Rolo Cake Mix Bars

Every now and then I disappear from my blog for a week or so. Not because I don't enjoy blogging, but sometimes I just need a break. The past few weeks have been busy, mostly thanks to a new little guy in my life - our rescue puppy, Tucker.

Take 5 Cookies

I hinted to this giveaway a few weeks ago on Facebook and Twitter but I am happy to finally announce that I have this cute little spatula to give away to one lucky reader!

The limited edition "Be a Good Cookie" spatula from OXO was created to raise awareness for Cookies for Kids' Cancer, a charity devoted to raising money for pediatric cancer research through local bake sales. Founded in 2007 by two OXO employees who sadly lost their son to cancer, Cookies for Kids' Cancer has raised 2.5 million dollars for pediatric cancer research.

Ooey Gooey Caramel Pumpkin Blondies

A few weeks ago, the Tasty Kitchen Blog featured these Ooey Gooey Caramel Pumpkin Blondies from Lauren's Latest. I've always loved blondies, my favorite being the Maple Butter Blondie from Applebee's. Blondies are almost like a cookie, but with the texture of a brownie, minus the chocolate. So when I was trying to decide what to bake this weekend I immediately thought of these blondies. And better yet? I had all of the ingredients on hand!

My only complaint with this recipe is that the name is a little misleading. I wouldn't classify these as true blondies, but more of a cake. In fact the pumpkin layer has the same density of a pumpkin bread, soft, light and moist. A blondie is a little more dry and cookie like. The cake almost reminds me of the Pumpkin Nutella Bread I made earlier this fall, with the caramel in place of the nutella. Nonetheless, the cake is perfect for your next fall gathering, whether served alone or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of warm caramel.

For step by step photo instructions head on over to Tasty Kitchen for the recipe: Ooey Gooey Caramel Pumpkin Blondies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

This guest post comes to you from my friend Maggie. Maggie and I were roommates at Elizabethtown College. I had the privilege of being a bridesmaid in her beautiful wedding last year. We share a mutual love of baking and she has quite possibly the biggest sweet tooth of anyone I know. When I started the blog, I immediately went to Maggie and asked her if she would be interesting in writing some guest posts. Maggie and her husband Preston live in Lambertville, NJ.

Back in the summertime, Amber and I took a trip to the mall before heading out to see a Maroon 5 concert (the concert was amazing, by the way). After shopping for awhile, we decided to stop and get a snack at the Nestle Toll House stand. I chose to get a chocolate chip cookie cup. Basically it is a chocolate chip cookie, shaped into a cup and filled with chocolate. A couple of weeks later, my husband and I were on vacation and passed by another Nestle Toll House store. I immediately made him stop so I could get another cookie cup and so he could see what I was raving about it.

Octoberfest Pretzel Caramels

I've been subscribing to Food Network Magazine since they launched their first issue about three years ago. I love the design and layout of the magazine, it's reader friendly and it really showcases the food. Not to mention the recipes are outstanding (I have had a few fails, but the good far out-number the bad). I never threw away an issue, until just this summer when I finally decided to go through the magazines and tear out the recipes I wanted to save and organized them in a binder.

I flipped through the latest issue of the magazine and stumbled upon a recipe for Beer Pretzel Caramels. I've always been intimidated by making homemade caramel. I knew it was easy to burn it and it would require a candy thermometer, which I did not have. However, the list of ingredients was short and I thought it would be the perfect thing to make on a chilly Football Sunday. So I got my butt off the couch after a Baltimore Ravens loss (though I still proudly wore my t-shirt) and went to the store to buy beer and a candy thermometer. I'm sure the cashiers see that purchase every day.

What I'm Loving this Week

Food and otherwise.

1. Have it Confections - About a year ago, I became obsessed with finding the perfect fleur de sel caramel. The idea of salted caramel intrigued me and the perfect combination of sweet and salty seemed relatively unknown to the average consumer. Also obsessed with Etsy at the time, I found Have it Confections, a confection company based out of California. A family business, using natural and organic ingredients, they specialize in unique caramels, marshmallows and now... caramel lollipops! Don't they look amazing? I've personally sampled their fleur de sel, cloud nine and and the mayan chocolate caramels. You can't go wrong with any of them. Be aware when ordering that shipping can take up to 2 weeks depending on where your located because they make the caramel fresh with each order! Check out their Etsy store and order some for yourself!

Photo courtesy of Have it Confections

Caramel Stuffed Peanut Butter & Pretzel Truffles with Candied Bacon

Wow... that's a mouthful of a name. I tried to think of something shorter but it just didn't get the point across. The inspiration for this original recipe comes from two things. My friend Natalie makes the best peanut butter eggs... creamy, light fluffy peanut butter covered in a thick layer of milk chocolate. I've been making her recipe at Easter time for the past few years. During this time I usually consume an entire peanut butter egg with every meal and at least two a day as a snack. It's a good thing I only make them once a year. Natalie's recipe calls for imperial margarine, marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, powdered sugar and Wilbur milk chocolate, made locally in Lititz, PA. I stayed true to the ingredients of Natalie's recipe with one small change - I exchanged the margarine for pure, unadulterated butter. Go big or go home, right?

The second inspiration for this truffle comes from Philadelphia. Marcie Blaine artisinal chocolates is a small chocolate shop located in a home goods store in center-city Philly. I found the shop while on a chocolate tour of the city. That's right, I don't tour cities to see the sites, I just go for the food. The shop created a series of Philadelphia inspired chocolates and the Philly Pretzel was a peanut butter and pretzel truffle covered in dark chocolate. It was small (and cost me $3), but the flavor was rich with the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

Keep Reading after the Jump!