Pumpkin Granola Bars

As much as I'm always sad to see summer go, there is something about this time of year that is so magical.  The air, crisp and cool, smells of new beginnings, of transitions and fresh starts.  Orrrrrr it's still humid AF and your kids miss their friends from last year, but you know what I mean.  I'm trying to be poetic about fall, because to me it's simply lovely.  Since moving to New York, I've found I appreciate it even more.  The change in temperature and scenery is dramatic, and matches the change in lifestyle.  Even when I lived in California where the difference in weather was more subtle, I've always loved embracing a new season.  Usually, I do so with food.  Aaand decorating my house with splurges from the dollar(s) bin at Target.  But mostly food.     

Of course, it's now time for everything pumpkin!  With my love of pumpkin flavored foods (except for pie, gross), and my need to pack school lunches and snacks every day, I created these Pumpkin Granola Bars.  They taste just like you want them to: soft and chewy, just sweet enough and bursting with the flavors of the season.    

Pumpkin Granola Bars

Serves: 10 rectangle granola bars, 20 square granola bars

Printable Recipe

2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

Pinch of ginger

Pinch of allspice

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup creamy almond butter

2 Tbsp honey

1 tsp vanilla

Optional: 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper so that it's hanging off two of the sides, and spray with baking spray.  Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, egg, almond butter, honey and vanilla in a small bowl and stir until smooth.  In a large bowl, stir together oats and all spices.  Add pumpkin mixture to the oat mixture and stir to combine.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Using a rubber spatula, add mixture to baking pan and press down to flatten.  Bake for 20 minutes or until sides start to golden.  Let cool, and then slice into squares or rectangles.

*I added a small amount of almond butter, but if you have nut allergies you can definitely omit that and add some applesauce or melted butter instead.  

One-Pot Pasta + Black Bean Brownies

Let's talk about friends for a second.  There are so many different kinds... the friends you've had since you were little, the ones that you don't see much but when you do can pick up right where you left off, the mom friends that just GET IT, and the ones you meet later in life but you instantly feel like you've known them forever.  One is silver and the other gold, or something like that.  Anyway, I have only known Savannah Guthrie for a couple of years, but it seems like much longer.  She just GETS it, and is a pretty amazing human being as well.  Just look at how I'm cuddled next to her in the photo below, completely ignoring my husband...   

It's always fun cooking with her (AND Carson) - if you missed the One-Pot Mexican Pasta and the Black Bean Brownies I made yesterday morning, you can find the recipes here and here.

Photos by Nathan Congleton

Banana Chocolate Chip Blondies

Happy National Relaxation Day!  Yes, that is a thing.  Because everyday is a National something.  I have found - especially as I get older - that I have a hard time relaxing.  I guess I'm a "doer" and was born with this desire to always DO something.  If I sit for too long, I start to feel guilty, as if I'm neglecting something that needs to be done.  Carson does NOT have this problem, which has been good for me, especially while we're on vacation.  Next to him, I'm able to slow down a bit and realize that the world won't come crashing down around us if I sit.

Can you guys relax?  Any relaxation tips for me on this national holiday?

One thing that always relaxes me is baking, and so the other day I made these Banana Chocolate Chip Blondies and they were delicious.  One bowl, very few ingredients, done in 30 minutes from start to finish.  They'd probably be fantastic if you browned the butter first!  Yum!    

Recipe here.

Fudgy Chocolate Frosted Brownies

I feel like I've been focused on making lighter, healthier foods lately, which is BOR-ING!  Just kidding, but not really.  Even though it's absurdly hot and humid here, I was craving rich, fudgy, chocolaty brownies... so I turned my oven on and got to work.  I somehow stumbled upon these (probably googling "brownies" had something to do with it) and they looked so delicious.  I am always sold on fudgy brownies, but add a rich chocolate frosting to the top?  Done.  They were very, very good, and colorful sprinkles make everything more fun, don't you think?

You can find the recipe here.

Gooey Chocolate Chip Sandwich Bars

Are you mad at me??  I've been bad at blogging lately :(

In my defense, it's been a particularly busy week over here and some exciting things have been happening oooooonnnnlllyyyyy, I can't tell you yet.  Ugh, you're mad at me again!!

But hey!  I made you something!  Something with A LOT of chocolate, and it's ooey, and gooey, and it's half brownie, half fudge, half cookie.  I realize three halves don't make a whole, but just go with it.  These bars are delicious, easy to make, yummy to look at, and you forgive me, right?

I'll be on the Today Show Monday (in the 9am hour), and back to blogging regularly next week, I swear.  In the meantime, I just signed up for Snapchat and DOES ANYONE UNDERSTAND IT?!

Recipe here.

pre-baked...

post-baked...

Chocolate Chip Cookie Stuffed Brownies

These are just stupid.  In a good way!  But they're stupid.  I mean, is it really necessary to make brownie batter and then decide to stuff a layer of chocolate chip cookie dough in between the dark chocolate goo?  No, it is not necessary, it is stupid.  And brilliant!  Stupid brilliant.  Do I sound like Ricky Gervais hosting the Golden Globes yet?  Right then.  Bloody hell, what a dumb treat.

Ok, let's push my attempt at dry, British humor aside and discuss how good these really are.  Incredibly rich, difficult to eat more than a few bites, but delicious!  And very simple to make.  Just throw together your favorite brownie (boxed or homemade, mine were Ghiradelli), then your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe (I used this one), and layer away.  I went brownie batter, cookie dough, brownie batter, but the creative possibilities are endless!  Bake as directed on the brownie box (although you might need to add 5 more minutes) and enjoy your stupid, dumb treats.  

Salted Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Oh hi!  Remember me?  My name is Siri and I'm the gal who (occasionally) chronicles my journey with food on this here blog.  I've been absent, but I can explain (or I can spew excuse after excuse at you... like we were in LA for 12 days, or I lost my camera battery charger, or I'm trying to prepare for the 8 houseguests staying with us for 2 weeks, or I'm feeling overwhelmed with gift shopping, or I've been abducted by aliens... I sorta wish).  What it really boils down to is that when we travel, I lose my desire to cook and I come home feeling like I'm in a rut.  But this weekend, I spent an hour online looking at my favorite blogs and they lit a fire under my tushy!  (I'm a mom, I say things like that and potty.)  This week and next week be prepared for seasonal treats and dishes as well as gift ideas!  Yay!  And by the way, even when I'm absent on here, I'm pretty active on my blog instagram and my new mommy instagram accounts.  

So let's talk about these bars.  I'm not really a pie person, but ever since I ate Pecan Pie this Thanksgiving from this glorious bakery in California I've been craving it.  So when I saw this recipe I put it on my to-do list right away.  Holy crap, these are insane.  SUPER rich but beyond delicious.  If you like buttery shortbread and rich, salted chocolate and caramely pecan pie... you will love this.  I topped mine with Vanilla Salt which I'll write about later on today.

They also refrigerate and/or freeze very well, and a little goes a long way, so these would be perfect edible holiday gifts this season.  The best kind of gift if you ask me.    

Dark Chocolate Ritz Bars

It has come to this.  I am writing this blog post in the parking lot of a Target.  I am about to enter the store, and wander around aimlessly for an hour, alone (every mom's Heaven on Earth).  In fact, I'm not even writing this.  I am dictating it to that idiot Siri, and she's doing it for me (sorry, Siri).

So anyways, I wanted to leave you this weekend with something indulgent, because that's what weekends are for, right?  And when a reader sent me a recipe that combined buttery, salty Ritz crackers with dark chocolate and sweetened condensed milk, I knew it was it.  She also made the genius decision to add peanut butter and I of course followed suit.  These are rich, sweet and salty bites of magic and you can make them in under 15 minutes. Happy Weekend!  And Happy Shopping Without Your Kids At Target to meeeeee. 

Recipe HERE.

Holiday Baking Ideas

What are your plans this weekend?  Frantic holiday shopping?  Cocktail parties?  Baking up a storm? Well I can help you there, with a collection of ideas from my blog.  As far as the shopping... deep breaths, and as far as the cocktail party... a karaoke version of "Santa Baby" only seems like a good idea.  So, from top left moving clockwise... Merry Weekends!

Snowball Cookies

Peppermint Meringues

Homemade Almond Roca

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Peppermint Marshmallows

Chewy Ginger Cookies

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Pretzels

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Nutella Truffles

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Buckeyes

Andes Mint Brownies

Brown Butter Banana Nutella Bars

Sometimes, when I get the urge to bake, I start pulling ingredients out of my pantry and hope for the best.  And I mean, when those ingredients start with butter, bananas and Nutella, how can things go wrong?  Well apparently they can go wrong, but we'll get to that later.  It was cold and rainy yesterday (Happy Spring?) and when I run out of ways to entertain my kids inside, I always turn to baking.  Come on, kids!  Let's learn about math via measuring things and science via, uh, how baking works and, and... just kidding, here, lick dough off of a spatula.  

Everything was going just great with the measuring and the licking of yummy (OMG yummy) spatulas until the bars came out of the oven and sat for a bit and then turned into, well, bowls.  They completely sank.  If we ARE going to talk about the science of how baking works, I think I over-mixed the batter.  My son has so much fun with the KitchenAid Mixer, and I think I let him have TOO much fun.  Next time I won't use it at all - I will simply whisk and stir the ingredients together.

Problems aside, these, were, DELICIOUS.  Again, you really can't go wrong with brown butter, banana and Nutella.  Oh, and sea salt sprinkled on top because why not.  And, if yours DO end up like bowls, just simply pour in some milk (or ice cream) and turn them into these.    

Brown Butter Banana Nutella Bars

Makes 12 bars

Printable Recipe

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup brown sugar

1 ripe banana, mashed

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

About 1/2 cup Nutella

Flaky sea salt (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat until browned and foamy (butter will smell nutty when done, be careful not to burn).  Remove from heat and let cool.  In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.  In a medium bowl, stir together cooled butter and brown sugar until just combined.  Add mashed banana, egg and vanilla and again, stir just until combined.  Add dry ingredients and, you guessed it, stir just until combined.

I used a bar pan but if you don't have one, use an 8x8 baking dish.  Spray or grease.  Pour batter into pan or drop by large spoonful into bar pan.  If using baking dish, add Nutella in dollops and swirl with a knife.  If using bar pan, add approx. 1 tsp to each bar and then swirl with knife.  Sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake for 10-12 minutes if using bar pan or 20-25 if using baking dish.   

      

Bowls...

Vanilla Bean Blondies

Greetings!!  Remember when I used to blog, every single weekday?  Remember when I didn't have two children, and I showered more than twice a week, and I worked out more than twice a year?  I remember.  Sort of.  Not really.  Or even at all.  The truth is, I could blame my kids all day long for my lack of posts and showers (no but really, the shower thing IS their fault), but that wouldn't be fair.  The truth is, we're going through a major life change as a family (which I'll share more at a later date) and my mind has been elsewhere.  That, combined with lots of travel, have meant I've barely been in the kitchen!  And now that I am back, it's like I've forgotten how to cook.  What do I like to make?  What ingredients do I buy at the market?  Are there breakfast foods besides NY bagels?  

But don't fret.  I'll figure it out.  I'll cook my way out of the hole.  I'll shower.  I made these Vanilla Bean Blondies after all!  Half with chocolate, because, chocolate.  The vanilla flavor is pretty ridiculous, they taste like vanilla ice cream in bar form.  Simple, easy ingredients that come together in no time.  I used 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla paste instead of a bean, because that's what I had.  

I'm going to shower now, I promise.          

See what I mean?  Mind, elsewhere.

Holiday treats from long ago...

Some ideas for last minute holiday baking (6 more days people)...

Nutella Truffles

Peppermint Marshmallows

Chewy Ginger Cookies

Bittersweet Chocolate Fudge with Sea Salt

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cranberry Pistachio Pudding Cookies

Peppermint Meringues

Homemade Almond Roca

Homemade Hot Chocolate

On another note, I don't have nearly enough photos from you guys for the contest.  Should I extend the deadline by a week, so you can get all toasted and goofy with your friends and family over Christmas?  Otherwise I'm just keeping this $120 basket for myself : )

UPDATE:  I have extended the deadline to submit photos to NEXT Friday, 12/27, so by all means, drink some spiked egg nog with your loved ones and eat some pasta.  

Andes Mint Brownies

Let's keep talking about chocolate and mint, shall we?  I always love the combination, but especially this time of year.  I've even been ordering Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks.  Who am I?  I would never do that any other time of year.  I'm not even sure I like them!  I just want a couple of sips, to savor that chocolaty, minty combo.  Which is why I bought Andes Mints at the market the other day and instantly researched recipes.  I knew this one was the winner, because brownies should be more of a consistent thing in my life.  Don't you think?  They are wonderful... fudgy, gooey, very rich.  The only thing I did differently was add regular semi-sweet chocolate chips to the top, instead of more mints.  I ran my knife through the brownies before the chocolate on top cooled, to make it easier later on.  

Reminder, only a few more days to submit photos for the contest!        

Carmelitas

When I asked you what I should bake in my new oven, you had good ideas.  You are smart, brilliant people.  Especially you, Person Who Recommended These Carmelitas.  You are a damn genius!  You should quit your job, and become a Treat Email Recommender.  That's a real thing.  I'll pay you in Monopoly money and baked goods.  Speaking of paying people, my son got a dollar for unwrapping 32 caramel squares.  A dollar, and one caramel.  I bribe my kids.  

Anyway, let me be very clear about this: MAKE THESE.  They are crack bars.  I even made a corner without chocolate for my friend who's allergic, and they were still wonderful.  Also, I bet you could make your own homemade salted caramel sauce instead of paying someone to unwrap 32 squares.  We're all geniuses!!        

first layer...

second layer...

Salted Caramel Brownies

I'm not sure there's anything to say here.  These are Ina Garten's Outrageous Brownies, drizzled with caramel sauce and sprinkled with sea salt.  Do you want me to tell you that they're good?  See, I think that would be insulting your intelligence.  Similar to talking really  s l o w l y  AND LOUDLY to a foreigner or an old person.  They're not dumb.  You're not dumb.  You know these are amazing.  You know I'm eating them for breakfast, I don't need to tell you that.  Oh you didn't know that?  

I'M EATING THEM FOR  B R E A K F A S T,  OK??? 

Recipe here.  

Chocolate Banana Brownies

It's that time of year again, when I obsess over my son's birthday party.  My to-do list is about a mile long, I woke up at 3:30am last night thinking about it and couldn't fall back asleep and OH, I decided to make 5 cakes.  That's right 5 cakes.  If you want to plan an intervention, I'd probably be a willing participant.  And while we're at the intervention, can we also tackle my obsession with googling "banana baking" recipes?  It's become a daily occurrence.  But be prepared for me to get super defensive on you and say something like, "EACH POWER RANGER NEEDS A SEPARATE CAKE AND ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH CHOCOLATE BANANA BROWNIES???"  Actually, they were slightly more cakey than I would have preferred (I'm partial to a fudgy brownie) but still pretty delicious.  So anyway, let me know what time the intervention is.

Recipe here.