Simple Yet Gourmet

Ooey, gooey deliciousness is what these bars are made of! They're basically two layers of a buttery oatmeal cookie sandwiched with loads of caramel and chocolate.  So good, and so rich! They are divine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream but are absolutely dreamy by themselves with a nice cold glass of milk as well.  They cut best when cool, but if you want to just scoop them into your bowl right out of the oven, I won't judge.  In fact, that's what typically happens at our house.  We just can't wait to dig in!  

Fresh, hot French Bread is sooo much better than the store-bought stuff and can be on the table in 90 min!  Instead of being dry and airy, this bread is fluffy and moist.  It's pretty easy as far as yeast breads go and only requires letting it rise for a fraction of the time that some breads do.  This recipe makes 2 loaves so if you only need one, you can use one now and freeze the other one for later. Or just halve the recipe to get one loaf.  

Korean Beef is so flavorful and fast! It's only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for a busy weeknight meal.  The ground beef is seasoned with garlic and ginger, and then simmered with a brown sugar/soy sauce mixture.  If you like a little kick to it you can add a little sriracha sauce, or just leave it out for a sweet and savory flavor.  I like to serve this over rice with a side of broccoli and a little extra soy sauce for drizzling.  

Looking for a fun and easy St. Patricks Day treat? These Not So Thin Mints are an easy and fun treat to whip up.  The crunchy mint chocolate cookie gets dipped in Milk Chocolate Chips and drizzled with melting chocolate.  I absolutely love Mint Chocolate, and I think these are even more delicious than actual Thin Mints, probably because of the Milk Chocolate coating! If the Mint/Chocolate combo isn't your thing though, just leave out the peppermint extract and you'll still have a delicious chocolate cookie. While these were fun to dress up for St. Patricks Day  they are delicious any time of the year.  The green drizzle and sprinkles are completely optional but make them extra festive! 

 Ever since watching the Princess and the Frog I have wanted to try making some “Man catching Beignets” like Tiana makes. I finally got around to it this weekend ( only took me 12 years !) and I'm so glad I did! They are so light and soft they just melt in your mouth. Deliciously crispy on the outside with a hollow inside.  Sprinkled liberally with powdered sugar and drizzle of honey these are just heavenly when eaten warm.  Not all recipes for Beignets call for the honey so you can leave that off if you want. However, I think it makes these extra scrumptious. Bet you can’t eat just one! P.S.  I have an un-official resolution to make more doughnuts this year so hopefully these will be the first of many! 

With their bright rainbow colors and larger size, these Soft and Chewy Colors are not only delicious but very pleasing to the eye as well! All those bright rainbow colors just make me happy, and biting into one makes me even happier.   While they are very similar to chocolate chip cookies, the higher ratio of brown sugar makes these taste a little more of butterscotch and have a chewier texture. These are also larger than normal cookies with 3 TBSP of dough each, making them extra thick and delicious!  The key here is to not over-bake the cookies. The first batch I baked stayed in a bit too long. They were still good, but more fluffy than chewy.  I decreased the time on the second batch, taking them out when the outside looked a little brown but the middle still looked soft and that was just right. They may seem a bit underdone at first but when cooled to room temp. they're perfect! Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and lots of melty chocolate throughout...

Before Winter is officially over, I have to share my favorite Broccoli Cheddar Soup! I have always loved Broccoli Soup- it's so smooth, creamy and cheesy.  Comfort food for sure! Especially with some nice warm bread.  Mmm mmm.  I've tried several recipes throughout the years but knew this one was a keeper when Danny, my then 5 year old, wanted me to warm the leftovers up for breakfast! Haha. Funny kid.  This soup is seriously delicious though.  I love the addition of the carrots- it adds a little something extra in the flavor department and another serving of veggies!  Choose to leave this soup chunky or blend it up after it's cooked. Whatever floats your boat.