A Very Bloggy Christmas

Initially I didn't plan to do this, I was just going to start fresh for the new year. But I just don't feel right about letting these wonderful treats go without giving credit and thanks to the bloggers who posted them.

I basically found all of my baking and treat ideas from the blogosphere this year, and while I didn't get to make near as many things as I would have liked, what I did make turned out ah-mazing! Here are some of the reasons my pants no longer fit :)




I absolutely could not go an entire Christmas season without making my all time favorite Christmas cookie, the Peanut Butter Blossom! So quick and easy, and when I say easy, I mean easy to stuff about ten down my throat at once! I know this recipe isn't much of a secret, but I always visit my aunts cookie blog, Sugarbliss for the recipe every year. Thanks Rebecca!




I found this sweet Holiday Chex Mix on Cooking with Cristine. Look at those adorable homemade Santa hats! So simply made by dipping bugles into red or cherry chocolate, and then into white for the trim. This was a pretty and delicious treat to pass out to friends. Thanks Cristine!




When I found these Creme-de-Menthe bars on Joanne's blog, Eats Well with Others, my oven was still broken and I could barely stand to wait to make this. Rich chocolatey brownies, with a creamy, minty, butter cream center, and a shell-like chocolate finish to this brownies from heaven, made for a very happy Teresa. No one else in my family is big into the mint-chocolate combo (crazies!) so I ate half the pan, and the other half is in the freezer just biding their time until I decide to cheat on my New Year's diet. Oh Joanne, how I love these bars!





And last, but certainly not least, Peppermint Thumbprint Cookie Cups from Barbara Bakes. Okay, so I did cheat a bit by just adding kisses instead of "thumbprinting" them, but I guarantee that either way you make them, you'll love them! Thanks so much Barbara!

And thanks to Blogland for providing us with SO many Christmas goodies, stories and heartfelt wishes. Even if I didn't make your treats, rest assured I imagined their smells and tastes and enjoyed a bit of the season with you! Enjoy the rest of your break and Happy New Year!

Key Lime Bars

Any Dexter fans in the house? Gosh I love that show, it's got all the elements I love in entertainment, humor, romance, mystery, serial killers, I can't get enough!

But another thing I like about Dexter is that it's based in Miami, and every once and a while they'll throw bits and pieces in about the culture and the food! One particular episode highlighted the Key Lime Pie and a woman's search to find the perfect one. In it she mentioned that it needed sweetened condensed milk to make it the best. Well, after that I became obsessed, must. make. key lime. pie!


I didn't make an actual pie, but I did find a recipe for some great Key Lime Bars to take to a party. They were delicious, tart, creamy and I do have to agree with the character on Dexter, the sweetened condensed milk did make them great!

Key Lime Bars
Adapted from Recipezaar

Ingredients

5 ounces animal graham crackers
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 pinch table salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 tablespoon grated lime zest, minced
1 pinch table salt
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 large egg yolk
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
3/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut, toasted until golden and crisp (I didn't do this, but I have no doubt it would be delicious!)

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325°.

2. Cut about 12" length extra-wide heavy duty foil; fold cut edges back to form 7 1/2" width. With folded sides facing down, fir foil securely into bottom and up sides of 8" square baking pan, allowing excess to overhang pan sides. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.

3. In work bowl of food processor, pulse graham crackers until broken down, about ten 1 second pulses; process crumbs until evenly fine, about 10 seconds (you should have about 1 1/4 cups crumbs). Add brown sugar and salt; process to combine, ten to twelve 1 second pulses (if large sugar clumps remain, break them apart with fingers). Drizzle butter over crumbs and pulse until crumbs are evenly moistened with butter, about ten 1 second pulses.

4. Press crumbs evenly and firmly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake until deep golden brown, 18-20 minutes. Cool on wire rack while making filling. Do not turn off oven.

5. While crust cools, in medium bowl, stir cream cheese, zest, and salt with rubber spatula until softened, creamy, and thoroughly combined. Add sweetened condensed milk and whisk vigorously until incorporated and no lumps of cream cheese remain; whisk in egg yolk. Add lime juice and whisk gently until incorporated (mixture will thicken slightly).

6. Pour filling into crust; spread to corners and smooth surface with rubber spatula. Bake until set and edges begin to pull away slightly from sides, 15-20 minutes. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Cover with foil and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours.

7. Loosen edges with paring knife and lift bars from baking pan using foil extensions; cut bars into 16 squares. Sprinkle with toasted with toasted coconut and serve. Can refrigerate for up to 2 days, crust will soften slightly. Let refrigerated bars stand at room temperature about 15 minutes before serving.

8.Can make triple citrus bars using 1 1/2 teaspoons each of grated lime zest, lemon zest, and orange zest (mince zest after measuring), and using 6 tbsp lime juice, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tablespoons orange juice.

Chocolate Scotcheroos

A few weeks ago I had to make treats for a large group of children. I found these Scotcheroos on allrecipes.com, and got really excited, because my mom used to make these for us all the time for an after school snack. They just about as quick and easy to make as regular rice crispy treats, but have all the extra flavors of peanut butter, chocolate and butterscotch. They also have a magic power that will force you to eat five or six in one sitting, don't blame yourself, it's not your fault.

If you're looking for an easy, quick treat, give these a try. They're a hit with kids and adults!

Chocolate Scotcheroos
Found in allrecipes.com

Ingredients

1 cup Light Corn Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter 6 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions

1. Cook corn syrup and sugar together in a large pan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter; mix well. Add cereal; stir until evenly coated.

2. Pour into greased 13x9-inch pan and pat into place.

3. Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Spread over cereal.

4. Cool at least 45 minutes, or until firm. Cut into bars.

Peanut Butter Bars, and I'm off!

We absolutely love living in Philadelphia. We've lived here almost a year now and plan to be here for at least three more while my husband goes to dental school. It's so gorgeous here, there's a ton to do, but the one thing that makes it hard is being away from my family. I LOVE my family so much, and I honestly can't get enough of them, so you can imagine how excited I've been knowing that tomorrow I get to see these people!

My mom and dad, aren't they cute!

Me and my little sister, this was taken over Christmas.

It's not my whole family, I still have three younger brothers, a sister-in-law and a nephew, that I would love to see, but I'm so excited to spend time with my sister and parents.

So, the reason I'm telling you this is because I probably won't be around for at least a week. I considered maybe still trying to sneak a blog in here and there, but I just think I'd kick myself if I didn't soak up every moment I could with my family. And hopefully while I'm away, my mom and I will be cooking up some yummy stuff to share when I get back.

So, I thought I'd leave with this little treasure. I LOVE baked goods with peanut butter, it's such a great flavor, and these were no exception. What really tips these bars over the top is the peanut butter drizzle, which adds the perfect amount of sweetness and flavor, and makes these bars taste amazing.

Peanut Butter Bars
Found in Taste of Home Baking Book

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
ICING:
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugars and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Spread into a greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.

2. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Combine icing ingredients; drizzle over top. Cool completely, cut into bars.

Have a great week and I'll see you soon!!