Brownies and Bacon cookies? Yeah, bacon.

I've already had a few baking with Beischer's this school year and haven't had very much time to post about them. But since I've got a lot of homework to do, what better way to procrastinate then to blog? Last week I baked the best brownie I've EVER had. Seriously, they were amazing. And trust me, I've had many, many brownies in my lifetime. I have to thank Zesty cook.com for the amazing recipe (I've decided to start posting them on here). I don't have any pictures unfortunately :( They aren't kidding when they say they will change your life. Just make them. Right now, if not sooner.

This weeks baking with Beischer included one of the most daring recipes I've ever attempted. Bacon Chocolate Chip cookies. I love bacon and I love chocolate chip cookies, but I was skeptical about putting them together. The results were spectacular. And the recipe made a TON. Like close to 6 dozen cookies or some crazy amount. They were small, but I had plenty to bring home from Jeffrey's for my house. Ironically, this was the weekend that 3 out of 8 of the housemates were gone for the weekend when we had the most leftover baked goods. This recipe comes courtesy of one of my favorite food blogs, Pete Bakes!. Did I mention the bacon was candied? Heaven on earth, I know :D

The Brownie That Will Change Your Life

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
35 (10 oz. package) caramels, unwrapped
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine cake mix and nuts.

3. Stir in 2/3 cup evaporated milk and butter (batter will be thick).

4. Spread half of batter into ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

5. Bake for 15 minutes.

6. Heat caramels and remaining evaporated milk in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until caramels are melted. Sprinkle morsels over brownie; drizzle with caramel mixture.

7. Drop remaining batter by heaping teaspoon over caramel mixture.

8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set; cool on wire rack in pan.

(Recipe via Zesty Cook via Nestle Toll House )


Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies and Candied Bacon

Candied Bacon
1 pckg thick cut bacon (about 10 strips)
brown sugar for sprinkling

Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
12 oz toll house semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1. make the candied bacon: preheat the oven to 350 F. lay bacon on a parchment covered baking sheet so they are not overlapping. sprinkle about 2 tsp brown sugar evenly on each strip of bacon. bake for 12 minutes, remove from oven, flip bacon and drag it through the syrupy liquid that’s collected on the baking sheet. put the bacon back in the oven for another 12-15 minutes, until it is fully cooked and very dark (mahogany). remove the strips from the sheet and cool on a wire rack. after they have cooked, chop them or quickly food process into tiny pieces.

2. make the cookies: combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. beat butter, both sugars and vanilla in a large bowl. add eggs, one at a time, beating well. gradually beat in flour mixture. stir in morsels and bacon pieces.

3. spoon dough (about a Tbsp per cookie) onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 375 F for 9-11 minutes. i tend to go a little under 9 minutes so they come out just underdone. remove to cooling racks or eat immediately with a tall glass of cold milk.

(Recipe via Pete Bakes!)

September is the bane of my existence

Anyone that knows me fairly well knows that I do not like the month of September. For the past five years or so, September has just made me plain sad, regardless if things are going good or bad in my life. If I could, I would skip the month entirely and go from August, filled with hot, sunny days lazily lounging by the pool sipping Arnold Palmers, and straight to the cool, crisp days days of October, filled with the promise of cozy sweaters, pumpkin carving and Halloween. However, since this isn't possible I've decided to try and be more optimistic about it and make a list of my favorite things about September.

1. Spring/Summer Fashion Week!!
-This is one part of September that I actually look forward to immensely, considering I love being able to sit and look at all the new trends and clothes that the designers put out.

2. Pumpkin Flavored things :D
-Thanks goes to my girl Bre for reminding me about how the official start of fall and cooler weather makes me happy because then I can turn my baking pursuits from summertime fruits and flavors such as lemon, lime, peach and strawberry into apple, pumpkin, cinnamon and clove.

3.The Rocky Horror Picture Show!
-Once a month a theatre on James Island performs the RHPS, and although this isn't exclusively a September thing, Jeffrey and I have been talking about going for almost a year and finally did last night, so I feel it deserves a spot. The best part was Jeffrey and Gage dressed in drag (pictures to follow soon)

4. Settling into the school year
-Although this may seem like a bad thing for most people, being able to have free time, not have to work a full time job and spend time with my friends at school (particularly my new housemates!) are all good things for me.

5. Football Season
-I'm not a big football fan, but I do like watching the games and tailgaiting

6. Cardigan weather
-I love cardigans in all shapes and sizes :D

7. The humidity
-Summer is horrible on my hair. I have to use no less than 3 different products in it just to tame it into submission and thankfully the cooler weather also means better hair days!