Tuesday Treats: Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

I made this as one of our desserts after crabs on Memorial Day.  Another pintrest recipe that will not disappoint!

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup natural peanut butter

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

2 Tbsp skim milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup chocolate chips

10 mini peanut butter cups, quartered

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray 9 X 9 inch baking pan with cooking spray.

2.  In large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder and salt.

3.  In medium bowl, combine peanut butter, butter, milk, vanilla and eggs.

4.  Add peanut butter mixture to dry ingredients, and gently stir until combined.  

5.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Do not over mix.

5.  Spread batter in baking dish.  Top with peanut butter cups.

 6.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.  

7.  Allow to completely cool. Yields 16 blondies.

ENJOY!!!

Popping Away...

I love fruits and veggies as snacks, but sometimes I just need that crunchy salty snack!  Wanting to keep it healthy, I tried out the brown bag popcorn method and LOVED it!  Not only is it healthier, it tastes better and is better for the earth!  

Just think…no more chemicals in your popcorn.  I don't know about you, but I really don't want those partially hydrogenated oils and artificial colors in my snack.  And I really can taste the difference!  You can even reuse the brown paper bag over and over, as there isn't any greasy mess.  

I love to flavor mine by drizzling some olive oil over the popcorn and sprinkling it with Rosemary Salt that I had purchased in South Carolina at The Gourmet Shop.  The rosemary gives it the perfect kick to quench my snack craving!

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Tuesday Treats: Carmelitas

Carmelitas have been running wild on Pintrest, so I thought I must give them a try! 

My best friend had her baby girl, and we all took them dinner and visited the latest addition.  I made these Carmelitas for dessert and also the Best Blueberry Muffins for breakfast.  

I would bake everyday if I got to see this precious baby girl!  She melts my heart!

I was in heaven!  Look how tiiiiny she is!  I never wanted to give her back!

OK, back to the Carmelitas….

Ingredients

32 caramel squares, unwrapped

1/2 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 tsp baking soda

6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1.  Combine caramels and cream in small saucepan over low heat.  Stir until completely smooth and set aside.

2.  In separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda.

 3.  Pat half of oatmeal mixture into 8 X 8 greased pan.  

 4.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  

 5.  Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust.

 6.  Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips.

 7.  Sprinkle remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel.  

 8.  Return to oven and bake for additional 20 minutes.

 9.  Remove from oven and let cool COMPLETELY before cutting…or else this is what you will end up with (I'm very impatient, but it still tasted great!  I let the rest cool in the pan and took the entire pan to the new mommy and daddy to enjoy). 

My "baby" waiting for me at home!

Egg Muffins…Easy as 1,2,3!

Every Sunday I have found myself making these recently to ensure an easy, healthy breakfast during the busy work week.

Ingredients

2 containers of egg beaters/egg whites of your choice

any toppings (I usually do green pepper, spinach, or salsa…this week I chose fresh salsa)

Directions

 1.  Grease a muffin pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Evenly distribute the egg beaters into each muffin cup.

3.  Top with your favorite toppings.

4.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.

 Cool and ENJOY!

Tuesday Treats: Best Blueberry Muffins Ever!

This was tagged on Pintrest as the BEST blueberry muffins and I couldn't agree more!

I made these muffins to take on our trip to NYC for my grandmother's birthday last week.  They went perfect with our mimosas and bloody's!  :)

Ingredients

Jam:

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 tsp sugar

Muffins:

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 1/8 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

4 Tbsp butter, melted and slightly cooled

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1.  To make the jam:  bring 1 cup blueberries and 1 tsp sugar to a simmer in small saucepan.  Cook berries, mashing with back of spoon to break some berries open.  Stir frequently.  

 2.  Mixture will thicken in about 6 minutes.  Cool to room temp for about 10-15 minutes.  

 3.  Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease muffin pan.

4.  Whisk flour, salt and baking powder together in a large bowl.

5.  Whisk sugar and eggs together in medium bowl until mixture is thick, about 1 minute.

 6.  Slowly whisk in butter and oil, then buttermilk and vanilla until combined.

7.  Using rubber spatula, fold egg mixture and remaining blueberries into flour mixture until just combined, be careful not to over mix (there will be lumpy texture). 

 8.  Divide batter between muffin cups.  

(As you can see, I used my silicone muffin cup holders instead of spraying the pan)

9.  Spoon teaspoon of blueberry mixture onto center of each mound of batter. 

10.  Use toothpick to gently swirl the blueberry mixture into batter in a figure-eight motion.

 11.  Bake until muffin tops golden, about 17 to 19 minutes, on the upper- middle rack of oven, rotating muffin tin half way through.

12.  Allow to cool.

ENJOY!!!

Monogram Monday: Jordann Jewelry

Have you heard of Jordann Jewelry?  

When we were down in Palm Beach, shopping in C. Orrico, we came across these cute necklaces.  I know I have written about the gold monogram necklace that my sister and brother-in-law gave me for Christmas (that I wear practically every other day), but this is so different and I haven't seen many out there.  Therefore, I could not resist and after debating all week I HAD to get one! It finally came in last week and I absolutely love it!  

Take a look:

The charm comes in two different sizes, and I opted to go with the smaller one.  

You can also get it in the shape above, but I stuck to the round disc.  According to the chart, the color I chose was "salmon."  It actually is a bit darker of an orange than is shown there as you can see so I can wear to a TN game too!  

See for yourself and check out all their fun creations at Jordann Jewelry!