Just Jen

Avalanche Bars Recipe Link

I've often joked that I'm going to change the name of my food board on Pinterest from "Good Eats" to "Food Porn", because that's what it is for the most part for me. I see some ridiculously sinful looking treat, gawk at the photo, wipe the puddle of drool off my desk, repin it to my board and move on. I usually don't go to the trouble of actually making anything, and when I do, it's often disappointing. Like, "Definitely NOT the best enchilada recipe EVER of ALL TIME."

Not this time. I needed a quick "thank you" treat for a neighbor, so while the husband and son were off at Monster Jam, I hopped on my "Food Porn" board for a quick, easy recipe and decided to whip these up.

And my life changed in an instant. These will be made again and again. And again. So easy and ridiculously good. I'm not even going to try to describe them. Just go here to get the recipe, go to the grocery store and get the ingredients. Go. Go NOW.

I'm trying her red velvet popcorn next, by the way, when I emerge from my sugar coma.

Image, recipe, and better quality of life all thanks to Cookies & Cups.

Valentine Pretzel Buttons

I whipped up these super-cute and super-fast (not to mention super-yummy) Valentine treats from g*rated for my co-workers today. They're that perfect combo of salty/sweet/crunchy. The diet can wait one more day, right? :)

Happy Heart Day to ya!

Halloween Candy Corn Cookie Bark

Ever since I came across this recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything (via Pinterest), I started looking for an excuse to make it. When the kids got an invite to a costume party, I knew it was the perfect thing to take. It was very easy to make and SO good. I had to give the leftovers away to my neighbors so I wouldn't finish them off myself. It's not exactly get-the-baby-weight-off friendly, but ya know…it was worth the cheat.

Enjoy!

Pretty as Pie

I am officially in hard core diet mode. Well, except for my fleeting affair with a dish of Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo and a Cheddar Bay Biscuit at Red Lobster last night... But today I'm back on track. Really. Needless to say, the yummy recipes that keep popping up on my Pinterest feed are NOT helping my cause. Thank goodness you can't gain weight by just looking. It's not like I have the time or the energy to devote to making this right now anyway, but isn't it lovely? Almost too pretty to eat! Almost.

 

Chocolate Oreo Cream Cake recipe

I decided I was way overdue for a food post, so here you go. Chocolate Oreo Cream Cake from Real Mom Kitchen. This looks way too good not to try - and easy too!

Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

Well, we are on the official countdown until little baby girl arrives, and that can only mean one thing - baby shower time!! I have had two amazing showers given by friends, family and co-workers and have come away feeling very blessed. I have helped host showers in the past, and I know the amount of work that can go into those couple of hours! So I always want my hostess gifts to be nice and heartfelt. I try to think of something clever that I can make, or at least partially make, that is really special - but doesn't have to break the bank.
I had seen a few recipes for salted caramel sauce floating around online and decided to build a gift around that. Let me first say that I am NOT that great in the kitchen, and boiling sugar can be more than a little tricky, so my first attempt was a massive FAIL. But I didn't let it beat me! I reviewed the recipes, made a couple of adjustments and tried again. This time was a complete SUCCESS! A very sweet success, I might add... For each hostess, I decorated a jar with some vintage fabric and a cute handwritten label, nested it in an ice cream bowl, added a cute towel and tied it all together with a ribbon. And I've gotten nothing but rave reviews about the caramel sauce! I combined ingredients from several different recipes and put together my own version:

SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

2c sugar
3/4c water
1 1/2c heavy cream
1/2tsp vanilla
1tsp finely ground sea salt
4tbs unsalted butter

Add water to a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Add sugar to the water and cook over medium heat (DO NOT STIR!) until sugar dissolves and begins to boil. Increase to medium high heat and continue to let sugar boil without stirring until it turns a light amber color. Note: you really want to stick close to the stove during this part. Once the sugar starts to change color, it can go from perfect to burned VERY quickly. The boiling process may take a little while, but be patient - it's worth the wait! Just before it starts to turn color, heat the cream and vanilla for 45 sec. in the microwave. Once your sugar is a light amber color (it should have a slight caramel smell too), remove it from the heat and slowly whisk in the cream and vanilla. It's really going to bubble up at this point, so be careful! Once combined, stir in the salt and butter until melted. Carefully pour into HOT, prepared canning jars. You can keep jars of caramel in the fridge for about two weeks - if it lasts that long!!

Hi Hat Cupcakes

I just can't stop looking at these today. Can't you just taste that amazing looking frosting?!

Thank you, Bakerella via Oh! Cupcakes.

Walking Tacos

With Memorial Day right around the corner, I thought this was a genius idea for a picnic or party. I'd never heard of a "walking taco", but I'd eat just about anything housed in a frito bag. You just open the bag, pile in your ingredients, grab a spoon and chow down. This would be perfect for basic tacos ingredients or frito chili pie...mmm. And the best part - no dishes to do!

Visit the Picky Palate for the recipe and how-to.

Inside Out Apple Pies

This is so clever and would be a great finish to a Mother's Day feast! It seems surprisingly simple. Check out the how-to/recipe at Tiny Urban Kitchen.

Waffle Iron Cookies?! Oh I gotta try this...

  This is a marriage of two of my favorite things, so I am going to be all over this. Cookie gratification in just 90 seconds?! I am not seeing any downsides to this process yet...

I especially love a few of the commenters suggestions of cooking full size waffle shapes and making giant ice cream sandwiches. We should be best friends. Seriously.

A link to the recipe is included in the post here.