Have you ever Tim Tam Slamed?

When I woke up this morning I noticed something terrible had happened,

I  someone ate all my peanut butter!!

(It was most likely, I'm pretty sure, probably not, me...)

So, I licked scrapped what was left of the depressing PB jar and spread it on an english muffin with banaynays and coconut.

This some how made it all better.

So this weekend I was out with the hubby, baby boo, and some friends, and we were walking around Cost Plus World Market when my husband demanded we buy these:

Apparently they used to be called Tim Tams. I have NEVER, for as long as I have known my husband, had him demand we buy something sweet. I mean, he's demanded a frozen box of taquitos before, but never chocolate...

I think I am rubbing off on him.

Anyways, he begins to describe these cookies and how he wants to do a Tim Tam Slam. Now he's just talking CrAsY, which isn't abnormal I must add. 

So, I let him buy is precious cookies, and off we went continuing our shopping adventure, all the while he repeated, "I can't believe you have NEVER done a Tim Tam Slam!!"

"Yes, I know sweety, it's pretty crazy"

Little side note; you can buy these cookies at Target, and they are actually called Tim Tams. You don't have to go to a Cost Plus World Market. 

So...Do you want to know how to Tim Tam Slam??!!

First get a mug ready for you and the friends,

Fill with your favorite hot chocolate.

The hubby's is Olvaltine. Wierd.

I used Dark Chocolate Almond Milk...

Ok, we're a weird couple.

Here is the hubby plating the cookies so I can take a lovely picture for the blog. He's so cute. He wanted to do it all by him self ladies and gentlemen =]

And here we have the Tim Tams.

So, you take your cookie, and bite a little bit out of one corner,

(He is SOOO excited)

Then you take a little bite out of the opposite corner.

Then you dip your cookie in the hot chocolate and suck, like a straw, out of one of the corners. Keep sucking till you get hot chocolate in your mouth and your cookie starts to melt.

Common' let's all try!

After your cookie begins to melt, and your getting a good amount of hot chocolate, shove that Tim Tam in your mouth! 

It's probably the most disgusting, yet delicious thing I have ever done. 

Thank you hubby for introducing me to your white trash dessert =]

kidding kidding

I think all in all we Tim Tamed 75 times.

Which resulted in Tim Tam hang overs.

And even though the next morning my stomach was crampin from Tim Tammin, I was still able to get ready for church, and take cute pics with my baby boo =]

Now remember, if anyone ever asks you to Tim Tam Slam...

Just limit your self

Cuz you may be rolling each other to bed

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Not many words to describe these cookies...

dark...chocolate..peanut butter...cookies

It's like all my favorite words into one

I originally got this recipe from the Fitnessista. Her version is vegan. DON'T go anywhere yet. Just because I said the "V" word lol

They really ARE delicious. Although I changed her version a little. So mine turned out to be NOT vegan. So for those of you hiding behind the couch you can come out now.

To start out I got my inspiration from this lovely creation.

Thats right...DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER =]

Ummm...heaven in a jar!

(Turns out there is some MILK in this product, so it's not Vegan)

Just in case you need a better look inside...

Have I convinced you YET that these cookies MIGHT be delicious?!?

Ok ok, lets just start from the beginning.

Combine the dry

Beat the wet ingredients in kitchen aid, but only for a few seconds so you can mix it together.

After you mix the wet, then add the dry. Once all mixed (Don't over mix) stir in dark chocolate chips...convinced yet??

Then scoop on cookie sheet and bake at 350

And when they come out they look like this...

And the inside looks like this =]

So if you still aren't convinced, well....thats NOT OKAY! =]

Just remember they have wonderful better for you ingredients, and its a wonderful way to indulge without feeling the guilt. Although that doesn't necessarily mean you have to eat the whole batch =] like me!

Ok so here is MY version of the recipe, but if you want to check out The Fitnessista version, feel free! I am sure hers is amazing too!

Click here for HERS.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Dry Ingredients:

2 Cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. Cinnamon

2 tsp. Baking powder

1 tsp. Baking soda

3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup Dark chocolate peanut butter, or regular peanut butter...your choice

1 1/2 ts.p. vanilla

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 TB. Molasses

3/4 Cup pure maple syrup

Directions:

1. Combine wet in one bowl, dry in another

2. Mix together, but careful not to overmix

3. Stir in chocolate chips

4. Scoop on baking pan with parchment paper, and bake at 350 for 11 minutes, then let rest 1 minute on baking sheet before removing to cooling rack.

*Side note*

I posted this recipe also for a few of my gluten free dairy free friends. This would work great for those of you with those certain diet restrictions, you just have to switch the flour to a Gluten free flour. If you cannot have peanuts, there are different types of spreads I know you can try, with an assortment of flavors. You can add cocoa powder, and less flour to make it more chocolatey if the spread your using isn't that good.

Hope you enjoy!

Cookies TO GO

Have you heard of Hungry-Girl?!?

If not you MUST check them out. They have tons of tips and tricks to cut back on your favorite foods, and make them a little healthier, A-LOT less in calories, and still delicious!

OK, so this morning I was eating some cereal, Fiber One if you must know =], and I noticed a recipe on the back from Hungry-Girl for these Grab N Go Breakfast cookies. They sounded really interesting, and I decided to give it a whirl.

Of coarse I added a few tweaks here and there, but they are pretty yummy! They are perfect for a snack after a work out, something to take on a hike, or a "Grab N Go" breakfast when your headed out the door in a hurry.

Tell me what you think? I am assuming you can try different types of flavors/varieties so get creative!

Grab N Go Breakfast Cookies

Recipe adapted from Hungry-Girl

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Fiber One Brand Cereal

1/2 Cup Old fashioned oats

1/4 cup + 2 TB Whole wheat flour

1/4 cup Splenda (I used organic vegan cane sugar)

2 TB. Brown sugar (I skipped this, but they definitely would have been a little sweeter with it)

1/2 tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon (I added an extra 1/8th tsp nutmeg)

1/8 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar free vanilla powdered creamer (skipped this)

1/3 cup pureed peaches (found in baby food isle)

1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin (I used 1 banana)

1/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (I used 1 egg)

1 TB. Golden raisins & 1 TB Craisins

* I also added 1 TB coconut, about 3 TB agave nectar, and I may have added 1-2 TB mini chocolate chips =], as well as 1 TB vanilla, flax seed, and wheat germ.*

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. In a food processor, grind up fiber one cereal until bread crumb consistency. Pour crumbs into a medium bowl. Then add oats, flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. * If you want to add the nutmeg, do that here.

3. In another medium bowl, dissolve powdered creamer in 2 TB hot water. Then add peaches, pumpkin (or your choice of pureed fruit), egg substitute (or regular egg), and mix thoroughly. *If your going to add vanilla do it here*Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.

4. Stir in raisins and craisins, and any other ingredients you prefer.

5. Scoop cookies onto prepared greased baking sheet. Flaten top of cookies just a little with a spoon.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

7. Grab N Go

Sparkley Suga' Cookies

I love sugar cookies.

They are light, and fluffy.

Best straight out of the oven.

And can be decorated SO darn CUTE!

Of coarse I think sugar cookies are best smothered in chocolate =]...but that's just me!

Anyways, I do this thing at my church where I teach the 14-16 year old girls, and I absolutely love it! And they love me...when I bring treats..haha

SO I was teaching this lesson on love, and I wanted to make something really cute, BUT, it was ten o'clock at night =] Go figure...and I knew with my body, well I get tired at about 10:15!

But I was determined. I knew I wanted to do a sugar cookie, maybe hearts, but I didn't have the time, nor did I feel like making an incredible huge mess in my kitchen. It made me think that a lot of people don't always have the time to bake...

And that is why I LOVE store bought mixes...ITS OK TO USE THEM AND NOT FEEL GUILTY =]

The best thing about them, is you can make them you own, and still do a heck of a job decorating them...

So I started with my betty crocker sugar cookie mix, but added some almond extract to it.

Then I rolled out though dough,

And cut my shapes out, and placed them on parchment paper. I then let them sit in the fridge for about 20 minutes...I cleaned up and got ready for bed while they chilled =] (Chilling the cookies help them hold shape when they bake, so they don't puff up!)

Then I baked them for about 8-10 minutes, and removed them immediately to a cooling rack, so they wouldn't cook any longer.

And then it was time to decorate them!

I just used a simple recipe for Royal icing, which hardens on the cookie. But you can use store bought frosting. Here is a Royal Icing Recipe:

Royal Icing:

3 cups powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons Meringue Powder

1-2 Tsp. Almond extract

2-4 Tablespoons Water

1 T. Lemon juice(optional for a lemony taste)

Beat all ingredients together until creamy. Should be somewhat thick. You don't want it to watery, or else it won't spread.

You can add any color, or you can DIVA it up and make it sparkle!

To make your cookies shine you can use Luster dust (Found at craft stores in baking section) Add some extract to a little bit of dust and then paint onto dry cookies.

Make sure frosting has dried enough onto cookies.

Seeeee...it's totally ok to use a pre mix! It is quick, easy, and cheap! And no body has to know =]

Make it your own!

Bow Chika Bow Wow

Happy Weekend!

I love the weekends for many reasons.

1) They are relaxing

2) No work-even though I LOVE my job

3) No school for the hubbster

4) More Hubby and Me time!

This weekend is even better though. Not only is it because the weather is MUCH for suitable for me than it currently has been (NO RAIN TODAY!), but hubby and I are playing mommy and daddy to my parents dog Bella!

She is everything fun, and has been keeping me company. She is 100% active, and loves to play all the time. Especially when the hubby gets home!

She just loves him.

We even tried to give her a bath! Oh my gosh, I hope children aren't this hard to bath! She freaked out as soon as she was done, and was running all over the place shaking, and rubbing her face on the floor! We were busting up laughing!

All Clean!

Today I also attempted in making some delicious vegan chocolate chip cookies. Now before you go crazy, just hear me out. Even though they have NO butter, No refined Sugar, or Artificial Sugar, No eggs, no nothin! They were BOMB(in the words of my hubby!)

Not even pulling your leg, we were shocked! I had two and hubby had three, and we only stopped so we could have room for dinner! It goes to show healthy eating doesn't have to be ENTIRELY painful!

Don't believe me, try it for you self! E-mail if you want the recipe =]

qtcakes4@gmail.com

Much Love

**Baby it's cold outside**

That is right...

It is freezing!!

I mean I am Almost tempted to take of the flip flops, and sport the tennis =\

BUT im not THAT close =]

Ok so it may not be as cold as let's say ReXbuRg, Idaho (20 degrees) haha shout out to my peeps freezin' their booties off!

Anyways, this is as cold as it will probably get this Christmas season, and I couldn't be happier!

Because this is what Christmas feels like to me!

So I decided to make ONE(because there is many) of the hubbster's and I's fav christmas cookies =]

Chew Chocolate **Mint** Gingerbread Cookies

I know that basically has Christmas written all over it!

So normally these cookies are made with regular chocolate chips, BUT I found these tempting mint chips at Targe' (pronounced Tar-jay) and I had to try them out!

So these cookies are full of such seasonal flavor, some molasses, tons of ginger, cloves & cinnamon. Before baking they are normally rolled in sugar, BUT I like to roll them in this awesome RAW sugar. It taste the same, it is just bigger chucks.

I think that is about how many cookies I got out of the batch, because I ate all the dough =]...haha ok maybe not all of it, but pretty close =]

So this recipe comes from the one and only cookie queen herself, Martha Stewart. I did change a few things, for example I add a little more cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa powder. (I made them heaping tsp or TB). I also usually add dark chocolate chips, OR now the mint chips. AND I rolled them in the RAW sugar, compared to regular sugar. The baking time also suggest 10-12 minutes. I did about 7-8 and left them on the pan to harden. They can easily overcook.

RECIPE HERE

Bundle up! ENJOY!

Candy Bar Cookies

I am sure many of you have tons of left over Halloween Candy...

I know we do...

And well it is almost Christmas, and I figured it was time I did SoMeThInG with them..

So I chopped it all up...yes every single one!

Mixed it into some chocolate cookie dough...

Scooped it into lil' balls

And put em in the oven =]

When they came out....MMMM they were tasty looking =]

But You know me...I just had to add more chocolate

(Since we didn't have any chocolate chips, or mini M&M's)

So I melted some Hershey Bars

(also from Halloween)

And spread it on top of the cookies =]

Very dangerous of me

Here is the recipe:

Candy Bar Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 stick butter

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 cup powdered chocolate...I used sweetened Ghiradelli

1 1/2 cups FLour

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. Baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

24 mini candy bars chopped up...Any desired..I used Milky Way, Crunch, Kit Kat, Reeses, Butterfinger, and Snickers (4 of each)

**If you have chocolate chips (mini works best) or mini M&M's, add about 3/4 cup. If you don't then melt about 10-14 mini Hershey's Bars in microwave for 30-40 seconds and used for frosting.

Directions:

1. Beat butter, shortening, and sugars until light and fluffy.

2. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.

3. Add dry ingredients and beat until combined.

4. Mix in candy.

5. Scoop onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10-13 minutes.

6. If using melted chocolate, spread on cookies when cool.

Enjoy!

Less than 100 Calorie Cookies FOR REAL!!

I am hoping that the title of this post catches your eye =] because it is pretty darn AMAAAAAZIN'!! So it all started when I was thinking about what I should bake next, when I realized I didn't have any eggs! (Even though it was really easy to get into my car, and drive to the grocery store LOL) BUT I was ready for a challenge. SO I thought long and hard and came up with this...

A chocolate chip pumpkin spice cookie!! And it goes PERFECT for the holiday season!

This cookie has whole wheat flour, which is ALOT better than using white flour. Instead of eggs I replaced it with Pumpkin Puree, which is naturally low in calories and fat. Both of these ingredients have tons of added health benefits.

Ok so here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 cup white flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup butter (softened)

3/4 pumpkin puree

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

3/4-1 cup mini chocolate chips

Cinnamon sugar mixture:

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients (first 7 ingredients) in a small bowl and whisk together.
2. Combine butters and sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add in pumpkin and vanilla and combine. Gradually add in dry ingredients.
3. Mix in chocolate chips
4. In a separate bowl mix together ingredients for cinnamon sugar and set aside.
5. Using a mini ice cream scooper, scoop out dough and roll into a ball. Then roll in cinnamon sugar and place on greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 11-13 minutes

Here are the cookies pre-oven...all cute and pretty rolled in cinnamon sugar =]

These cookies are roughly around 80-90 calories! I KNOW! ENJOY!

Chocolate Caramel Pumpkin Spice Cookies =]

I just LOOOVE fall, and all the flavors that go along with it. MMMmmmm =] Okay so with seasons come really cool variations on candy. For example, I found a Pumpkin Spice favored Hershey's Kisses. OH baby! They are mighty tasty =]

Chocolate Caramel Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Ingredients:

2 sticks softened unsalted butter

1 Cup brown sugar

1/2 Cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 Cups Flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Cup chocolate chips

1 Cup Chopped Pumpkin Spice Kisses

15 mini caramels OR sqeezable caramel topping (for ice cream)

Directions:

1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and combine, then add vanilla.
2. Add flour, baking soda, and salt to wet mixture and combine. Fold in chocolate chips and kisses.
3. Scoop onto baking sheet and bake for approximately 10-12 minutes.
4. If using pre packaged caramels, Melt caramel in saucepan over stove with about a teaspoon of water. Continually stir until melted. Drizzle over baked cookies. If using caramel ice cream topping, just drizzle over cooked cookies.
5. Cookies can get really sticky, so do not stack on top of each other, because they will get stuck :)
6. If eating the next day or two, it taste best if you heat up the cookie in the microwave for a few seconds to warm up the caramel!