Big Fat Chewy Triple Chocolate Cookies {Peanut Butter Triple Chocolate version included}

Because I bake a lot, I don't repeat recipes very often.  This Bakery Cookie recipe however, is one that I make over and over again.  It is my go-to cookie because it has the perfect taste and the perfect texture. The cookies are huge and substantial, chewy and chocolatey.

Lately I've started playing with the recipe and adapting it to different flavors.  I haven't nailed a peanut butter oatmeal version yet, but this Triple Chocolate cookie is perfect!  Add peanut butter chips for a Peanut Butter Chocolate version that will knock you over it's so good.

Cookies are absolutely my weakness, how about you?

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Gooey Cinnamon Rolls {Breadmaker}

I have never been a great cinnamon roll maker.  I go a little crazy with the flour so they tend to come out too dry for my tastes.  This time I used a breadmaker to knead my dough, which kept me from adding too much flour and they came out perfectly!  If you have a breadmaker I highly recommend using it. I swear washing the breadpan by hand really isn't that bad.

(I wouldn't actually know because mine is still sitting in the sink from last week.  Ahem.)

Sweet rolls do not keep well, so if you can't polish off an entire pan, you can freeze the dough once you have cut it in slices  (Just place the slices on a cookie sheet.  Freeze completely.  Then throw them all in a ziploc freezer bag.)  Every time you want a cinnamon roll, just pull one of the frozen slices out.  Allow it to thaw and rise until doubled in size.  Then bake!)

You know you want a fresh cinnamon roll every day of your life.

This dough recipe would work well for orange rolls as well.

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Banana Split Popsicles

I am camera shy. 

Come within 15 feet of me with a camera and I will probably drop-kick you or otherwise incapacitate most of your limbs.

It's not you, its me. 

Some of us just aren't meant to be captured on film.

These pops have that problem.  They're not super photogenic but they are so pretty in real life, so don't judge them too harshly. 

You're not tired of pops yet, are you?

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Fresh Citrus Fresca

I have another zero calorie drink for you today.  I'd be hard pressed to call this a recipe, but adding some fresh orange slices and orange juice puts a whole new twist on Fresca.

Try it out sometime!

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Cookies N Cream Popsicles

 

I haven't been posting much lately because life has been so. flippin. busy.  With the kiddos out of school the days just fly by.  I spent last week camping in the mountains with the youth from my church and learned a few lessons.

First of all, teenage girls are hilarious.   Seriously.  Hil.Ar.i.ous.  Teenage girls usually get a bad rap for being catty and judgmental but in actuality they have great hearts and wicked senses of humor to boot.  Watching teenage girls is a comedy routine in itself.  Sucking down vinegar packets, popping bubblegum all over their faces, putting toothpaste on their noses to attract Snipes... I probably need to adopt a teenage girl just for the daily ab workout.  I have no idea how their minds work.  I really don't.  But they are always entertaining in a "What the crap is going on??"  sort of way.

Second of all, teenage girls have a ridiculous amount of energy.  I like to pretend that I am still young and energetic but this trip reminded me that I am in fact, old.  Teenagers can stay up all night and not act like zombies the next day.  Ok, actually some of them act like zombies. I brought my kids' very realistic, and very hairy, Halloween rat, up to camp with the intention of placing it in strategic places to scare the pants off of some of my girls.   I was so tired I completely forgot about that darn rat!  Wherever these girls get their energy from, I need some of it.

Also, teenage girls eat.  A lot.  It was insanely hot when we were up there and I so wished we could have had some popsicles.  These ones would have done it.  Actually any ones would have done it.  Also a swimming pool full of ice cubes, if we're not being picky.

I had a great time up there with those cute girls but I was not at all sad to come home to my nice soft bed and a hot bubble bath.


On to popsicles?


I love the sound of Cookies N Cream 'popsicles' but let's be honest, there's cream in these so really they're just ice cream bars.

I won't tell if you don't.

I'm hoping to be back posting regularly, now that the crazy bits of my summer are winding down.  I have missed posting but I certainly haven't slowed down in the baking department.  I have lots to share with you.

Have a popsicle and enjoy your weekend!

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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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