No Bake S'more Granola Bars

My Secret Recipe Club assignment this month was Baking and Boys. Katrina is a wife and mother and she has some great recipes. It was hard for me to pick one to try but I've always thought about making my own granola bars and so when I saw this recipe I had to give it a try! 

They are soft, chewy and they have hint of honey. My kids love them, I love them, so I'll be making them more often! Go check out Baking and Boys and find something delicious to make!

No Bake S'more Granola Bars
Recipe Source: Baking and Boys

2 cups Quick Oats
1 cup Rice Krispies
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Honey
4 Tablespoons Butter
1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup Marshmallow Bits
3 Tablespoons Mini Chocolate Chips

1. Using an 8x8 pan, line with tin foil. In a medium bowl mix together the oats, rice krispies, and marshmallow bits.

2. In a small saucepan over medium high heat combine the brown sugar, honey, and butter. Stir constantly until it starts to simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook for another minute. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.

3. Pour the honey/sugar mixture over the oats. Mix until its all coated. Pour into your prepared pan and and press firmly. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top and press down so their stuck. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

An InLinkz Link-up

Chocolate Sugar Cookies and SRC

For the Secret Recipe Club this month I was assigned DailyDishRecipes.com. Its run by a lady named Nicole from St.Louis. She considers herself the Queen of Comfort Food and she likes easy recipes made from scratch! She has 5 kids and tries to make her picky eaters not so picky anymore. :)

She has several recipes I want to make but I'm always intrigued by something chocolate! I decided to make her Chocolate Sugar Cookies. They are sweet, soft, and something I'll be making again soon! I adapted them a little so I could shape them, but they are still essentially the same. Go over to Daily Dish Recipes and find something delicious to make!

Simple Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Recipe Adapted from: DailyDishRecipes.com

1 cup Butter, room temp
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 Egg
1 1/2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
2 cups Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup Cocoa
1 cup White Chocolate Chips (Optional)

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix until combined. 

2. In a separate bowl whisk together the cocoa, flour, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for an hour.

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line your cookie sheets with silpat mats or parchment paper. Lightly flour your surface and roll out dough. Cut out shapes with desired cookie cutter and bake for 8-10 mintues.

An InLinkz Link-up

Caramel Popcorn Cookies and Secret Recipe Club

Have you ever heard of popcorn cookies? I hadn't. Well not until I was assigned the spectacular blog Food Babbles for the Secret Recipe Club this month. The authors name is Kate, she is a mom to 3 and she has lots of great people in her life who influence her cooking and baking, which is probably why all of her stuff is amazing!

I went on a search of her blog and found so many things to try, Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake, Cannoli Roulade, Dark Chocolate Espresso Chocolate Chip Brownies, and Lemon Curd Ice Cream, just to name a few. There are many many more recipes I will be going back to try!

I finally decided on these Caramel Popcorn Cookies because my Maycie's number one requested treat is caramel popcorn and I needed to do something different for my sake. As different as I thought this cookie would be it was delicious! Sweet, chewy, and caramel-y. I made them the way the recipe was written here and then I made a few changes to make them taste more caramel-y. Either way they are worth making, so go over to Food Babbles and check it out, you won't regret it!!

Caramel Popcorn Cookies
Recipe Adapted From: FoodBabbles.com

1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Butter, Room Temp
1 1/2 cups Caramel Popcorn, chopped and divided
1 large Egg
2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
3/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Quick Oats

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the brown sugar and butter on medium until light and fluffy. Add in 1/2 cup of the chopped popcorn and the egg. Beat until combined. Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon.

3. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add into the wet ingredients stir with your wooden spoon until just combined. Add in the quick oats and 1 cup of the chopped caramel popcorn and stir again until just combined.

4. Using a small cookie scoop put them on your prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet and then move to a wire rack to continue to cool.

An InLinkz Link-up

Strawberry Shortcake Parfait and Secret Recipe Club

Hey! It seems like things haven't slowed down since Christmas. I've been busy planning a birthday party and its crazy. But I am so excited to share with you who I got for the Secret Recipe Club this month. The Heritage Cook!

This is one of my favorite sites to go to! She has so many fun things. First, she does Chocolate Mondays and since chocolate is my favorite thing, its perfect. Second, on her posts she has a 'hints & tips' section and its so helpful. There is always something useful. She also has a section on each of her newer posts for making the recipe gluten free. I don't need it but I'm sure its super helpful to lots of people.

I went through several recipes before deciding what I would make cause it all looks so delicious. But this Strawberry Shortcake with White Chocolate Whipped Cream Parfait looked too good to pass up.

The whole thing was so easy to make. The shortcake is soft and had a little tang from the lemon zest. The strawberries were just sweet enough to compliment the tangy-ness of the shortcake and the white chocolate whipped cream... There is just so much I could say. Its so good. Its sweet, creamy, and tastes just like light a fluffy white chocolate. It makes this shortcake parfait what it is!

Go over and see how great The Heritage Cook is!!

Strawberry Shortcake with White Chocolate Whipped Cream Parfait
Recipe Source: The Heritage Cook

Strawberries
3 cups Strawberries, hulled and diced
4 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar

Shortcakes
1 cup Heavy Cream, cold
1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
3/4 teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Lemon Zest
2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar

White Chocolate Whipped Cream
4oz White Chocolate, chopped
1 cup Heavy Cream, divided
1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar

Strawberries
Put the strawberries and the sugar in a medium bowl and mix together. Cover and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours. Every once in a while mix the strawberries. 

Shortcakes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a stand mixer whisk the cream until soft peaks form. Spoon into another bowl.

In the mixer fitted with the paddle attachment put the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and lemon zest and mix until just combined. Add the whipped cream and just beat until the mixture just comes together. Do not overbeat. Place the dough onto a floured counter and knead to finish mixing.

Roll the dough into a rectangle about an inch thick. Cut into thirds then cut each piece in half so you have squares. Place the squares onto a silpat covered baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden.

White Chocolate Whipped Cream

In a double boiler melt the white chocolate with 1/4 cup of the cream until just about melted. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temp.

In the bowl of your stand mixer beat the remaining 3/4 cup cream with the sugar until firm peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the white chocolate mixture. Refrigerate.

Assembling the Parfaits

Break the shortcakes into small pieces. Place a couple of pieces in the bottom of each of your bowls. Add some strawberries and juice, some cake, and the whipped cream. Add more cake, strawberries and top with the whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Cherry Crisp Cookie Pizza's & Secret Recipe Club

For the Secret Recipe Club this month I had Crumb. It is home to an awesome lady named Isabelle and she has a passion for food, writing, and photography. She loves to use fresh ingredients and make everything from scratch. 

I came upon this recipe and changed it a little cause it seems things have been crazy in October. But I know the recipe would've been better if I'd followed her recipe exactly.  She used pizza dough for her base, I used a sugar cookie. She used homemade raspberry filling, I used canned cherry pie filling. I did follow her crumb recipe and it was so sweet and crunchy.

Make my version and go check out her recipe and make the original. They are both delish!

Cherry Crisp Cookie Pizza's
Recipe Source: CrumbBlog.com

1 can Cherry Pie Filling
1 recipe Sugar Cookies

Crumble Topping
1 1/4 cups Quick Oats
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Butter, softened

In a small bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add in the softened butter and mix until it is crumbly and set aside.

Roll out your sugar cookies and place on a silpat mat or parchment paper. Evenly spoon your cherry pie filling on the sugar cookie and sprinkle your crumble on top. Bake for the recommended time or until the edges turn golden brown.

Chocolate Mud Cake

I am so excited about the blog I got this month for the Secret Recipe Club! I got Claire K Creations! It's the home to Claire. She says she hasn't always been adventurous with her food but you would never know. There are so many delicious recipes it was hard for me to pick but I when I read her description about this cake I couldn't resist!

The amount of chocolate in this cake made me understand what makes it so good. This cake is so soft and the ganache on top is creamy, rich and sweet.

I know you make chocolate cakes and you have your 'go to' recipe and you may be thinking, 'not another chocolate cake'. But people, try this!! It's so worth it and it will be your new favorite recipe!

Chocolate Mud Cake
Recipe Source: ClaireKCreations.com

Cake
1 cup & 2 Tablespoons Butter, softened
6oz Semisweet Chocolate
1 1/2 cups Strong Coffee
2 1/4 cups Granulated Sugar
1 1/4 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
3 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
2 large Eggs
2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

Ganache
1/2 cup Water
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
3/4 cup & 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cubed
11oz good-quality Semisweet Chocolate, finely chopped

Cake
1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a springform pan.

2. In a small saucepan, put the butter, chocolate and coffee and melt over low heat. Stir until the chocolate has dissolved. Then add the sugar and stir until it's dissolved. Pour into a heat-proof bowl.

3. Sift together the flour, cocoa and baking powder. Pour over the chocolate mixture and whisk. Then whisk in the eggs and vanilla. When combined, pour the batter in the cake pan.

4. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cake cool in the pan.

Ganache
1. Put the water, brown sugar and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat to melt. When the mixture begins to boil, remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate and swirl the pan. 

Let it sit for a minute and then whisk until the icing is smooth. Leave it for about 3 hours but continue to whisk every 30 minutes until it's thick. When the cake is completely cooled spread it with the ganache.

Oven S'mores and Secret Recipe Club

This month for the Secret Recipe Club I got Opera Singer in the Kitchen! It is a great site! The food is healthy, creative and looks delicious!

So I went through her site and she had s'mores that were vegetarian. I changed my so it more my style and what I like. But there are so many good recipes you need to get over there and look around!

Oven S'mores
Recipe Source: SingersKitchen.com

1 whole Graham Cracker
1 large Marshmallow
2 pieces of Hershey Chocolate

1. Turn oven to broil. Move rack to the highest rack in the oven. Break graham chrocker in half and place on a cookie sheet and put marshmallow on top. Put in the oven and watch until the top is brown enough for your taste. 

2. Put chocolate pieces on top and put back in the oven just until the chocolate looks like it starts to melt. Remove and let cool for about a half hour. Put the other half of the graham cracker on top. Enjoy!

Chocolate Shortcakes {Secret Recipe Club}

This month for the Secret Recipe Club I got Ginny from Cooking with Chopin. When I went to her site I was so excited. She has such a cute family, her food is beautiful, her photo's are beautiful, and all of her recipes look delicious. She makes food that you will be able to find ingredients for at any grocery store. Delicious, homemade food that you need to make! I promise there will be something you want!

These shortcakes are light, flaky, and chocolatey. Topped with sweetened cream, strawberries, chocolate sauce and caramel. Its a sweet dessert that is worth making!

Chocolate Shortcakes
Recipe Source: CookingwithChopin.blogspot.com

2 pints Strawberries, sliced
1/3 cups Granulated Sugar

Shortcakes
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Salted Butter, cold
1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
2/3 cup Mini Chocolate Chips, plus extra to top with
3/4 cup Half and Half
1 Egg White, lightly beaten

Sweetened Whipped Cream
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar

Garnish
Chocolate and Caramel Sauce
Chocolate Shavings

1. Mix together strawberries and 1/3 cup of granulated sugar. Refrigerate for 2 hours mixing every 30 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and remaining 1/3 cup sugar. Using a pastry cutter to cut in the butter into the flour mixture until it has pea size crumbs. Add the mini chocolate chips and mix. Pour in the half-and-half and stir until just moistened. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

3. Divide the dough into 12 - 3/4 inch patties. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place patties on the cookie sheet and brush each with the egg white. Then sprinkle patties with granulated sugar and mini chocolate chips.

4. Bake for 13 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely on the cookie sheet.

5. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff and then refrigerate.

Assembly
Cut shortcakes in half. Place the bottom half on a small plate. Top with whipped cream, strawberries, chocolate sauce, caramel and top with chocolate shavings. Place the shortcake top on and top with more cream, strawberries, sauces and shavings.

Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

I am so excited for the recipe I have to share today from the Secret Recipe Club! I was assigned BCMom's Kitchen this month. Her name is Anna and she has so many good recipes. She is trying to have more meals at home and make them easy and delicious at the same time. The recipes I tried from her site, and by the look of all of the other recipes, she is succeeding! 

So it was hard to choose what to make. I narrowed it down to this Hearty Soup and these Gooey Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and I ended up making both. You can see what I chose to share today and I will share the soup in the future, but I will say I made good choices. These bars have a flaky crust with a sweet and chewy peanut butter/chocolate chip topping. They disappeared really fast, they were so good! I will be going back to this site to make more things!

Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Recipe Source: BCMom's Kitchen

Crust
3/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 cup Cornstarch
1/2 cup Butter, soft but still cold

Filling
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Corn Syrup
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Peanut Butter
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 13x9 inch pan.  In a medium bowl whisk together flour, sugar, and cornstarch. Cut butter in until its crumbly. Press into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly brown.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer beat eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, peanut butter, vanilla and salt until well combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour over the cooked crust and put back into the oven.

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly brown. Let cool completely on wire rack and cut into bars.

Devils Food Caramel Cookies

This is my first time participating in the Secret Recipe Club. I got assigned Miranda from Biting Life! I have been so excited to participate in this and was so excited to check out a blog I haven't been to before! Miranda not only makes recipes she finds other places but is also so creative she comes up with her own recipes! 

I went through so many of her recipes and finally decided to make something that not only sounded delicious but was so simple. Dark Chocolate Caramel Cookies. Its made with a cake mix and the only cake mix I had on hand was devils food cake so that's why my recipe has a different name. Go check out Biting Life and find something you want to make!

Devils Food Caramel Cookies
Recipe Source: BitingLife.com

1 - 9oz pkg Baking Caramels
1 box Devils Food Cake
2 Eggs
1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with a silpat mat or parchment paper. In a medium bowl mix the cake mix, oil, and eggs together until just combined. It will be really thick, you need it like that to cover the caramels.

2. Take a caramel and cover it with the dough, rolling into a ball. Roll the dough into the powered sugar and place on the prepared cookie sheet. The cookies don't spread out very much so you can fit 12 on a cookie sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes.