i'd rather be baking

Hi friends! We just returned from a lovely long weekend at home, where we watched my “little” sister graduate from high school. Time flies when you’re having fun, or something like that.

But before we left, I baked some ridiculous cookies. I found this dark chocolate bark with cherries and hazelnuts at Whole Foods, and I really couldn’t leave it there. It was calling me. So I chopped it up and made cookies.

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Early this week I had a brilliant idea for lightening my favorite brownie recipe. I was fairly convinced that a healthier brownie couldn’t be this easy and still taste good, but somehow, it was. I then proceeded to badly strain a muscle in my back and felt extremely grateful to have this snack/dessert/breakfast on hand without having to bake again for a few days. Because I certainly can’t last without goodies in the house. Heaven forbid.

I baked them in cupcake papers, intending for Ryan to take them to work as usual, but these are too good, and so much healthier than the original recipe that I just had to keep them. I froze a few and have happily nibbled on the rest all week.

And the great thing about these cupcake-sized brownies is that they’re already portioned out. And guess what? I cut the butter involved by nearly two-thirds and they’re still rich, delicious, and pretty indulgent-tasting. Can a girl ask for much more than that? I think not.

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In the midst of the cold and snow that was last week, I found myself dreaming of the South. Yes, the South. If you know me at all, you’ll know that this is a little odd.

Yes, I spent a good chunk of my formative years in Arkansas, and yes, my husband spent his entire life there (until recently). I love my friends, family, and the Ozarks as much as the next girl, but really, the South isn’t my favorite. I like the ocean. And winter, generally. You can see how this would be a problem.

But here’s the newsflash: it’s warm in the South. It doesn’t snow there in May. People call you “honey” and “dear” and make ridiculously good food. And what do I think of when I think of all of these things? The fantastic Pioneer Woman.

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As discussed last week, we had ourselves a little bake sale here in the SLC. Which was actually part of a big bake sale for a great cause. I knew I wanted to make cookies for the sale, and that these crowd-pleasers were a must.

Since reading this recipe via Smitten Kitchen a few years ago, I’m proud to say that these cookies have been embraced, drooled over, and baked many times by both sides of our sweet family. Now, how often does one find a recipe like that?

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I know I’ve posted chocolate chip cookies here already, but can one really ever have too many recipes for them? I don’t think so. As with brownies, we’re continually searching for the perfect one around here.

I had a hankering this weekend for cookies with both semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, and my family was coming into town, which seemed like a plenty good enough excuse.

For this particular variety, I decided to go to the masters. I think the Joy of Cooking is as good a source for just about anything as one can find. Seventy some-odd years of cooks and bakers agree with me, so do you really want to argue this one?

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