brownie slut

I'm pretty sure everyone has heard about slutty brownies by now. Cookie dough on the bottom, a layer of Oreos, covered by moist chocolatey brownie mix and baked in the oven. For some reason I'd never tried to make them before, and I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about.

I decided not to do the Oreos, as it seemed like it would be a bit overkill, and also would have left me with half a package of Oreos laying around which I would have inevitably devoured, and since it was practically a guarantee that I would be eating most of the cookie dough before it ever made it's way into the bars, it seemed like a good move.

So my brownies were more promiscuous than slutty. But they were still delicious. They literally took 5 minutes to throw together (20 if you add in the time to eat cookie dough until you are feeling ill, before you proceed with the baking) and then 45 minutes of bake time.

If you are feeling super ambitious you could make your own cookie dough and brownie mix and then combine them, but I used store bought. It is definitely a lazy man's dessert, but it's a bit more special than just making cookies, or just brownies to a potluck, and they are really delicious.

Derek was calling me brownie slut the whole night after I made them, but you can't have everything in life.

It came like that, I swear

I don't know why I always want to bake when I'm wearing white

I burnt my mouth trying it right when it came out of the oven, but worth it

Yum

temptation.

My first year living in Hawaii, I was introduced to the South Shore Grill by my boyfriend at the time. The relationship didn't last, but SSG and I have been an item ever since. One of the best things they have there (although everything is delicious) are their desserts, especially their peanut butter temptations.

Now that I'm not living on the island, I don't get these delicious treats every week, and it's quite sad. When I went back to Hawaii in January we took my mom to SSG so that she too might know the joys that are peanut butter temptations. I'd never even thought about trying to make them myself, since I couldn't fathom the wizardry that would be necessary to get the Reece's into the cookies without baking them into a melty disaster.

My mother took one look at the cookies and declared "They probably just push the peanut butter cups in right when they come out of the oven." I'm pretty sure that's why we have parents, for exactly such moments as those.

I was able to find a recipe, and made them last week and they were amazingly delicious, and so simple to make (literally 15 minutes from when I started to when I took the first bite) that I was kind of embarrassed I'd never thought to make them before.

basic peanut butter cookies in a mini muffin tin, bake about 8 minutes

push in peanut butter cups once they come out of the oven

One final tip is to make these on a night when you are home alone, so you don't have to share with your husband. Not that that's what I did. I would never do something like that, especially knowing how much Derek adores these cookies. Obviously.

rainy Sunday

Last week was very long and tiring, so I had big exciting plans for this weekend. Relaxing, shopping, brunch with bottomless mimosas and enjoying the sunshine at the Flea Market were pretty much the only items on my list, but sadly, this was the stormiest, most miserable weekend we've had since moving to California, and it pretty much ruined every single plan I had.
 

Luckily I was still able to spend a lot of time with that one guy, we see each other all the time but lately it feels like we haven't really been spending much time together (I blame you, Homeland) so it was great to really relax and just hang out together.

We went out for supper for my father-in-laws birthday and I got to wear my new booties, aka the reason I get out of bed in the morning.

I made Fiddle Diddles, watched movies and battled the crowds at the mall for 4 hours to finish my Christmas shopping, and I did not buy anything. Not one. Single. Thing. So it looks like everyone is getting hugs for Christmas (again).
 

We also found out that we are getting a new niece in April! My brother-in-law and his girlfriend are expecting a baby, and they had a gender reveal party on Saturday night. I had a dream it was going to be a girl so I wasn't surprised, but I am excited to buy every tutu that's ever been made. And maybe a Sharks jersey, just for balance.

 

hocus pocus

Since I flat out refuse to watch scary movies ever since the time I was dragged into the midnight showing of Hostel and found myself sitting with a stranger's jacket over my head crying for two straight hours, I've had to make my own Halloween traditions. 

Halloween is not complete for me until I've dressed in a ridiculous costume, carved my pumpkin, watched Hocus Pocus, made molasses cookies and OD'd on Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and Kit Kats to the point of sugar coma or vomiting.

I was able to knock out the first one on Saturday, and the second and third last night. After spending much of the day on the internet searching for a legendary pumpkin design idea that would proclaim me uncontested winner of our annual carving contest, I managed to once again turn out a pumpkin that looks exactly the same as my pumpkin from the year before, and also the year before that.

Can you

guess which

pumpkin is

mine?

As Halloween is tomorrow, I had to make these cookies tonight while simultaneously dying my hair, cooking supper and doing laundry, and without my rolling pin which has inexplicably disappeared, which will nicely free my day up tomorrow for mainlining chocolate like the unapologetic addict that I am.

Happy Halloween!