S'more Dip

We have a firepit in our backyard that our kids love to roast S'mores on.  It is a good alternative to dragging them into the woods every weekend to camp and having to listen to my 3 year olds "noises" all night. (I love him.  But not when I have to sleep 1 foot from him.) 

Some days though?  We are even too lazy to gather the wood and light up the firepit.  This snack is great for those times.  Just make sure you have lots of people to share it with, because it is dangerous and it disappears alarmingly fast.

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Cherry Cheesecake Popsicles

Last week I attempted baking some cherry pie filling into a box brownie mix.  The brownies tasted delicious but the texture was all wrong.  All that moisture turned those brownies into more of a heavy cake.  

For a whole week I wondered what to do with the other half a can of that pie filling.  As I was eating a cookie dough popsicle, these cherry cheesecake popsicles hit my brain and I started making them immediately.

In my baking stash I even found some leftover mini graham cracker pie crusts to use.  Cheesecake in any form is a good thing, right?

Please, have a pop.

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Cookie Dough Popsicles

I love to collect dessert cookbooks.  The ones with nice big pictures that leave my mouth hanging open and my brain in a diabetic coma.  In my collection is a book all about cookie dough.  Cookie dough donuts?  It's got them.  Cookie dough marshmallows?  Check.  Cookie dough granola bars, cookie dough S'mores, cookie dough EVERYTHING.  While I certainly haven't tried all the recipes yet, so far this is one of my favorites.

These pops really taste just like cookie dough.  We will make them again and again this summer. The original recipe doesn't call for any heavy cream, so if you don't have that and don't want to buy it, feel free to replace it with milk. One of the best things about these popsicles is that there are no weird ingredients in this recipe so you probably have everything you need to make them in your pantry right now.

If you're interested in the cookbook (which I have absolutely no affiliation with!) you can find it at Amazon.com

Happy Thursday!

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Cinnamon Chip Scones

These sweet biscuits are crumbly and cinnamon-y and delicious.  Cinnamon chips used to be a seasonal item, but my local Walmart still carries them so maybe that has changed.  If you've never tried cinnamon chips, you need to, they are delicious! Find them with the regular chocolate chips on the baking aisle.

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Berry Spritzer

Out here we have a casual soup and salad restaurant called Zupas.  It really is a wonderful place.  It makes salad haters like me love salad.  The 'Nuts about Berries' salad has sweet dressing, fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, and nuts that are roasted in brown sugar and cinnamon.  I mean... even I can eat that kind of a salad.

Every meal comes with a fresh slice of French bread and a chocolate-dipped strawberry.

But my favorite part is the drinks.  Zupas actually has Sprite Zero in their soda fountains.  AND they have a whole bunch of flavored syrups so you can customize drinks to your liking.  This Berry Spritzer is a recipe from the back of a Zupas cup.  I love it so much I bought the syrups to make it at home.

ZERO calories people!!

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Deep Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

 
Reputation is an important thing.  I always hoped to be known as the crazy cat lady who lived with too many animals to be allowed, but it seems my reputation is turning out to be the crazy cupcake lady instead.  I guess I'm fine with that.  I mean, it's better than being known as the lady who dumpster dives for birthday presents, or the lady who secretly has a tail.

The funny part is that I don't even like cupcakes that much.  Give me a cookie over a cupcake any day.

Anyway, these are deep dark chocolate cupcakes with caramel frosting, a caramel drizzle and a pinch of salt on top.  When I first tried one I thought it was just okay.  I had another about 6 hours later once the caramel flavor had really developed in the frosting and it was So.Yummy.  Make these at least a few hours in advance before serving.

The caramel frosting is only going to be as good as the caramel you use, so I highly recommend making your own (It's easy peasy, I promise.  Just follow the link in the recipe below).  If you are pressed for time, or are just really really afraid of caramel, you can use some store-bought caramel topping, but buy something good like Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch Caramel.

Next time I make these I'm going to try a pretzel crust on the bottom like is used for Raspberry Pretzel Jello Salad.

What's your reputation?  Is it what you wish it was?

Enjoy!

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our kids are obsessed with animals.  Like, if we're walking through a parking lot and there is a dog in a car, we have to stop to look at it, and faun over it, and pretend to pet it through the window.  Every.single.time.  And inevitably the owners always walk up while we're peering through their windows and they're all: "Oh hey, Creepy. Get away from my car."

Awk.ward.

And if an animal wanders into our yard there is much hyperventilating and freaking out and attempts to name it, capture it, and keep it for our own.  (Usually sufficiently enough to scare said animals away for life.  Sometimes a good thing.)

For the record we do have pets.

Anyways, want to know what's cool?


When your kids chase a cat around your yard one night, except it turns out to be a skunk.

If you need me, I'll be buying four cases of tomato juice.

Just kidding.  My kids are really fast runners.  The neighborhood just smells like musky burnt rubber bands that have been decaying for a few years.


Also.  Skunk is a weird word.

-------

These cookies are deliciously chewy and kind of addicting. The oatmeal is blended up before adding so you can't detect little oat pieces in these. These also have pecans but you can omit them if you need to.

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Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade

Now that summer has begun,  a pitcher of fresh-squeezed lemonade should pretty much be a staple in any refrigerator.

Just kidding.   Ain't nobody got time fo that.

Around here, the lemonade in my fridge usually consists of Crystal Light or Country Time (we're so refined it hurts), but every now and then I'll find the time & the mental brainpower to make some fresh-squeezed.


Really, it doesn't even compare, does it?


This is Chick Fil A's recipe for lemonade. I made mine diet using splenda, but you can use real sugar if you prefer.  I love this recipe because it doesn't taste like it's diet and you can have as much as you like.

Have a great weekend!

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German Chocolate Brownies

The brownie recipe I posted earlier this week was so good, I just couldn't stop there. I decided to make it again, and this time I topped the brownies with some homemade German Chocolate frosting.

Bestideaever.

Truly, these are incredible.  The sweetness of the frosting cuts the richness of the brownies perfectly and the pecans put these brownies over the top.  These are better brownies by FAR than I have ever purchased at a bakery or restaurant. 


The frosting is delicious on brownies, but it is equally wonderful on dark chocolate cupcakes as well.  Want to make a fantastic German Chocolate cake?  Use this frosting to top a Devil's Food cake.

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Fudgy Homemade Brownies

I think we have discussed before my love of the Betty Crocker red box.  Betty's fudgy brownies always come out perfectly chewy and are only a buck a box.  Add in some chocolate chips and they are pretty close to perfect.

This is the first time I have made homemade brownies that came even close to Betty's chewy brownies.  And these babies blew me out of the water.  They are SO dark and so chocolaty.  Totally worth the effort of homemade brownies vs. the beloved box mix.

Make these now.

Seriously. 

When the chocolate monster is raging inside of you- this is the recipe you need. 

Want to really take these over the top?  Add some german chocolate frosting to make German Chocolate Brownies. 

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Whatchamacallits

Because every now and then you have a peanut butter craving that must be satisfied-

These bars are crispy, rich, and peanut buttery.  The corn syrup makes them a little bit chewy so they have the perfect texture.

And the name?  It's just plain fun to say.

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Blueberry Lemon Spritzer

Let's address the elephant in the room, shall we?  The irony of the word 'elephant' here is hilarious. Summer is almost here, and chances are most of us are going to have to don swimsuits soon, at least every once in awhile.  While I never really stop making desserts, I do try to make some lower calorie options in the summer.  Everyone wants to feel good about themselves at the beach, and with so many fresh fruit options there are just so many yummy things you can make that aren't twelve million calories.

I have a little obsession with Torani syrups.  I probably have 12-15 flavors and I love to experiment with them and mix them in to drinks.

This drink in particular is delicious and it is 40 calories plus blueberries/lemon garnish.

(It's against my religion to count calories in fruit so if you really want to know exact calories, you may have to do a little math.) 

I hope you like these!

Looking for Torani syrups?  World Market has a limited selection.  Here in Utah I usually buy my syrups at Pirate O's in Draper; they have a huge selection!  Lollicup is a great online retailer for anyone living elsewhere.  The syrups are only about $5 at Lollicup and while shipping is $10, it doesn't change, even if you buy 6 bottles (which is a killer deal!).  So if you want to go that route, you might want to order a bunch of flavors, or get some friends to go in on an order with you.  Sugar Free Raspberry is my favorite!

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