Showing posts with label eat more cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eat more cookies. Show all posts

Bouchon Bakery's Better Nutters

I've been on a bit of a cookbook-buying kick lately (thank you, Amazon Prime, I don't know what I'd do without you!!).

My friend Laura had a baking day a few weeks ago, and the week prior, we poured over a few different books over lunch when we were trying to painstakingly narrow down the large list of things we wanted to make.  The stack of books included the Bouchon Bakery cookbook, which Laura had recently purchased.  And, with a quick look through the book, it went on my short list of books to buy.  The book itself impressive - it's huge! - and is filled with gorgeous photographs and personal stories from the authors.

The cover of the book features "Better Nutters" - peanut butter oatmeal cookies filled with peanut butter buttercream - and I've been dying to make them.  And this weekend, I finally had the opportunity.  The dough is a bit of a pain to work with - it gets very sticky, very quickly when rolling it out - and it requires refrigeration prior to rolling out AND freezing prior to baking.  Finicky, yes.  But, the extra effort was well worth it, and all of the steps can be spread out over days to make things a bit easier.  I weighed all of my ingredients (just do your best for the non-whole number gram amounts).

Salted Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bars


Once a month, my dad and his friends get together to play a friendly game of poker, and I usually provide some sweets!  Recently, I was asked to make whatever I wanted - and I decided that this was a great opportunity to try out something new.

I have TONS of all sorts of recipes pinned on Pinterest - and these Salted Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bars stood out.  Melt in your mouth shortbread, topped with a thick layer of rich, buttery, and perfectly chewy caramel, finished with a chocolate glaze and salt?  Delicious!  These bars got rave reviews; I'll certainly be making them again soon.  Enjoy!

A Tribute to My Auntie

My Auntie (L) and my mom, September 2010

Three weeks ago today, the world lost an amazing woman - my Auntie - after a several year long battle with cancer.  It was absolutely heartbreaking and gut wrenching to see her in so much pain in the last several years, and excruciatingly sad to lose her.  She was much beloved by all us, and touched so many lives as a sister, aunt, friend, teacher ... she is truly missed.

My aunt lived her life in the healthiest way that she knew how, filled with vitamins and meditation, years of being a vegetarian, etc. I remember a conversation I had with her years ago, in which she exclaimed, "I wish I had eaten more cookies!!" Now, she meant this in the most literal sense possible, but it can also be translated as a statement to advise all of us to live life to the fullest.