Best Blondies Ever!

        OMG. We are all in shock here at my house. We have been religiously watching American Idol this season, and when Jessica Sanchez almost went home last week, and Colton Dixon went home last night, we were horrified. Those people are the best on the show!! There are people way worse than Colton on that show who are still in it! (cough cough Elise Testone) Tell me what you think about about Idol.

           So I drowned my Idol sorrows into these, the  Best Blondie's Ever!!!! I found these little guys on tasteofhome.com and boy was I glad I did!!!! They are seriously yummy, and are quick and easy for a party.  These are like a moist, chewy chocolate chip cookie in a bar. So stop reading and MAKE THESE THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!


                                                     Best Blondie's Ever!!!
                                   Adapted from tasteofhome.com

Prep: 10 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Yield: 24 Servings

10 20 30

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla just until blended. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to brown sugar mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

  

• Spread into a greased  8 x 8 in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Yield: 2 dozen.

Easter Cupcakes

Happy Easter Everyone!!!

       Have you ever had a pure freak out? When there is soo much going on around you, you just want to scream? That about describes my holiday weekend. Don`t get me wrong, it was awesome, but the prep... totally not!! Relatives coming, cooking the food, organizing, stuffing and hiding for the egg hunt. The list goes on and on.

     But now the weekend is over, and I can kick back, and eat the leftovers of these SUPER CUTE cupcakes I made. They are adapted from the book Hello Cupcake. Love that book. Super easy, and super fun. Since I didn`t have much time to make these, I used the "perfect cake mix cupcakes" recipe from the book. Worked out great!! Gave these little guys fluffiness and the round tops they need for decorating.

Easter Cupcakes

Makes 24 cupcakes

1 Box (18.5 oz.) box cake mix

1 Cup buttermilk (In place for the water called for on the box)

4 Large Eggs (In place for the amount called for on the box)

Vegetable Oil (The amount called for on the box)

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin tin with paper liners.

Follow instructions on the box, using above ingredients in place of their mentioned substitute.

Beat with an electric mixer for 30 seconds until moistened, and then for 2 minutes, or until thick.

Fill cupcakes 2/3 of the way full.

Bake for 12 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Let cool before frosting.

Frosting:

1 can (16 oz.) white frosting.

Green and yellow food coloring

Pastel colored sprinkles

Mini chocolate eggs

I decorated them using the "pull and release" cupcake frosting method, to give them that

"grass" look. This is exactly how it sounds. Take a can of white frosting, and dye half of it light

green, and the other half dark green. I loaded it into the piping bag, striping it (one color on each

side) and simply pulled and released with the piping bag. I decorated them with mini chocolate eggs

(found mine at CVS) and little pastel sprinkles. These are sure to be a hit!

Mimi`s Chocolate Chip Cookies

My mother use to make these cookies for me and my sisters when we were little almost every weekend.. I have memory's of eating these weekend after weekend with neighborhood kids streaking through and grabbing these in search of finding us. Best of all, they are flour less for the allergy folks.





I took up the tradition and made these with my kids this week, of course eating the raw cookie dough.My little girl exclaimed " These are the best things ever!" after grabbing them right off the cooling rack, being the impatient toddler she is. I hope you have the same reaction!

Mimi`s Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Cup Peanut Butter

1 Cup Light Brown Sugar

1 Large Egg Slightly beaten

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

1 Cup Chocolate Chips


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix all ingredients together until just combined

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown


Please tell us what you think!!!