Bake or Break

So, here’s the thing. This recipe is one of the bonus recipes in my new cookbook that’s available in the iBookstore. My intention was not to share it here on BoB, but I’ve gotten such strong reactions to these that I feel that it would be a disservice to you non-iPad owners.

These brownies took less than an hour from the ghost of an idea to warm, gooey chocolate awesomeness. I was inspired by those Magic Cookie Bars we all know and love. While they are perfectly delicious with their graham cracker crust, it seemed that making the base a fudgy brownie would make something decidedly amazing.

I was so right.
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Recently, I was asked which I would be more willing to give up forever – cheese or chocolate? My first instinct was cheese, but then I thought to ask if cream cheese would be included. I have to tell you, cream cheese would be a pretty tough thing to give up, even for a short time.

The most cream cheese for your baking money is, of course, cheesecake. In the case of this dessert, we’re talking cheesecake bars. You still get the awesomeness of cheesecake, but in a slightly simpler form.
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Here we are at Friday again. And halfway through December. And 11 days away from Christmas. That’s a bit overwhelming, at least to me. How do the holidays always sneak up on me?

If you’re still rounding up gifts, don’t forget about my Holiday Gift Guide for Bakers. It’s a collection of some of my favorite things plus a few things on my own wish list, such as this Salt of the Earth gift set from With Love from Brooklyn. Sweet and salty? Yes, please!
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This year, I very excitedly signed up to participate in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. I missed out on the fun last year, so I was sure to get my name on the list this year. Not only is it a fun way to share cookies, it also benefits Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.

The idea is that food bloggers sign up and then receive addresses of three food bloggers to send cookies to for the holidays. In return, you receive cookies from three different bloggers. I received some delicious cookies from Wine Imbiber, Kara Miller, and Mika Abogado. Thanks, ladies!
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I’ve made a lot of brownies in my baking life. A lot. Then, one day on a whim, I made these brownies. Oh, my.

These are really just your basic brownies. No add-ins, just brownies. But, two little adjustments turn them into something amazing.
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Not that long ago, I was one of those annoying people who had their holiday shopping done by November. Those days are far behind me. While you won’t see me among the throngs fighting crowds on Christmas Eve, I could very well be found scouring the internet for gifts and paying extra for overnight shipping.

Whether your shopping habits are methodical or frenzied, I think you’ll find this list useful for the bakers in your life or maybe even for yourself.
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