"Hipster" Hazelnut Espresso Shortbread

I have a confession...I am a dreamer and a super romantic...to a fault sometimes.  I know, I know, its not always going to be a fairy tale.  There are no glass slippers and pumpkin carriages in my everyday life.   True love will not always turn a beast into a prince, but there are times in life when I like to dream, and think up crazy romantic things to do.  I mean for my first anniversary with Charles, I had my mom teach me how to shag dance (it's a Southern thing).  I then bought one set up a picnic shelter, and with the help of some great friends, lined the path with candles to the shelter where there was a fire setup, music and dessert waiting for us...did I mention I can be over the top.  Sometimes you just have to dream bit though, and although there are tough, really hard days sometimes, there are other that you will never forget.  They are the moments that make up for the hard times.  The times when you beat yourself up, but you just have to keep dreaming and striving for those better times.

This week my friend Meghan was the first to share this video with me, which you have probably seen by now, but I have to share.  It is basically amazing and one of those videos I need to watch on the days when I am down, and have stopped dreaming for a bit.  Kid President says to "Create something that will make the world AWESOME."

This week I was in a funk, and I just needed to get out of it.  So, I went back to the basics for me...to the one thing that lets me take my mind off of things, and stop beating myself up.  Back to baking a sophisticated yet simple and playful cookie.  I have to thank Courtney and Dusty for these awesome cookie cutters and the inspiration for baking cookies.  It only took me a drive home after dinner with them to know that I was going to be making shortbread cookies when I got home.  Then with a little help from Martha Stewart and a little twist, I had these fun and playful cookies under way.   What I would like to call my hipster hazelnut espresso shortbread.   If you have ever had a chocolate covered espresso bean, these cookies taste like those with just a hint of hazelnut.  They almost melt in your mouth and have a delicious buttery coffee flavor.  This might sound truly crazy but they taste like the smell of a donut shop...like coffee and sugar.  I am not a huge shortbread fan but these are delicious!  Will definitely be making them again!

Sugar "Cookie" Cupcakes with mini Sugar Cookies

You know those days where you are just in a funk.  Where you would try anything to get out of it.  Buy yourself flowers?  Have a brownie?  Put your head phones in and just turn up your music? Ughh yesterday was totally one of those days...but today is totally a new day!  It's no longer Monday, so I can't be in my "why can't it be the weekend still, its raining and cold outside so all I want to do it stay in bed, read my book and drink coffee" mood.  Well I can but not as easily.  This weekend was relaxing and filled with running and food.

Honestly, I was dreading my long run Saturday.  I needed to add two more miles to my distance as compared to last weekend and I was NERVOUS.  Plus, it was seriously cold outside...like when I started running it was 28 degrees.  So, to get myself just a little bit more excited, I downloaded some new songs, and mapped out a slightly different route.  A little change makes a big difference.  Plus, I just had to keep thinking about how I would be stuffing my face on Sunday when I went with Melissa as James' fill-in; plus I totally stuffed my face with one of these cupcakes or well two on Friday.   

Seriously though Sunday was a LOT of food.  This is just the desserts (it doesn't even include the ice cream sundae bar), and we went through what it would have been like to attend an entire wedding reception and dinner.  I am so honored that James let me take his place since he was in Arizona for work.  

On a breakfast kick...Spinach Herb Bacon Frittata

So here is a little truth...I totally check my astrology through only one website about every week (Free Will Astrology).  I totally blame Meghan for this obsession.  (P.S. I can also blame her for getting me to run more, eat more veggies, and explore more in life.)  You see the thing is, sometimes they get it sort of right.  For instance two weeks ago it talked about metaphorically speaking having a rock in my shoe, something that was always on my mind and I just couldn't stop thinking about.  This is most definitely still true.  I just don't know how to appropriately remove the rock, so I ask my girl friends and they tell me to wait it out.  That some thing or some people in life are "recollection roadblocks" and you just have to "drive over it and be done with it."  (P.S. Kathyrn should totally right a book of advice.)  So I am, and in the mean time I just keep baking.  

This frittata has ultimately served two purposes...it went great with the overnight caramel French toast on Sunday for brunch and has been a delicious lunch this week too.  It is filled with tons of spinach, some onions and bacon.  A little thyme and oregano add great flavor that pops out of nowhere since you aren't really expecting it.  Its simple and easy to make, plus re-heats easily in the microwave.  So, if you need a quick breakfast for the week or lunch or are just having friends over, give this a try!  Enjoy!

Brunch set-up.  Since I have so many mis-matched plates, I picked out my favorites and actually set the kitchen table.  This is only a big deal because my roommate and I never actually use the kitchen table.  Seriously, it just sits there and over the course of each week get piled with stuff until we clean it up over the weekend.

My Favorite Overnight Caramel French Toast

I have been meaning to post this recipe from some time now.  It is my go-to brunch item and is so easy and basically amazingly delicious.  Plus you do all the work the night before, so the morning of you just have to throw it in the oven.  You see the problem has always been that I forget to take a picture of the final product.  I normally pull it out of the oven right when guests start to arrive, so that it is piping hot and ready to be served immediately.  This weekend though, I made sure to take a picture as I was waiting for Thomas and Peter to arrive. They were bringing the sausage biscuits, and I whipped up this French toast along with a quick frittata, some black pepper maple bacon and of course mimosas.  Don't judge on the amount of food that was made, I felt that I deserved it after my long run of 16 miles the day before.

So this French toast it worth a full description of its own.  It is almost like breakfast bread pudding.  The bottom is gooey and has this awesome cinnamon caramel flavor, while the top is slightly more crunchy and cinnamony.  You can serve maple syrup along side of it, but you don't even really need to.  This is a scrap your plate with the fork, because what you really want to do it lick the plate recipe.  It is easy, simple and delicious; plus a definite crowd-pleaser.  Give it a try and enjoy!

I ran past the Capitol Building so I could check out the set up for the Inauguration.  Might as well check out the sites when I am running for 2+ hours.

A little twist with a lot of flavor: Cinnamon Bourbon Blondies

I was dreaming about desserts again...it's a problem sometimes.  About different flavor combinations, about different textures, about yummy chewy blondies apparently.  I baked a little extra this week to grant a small wish.  I wish for cookies out of the blue.  So, I decided Friday was going to be cookie day, but then I had to decide what kind of cookies.  I mean where do you start?  Classic? Original? Soft and chewy? Crunchy and buttery?  The choices are endless.  I originally thought about making snickerdoodle bars, thanks to an old co-worker's pin on Pinterest.  Then I got to thinking about blondies, because I have never actually made blondies before.  So, I looked up Smitten Kitchen's recipe, saw that she had one with bourbon in it and new I was headed in the right direction.  

I have been on a serious bourbon cocktail kick lately you see.  Well I decided to try and put my own spin on her recipe, kind of combining the idea of the blondies with bourbon and my desire to make snickerdoodle bars.  Thus, we have cinnamon bourbon blondies with cinnamon in the dough and cinnamon-sugar sprinkled on top.  These would be amazing served with vanilla ice cream and a cup of warm spiked bourbon cider.  They are a warm you up inside dessert with out actually being warm.   They are soft and chewy with just a little crunch from the cinnamon sugar. This is the dessert that I would serve the ladies of the Joy the Baker podcast if I ever had them over for dinner.  (P.S. Joy and Tracy are HILARIOUS and you should totally listen to their podcast!) Although, I have to admit if you are not a fan of bourbon, these are not for you. Enjoy!

For Breakfast I am thinking....Apple Strudel

This post was inspired by Molly...who gets to hear what I have to truly think about a recipe or a tough night of baking.

About the coconut key lime pie bars from last week: "They were so frustrating.  I could not stop these from falling apart."  I had whipped cream everywhere!

About the cinnamon roll whoopie pies:  These elicited a small dance.  "They came out exactly like I hoped they would!"

About the Maple Bacon Donuts: I had to basically pry these out of the pan.  I definitely did not spray these pans with enough non-stick cooking spray.  They caused me to be a bit late for work, but I had donuts with me.

About this apple strudel: "It took too d*mn long."  Truthfully it only took about an hour and a half.  I was just tired after work and going for a run.

You see the thing is I do love baking, seriously I do.  Sometimes though, I try to do things in a rush, when I am a little too tired after work, or when I try to fit in baking in the hours before work.  Sometimes I just try to do too much, and I underestimate the time things will take.    Through my frustration though I am able to test the recipe, and figure out how to change it and explain it so that you hopefully won't have those same frustrations.  I am learning though, and sometimes delicious, beautiful things require a little bit of a challenge.  

Like this strudel for instance...it was well a challenge.  The recipe didn't really go according to plan...I had WAY too many apples.  As in I ended up just baking the left over apples so that they wouldn't go to waste.  The strudel was delicious though!  The phyllo dough is crisp and tender all at the same time.  The apples are sweet, cinnamony and baked to perfection.  The raisins are plump and add great flavor; with the walnuts adding wonderful crunch.  I will definitely make this recipe again...I just won't cut up so many apples next time.  Enjoy!