Peanut Butter Chia Seed Cookies

Let me introduce you to my newest little friends - chia seeds. And because I know you're wondering, yes, chia as in the pet. Not only can these little seeds grow a lush head of green hair, but they also are considered a superfood, high in fiber, protein and omega-3s. One of the most versatile seeds of its kind, chia seeds can be used in baked goods, drinks or puddings or used to add a crunch to salads. When added to liquids, chia seeds can expand to 10x their size and have a gelatinous texture, almost like tapioca. Since they're said to be most nutritious in their gel form, I've been adding chia seeds to my greek yogurt for some added nutrition, or to a class of orange juice.

Chocolate Raspberry Chip Sixlet Cookies

It's really hard for me to resist buying baking supplies, especially when I find specialty items. I have drawers full of specialty chocolate chips, candies, flours and extracts. When I came across these raspberry flavored chocolate chips at an Amish market, I knew I had to have them. They look just like regular chocolate chips but pack a punch of sweet raspberry flavor. I knew they would be the perfect addition to a dark chocolate cookie.

Iced Coconut Sugar Cookies

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It's Fat Tuesday and though I don't have fastnachts, I have a big fat cookie to help you get through the day. Traditionally, Fat Tuesday is the day to get the lard and fat out of the house before lent. I used all my shortening to make these, so the tradition lives on in my house (if you don't count the chocolate, girl scout cookies, ice cream and copious amounts of butter I have lying around). These big fat sugar cookies are laced with sweet shredded coconut and topped with a light fluffy frosting. Think Lofthouse sugar cookie meets coconut macaroon.

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.

Rainbow Blondies

Yesterday I had one mission: To finally bake those Giant Rainbow cookies made famous by Jessica at How Sweet it Is. I've had a giant bag of M&Ms in my pantry for weeks. I knew if I didn't make the cookies soon, I'd devour the entire bag of M&Ms in front of the TV while watching an all day marathon of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I know, I know, I just wrote my last post about how busy I am, but I always find time for the important things in life - like trashy television.

What I'm Loving This Week

Food and otherwise.

1. Owl Cookie Jar - I spotted this adorable cookie jar in a gift shop last weekend. I mentioned in my last "What I'm Loving this Week" post that I have a soft spot for animal shaped kitchen gadgets, so of course this guy stole my heart. His $50 pricetag though, was a bit much. Knowing I had to have him in some form, I opted instead for his $10 salt and pepper shaker counterparts. So for now, the cookie jar is still on my wish list (hint hint to anyone who wants to buy me an early Christmas present). Mark my word, one day my tiny salt and pepper shakers will have a momma owl cookie jar.

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Cookies

I first heard of White Chocolate Wonderful peanut butter by Peanut Butter & Co. by reading other food blogs. This is usually how I find out about fun food products. I searched high and low at my local grocery stores but was only able to find their Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter. On a trip to Baltimore a few weekends ago, I stumbled into a Whole Foods (we don't have these where I'm from), and found myself in the peanut butter aisle. I couldn't believe my eyes... there it was, White Chocolate Wonderful. It was almost as if I was staring at a pink sparkly unicorn basking under a rainbow with a leprechaun and the Easter Bunny. Even more astonishing? It was only $4.99! I know most of you are reading this saying, "who pays $4.99 for peanut butter?" Well, a girl who clearly has no conscience when it comes to finances. Plus, I paid close to $6 for the Dark Chocolate Dreams at my local grocery store, so this seemed like a steal. I snatched up a jar and ran to the checkout counter like I had just won the lottery.

I knew exactly what to do with the peanut butter. After eating half the jar by the spoonful (don't worry, I didn't double dip, I just went through about 10 spoons), I saved the other half for these cookies... White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies. As I was mixing them I had an even better idea... banana! Spying the ripe bananas across the kitchen, I grabbed one and threw it in the mixer (I peeled it first, of course), all the while my mom was watching me wondering how and when she had given birth to such a crazed lunatic. I assured her the banana was for the best. And why stop there? Next, I threw in some cinnamon. Again, my mom shook her head and thought for sure I had just ruined a batch of perfectly good cookies. Wrong. So, wrong.