopped BACON - I felt like my Nana was right there with me as I savored the first one!  Here's the recipe card she sent me:

 

She also sent me a recipe for another form of bacon-y and brown sugar goodness - the kind you bake in the oven.  I like to call it BACON CANDY.  See?

Mmm mmm.

These pralines are the real thing.  So delicious, so Southern, so "laissez les bon temps rouler!"

Going . . .

Going . . .

Gone!

Thank you so much Mary for the delicious pralines!  I saved one for my Mom so she could take a tasty trip back to Mississippi too!

If you would like to join our group of Bakin' Friends, please go to http://www.stephsbitebybite.com/bakin-friends/ for more information.

I can't wait to see what the secret ingredient will be for October.  Candy corn??  Hmm . . .

August Bakin' Friends!

It's the end of another month and time to post what I received from my September Bakin' Friend.  Where does the time go???

I received a notice from the mail carrier saying there was a package for me being held at the post office.  So when I went to retrieve it, what a pleasant surprise when the clerk came out with an extra package for me!  I couldn't wait to get home so I could see what my September Bakin' Friend, Mary Gales, had sent!

Such pretty packaging.  And look what was inside!

BACON PRALINES!!!

And look how they are in individual cello bags tied with twine.  Each praline was sitting on its own cute little doily.  Uh oh, the portion control fairy is whispering in my ear again.  Well, whisper away because when I'm getting acquainted with a box of pralines, I throw all caution to the wind!

If this didn't connect me to my Southern roots (my grandmother was from Mississippi), I don't know what could.  The combination of a ONE POUND BOX of brown sugar, a cup of whipping cream and a smidgen of corn syrup heated together then the addition of butter, pecans and chopped BACON - I felt like my Nana was right there with me as I savored the first one!  Here's the recipe card she sent me:

 

She also sent me a recipe for another form of bacon-y and brown sugar goodness - the kind you bake in the oven.  I like to call it BACON CANDY.  See?

Mmm mmm.

These pralines are the real thing.  So delicious, so Southern, so "laissez les bon temps rouler!"

Going . . .

Going . . .

Gone!

Thank you so much Mary for the delicious pralines!  I saved one for my Mom so she could take a tasty trip back to Mississippi too!

If you would like to join our group of Bakin' Friends, please go to http://www.stephsbitebybite.com/bakin-friends/ for more information.

I can't wait to see what the secret ingredient will be for October.  Candy corn??  Hmm . . .

July Bakin' Friends!

 

I'm a member of "Bakin' Friends" - we're a group of women who love to bake!  Each month we are paired with another baker in the group and bake up something sweet for them containing a "secret ingredient."  We then send our baked goodies to our "friend of the month" for their enjoyment.  And at the end of the month, we post about the yummy treat we received from our Bakin' Friend.  July was our first pairing and the secret ingredient was BACON!  I was so excited when the package from my Bakin' Friend arrived!

I proceeded to rip it open and there I discovered a beautiful thing.  Peanut Butter Oatmeal Candied Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies!  Score!  All the things I love in a cookie and more!  Kristin Frisina, my Bakin' Friend, had nailed the secret ingredient.  Candied Bacon.  I quickly opened the packaging and proceeded to eat at least 3 cookies, probably more :)

She also included a very sweet note with the cookies. 

Mmmm . . . Bacon coated in brown sugar and quickly zapped in the microwave.  It's like candy.  Then it's cooled, chopped and added to the bowl of cookie dough love.  Sweet and salty.  What a delicious combination!

My breakfast yesterday morning:

Candied bacon, peanut butter, oats and chocolate, it's all there.  What a perfect way to start the day.  My stash is almost gone so I guess I'd better get bakin'!

Kristin, thank you so much for the yummy cookies!

If anyone would like the recipe for these delicious cookies, please email me at annescookies@ymail.com - I'll be happy to share it with you!