photo OP: blondie bomb

RER 11.24.15

Sometimes sweets are in order, especially when the pressure is on and it feels like the world might be closing in, no matter how happy you are. Closing walls, racing heartbeats, and spinning hands on the clock are not exclusive to stress, anxiety, and unhappiness. Pleasure, excitement, and joy can have similar suffocating feelings. My newfound joy comes with intense investment and hard work. But it’s worth it…

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So are these blondies, which are a spin-off of these. This time our remix included marshmallow, chocolate chip, and pretzel mix-ins. Too much yum.

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11.24.15

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MangiaMore: RASPBERRY cheesecake brownies

RER 5.21.15

Now, I know you know what it’s like to want chocolate—to need chocolate. Well, that happened, like yesterday. But not really, more like Monday. I also know you know what it’s like to be super busy and have to put off frivolous baking.

RER 5.20.15

Oddly succumbing to procrastination despite my excitement, I was enchanted by the vast and delicious blogs of the Saveur Blog Awards 2015 and then I found the perfect recipe to tickle that chocolate desire.

It was a blackberry cheesecake brownie recipe that I first saw on Broma Bakery with the details in her guest post on Oh, Sweet Basil, which really caught my attention. It’s the best of both worlds.

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Well, as much as I really wanted to use blackberries, because they are pretty and dark and mysterious, I generally feel like they can be more bitter and adult than sweet and playful. So I went a different direction with these thick brownie bits of heaven. I debated between using sweet dark cherries (I had a bag in the freezer) or raspberries (on sale in the freezer section at the grocery store). In the end, raspberries prevailed.

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And the brownies turned out delightful. I wish I could say they were beautiful to look at, but alas, I can not; I have to step up my swirl game. However, they are as tasty as they are unattractive. That quick raspberry compote “swirled” into the thick cheesecake layer adds a tang and a brightness that brings depth and luxury to the dense, chewy, fudgy, chocolaty brownie below. It really is the best of both worlds—playful with color and varied textures, but refined and sophisticated with rich, sensual chocolate.

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What is the recipe you turn to when chocolate is on your mind?  Could always use another tempting chocolate treat...

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5.21.15

RER 5.21.15

MangiaMore: red VELVET brownies

RER 2.16.15

Red Velvet Brownies—what could be more perfect for a Valentine’s Day sweet?! The deep red, moist, chewy, chocolaty insides and creamy, tangy sweet, thick layer of cream cheese frosting are the sultry melodies that lovebirds and sweethearts sing on Valentine’s Day. The colors are lovely creating a striking contrast of snow white and velvety red and a warmth emerges, delicate and decadent. And the flavors are redolent of the luscious southern cake, intoxicating like a love potion. Delicious.

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 JAR 2.15.15

It was almost too easy to put these gems together, making this recipe from The Marvelous Misadventures of a Foodie particularly dangerous. All it takes is a good bit of butter, bitter cocoa, a smattering of red food coloring, flour, sugar and a flick of a whisk, and a pretty red batter comes together in an instant. The cream cheese frosting is an added bonus, really taking the red brownies to the next level, to red velvet dreams. We put flaked coconut on half of the brownies (the boy loves coconut!!), which added textures and another

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See what I mean? Dangerous…

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2.16.15

 RER 2.16.15