One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also m I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also my lips are never chapped, so there’s that. 😂 And this is only one of my refill stashes. When I was in middle school, I had literally THE WORST chapped lips ever. Like a complete red ring around my top and bottom lips. I don’t think that’s where my lip balm obsession started, but it certainly didn’t help. Jersey winters are no joke (or our hot summers), so don’t mind me while I just add to my collection. What’s your fave?
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Chocolate Espresso Bars

March 18, 2010 · Narrative

Chocolate Espresso Bars

The problem with visiting food blogs … is that when I’m done with my rounds, I have another set of recipes to add to my to-try pile.  The same holds true, of course, for watching Food Network and reading cooking magazines.  Of course that doesn’t stop me, but sometimes, the clippings, well, they threaten to take over.  Case in point: a few weeks ago, I headed to The Pioneer Woman‘s semi-new cooking forum, Tasty Kitchen.  A co-worker wanted me to make a recipe from there and I had misplaced my copy.  Once there, I lost all track of time and some forty-five minutes later, another ten recipes to make, I found what I was looking for.  One of the recipes I printed out was this one for Chocolate Espresso Bars.  You might remember seeing the picture in a Weekend Photos in Review post recently.  Technically, on The Tasty Kitchen, they are called Coffee Toffee Bars.  I wasn’t getting the “toffee” part, and renamed them in my head right away.

The recipe is crazysimple and the hint of coffee in the dough gives you a nice little java fix from the get-go.  The bars cut super-neat, and they smell amazing while they’re baking.  I bet you even have the ingredients on hand already, making it a fun sweet treat to whip up on the spot when you need to satisfy a craving or have last-minute guests pop in.

Project 365
March 18, 2010, Photo #66

It's Always Flip-Flop Weather

I am not a big flip-flop fan. Never have been, though I’m working on it. Madeline, on the other hand, has got that area covered. And then some. Every morning, when I get her ready, I put on her socks and shoes. Once we get downstairs, I head to the kitchen to get her morning milk, and she has, within minutes, taken off her socks and shoes and put on Nick‘s flip-flops. There are constantly little socks left in her wake around the first floor, and very often hidden wherever she feels like stashing them. I missed a class last week because not only had she hidden her socks, but her shoes too. So maddening sometimes, it’s a darn good thing she’s so cute.

A year ago today … a tasty weeknight meal courtesy of Sausage Stromboli.
Three years ago today … big, fat delicious chocolate chip cookies.
Four years ago today … a field trip to a local foodie haunt.
Chocolate Espresso Bars (aka Coffee Toffee Bars)
Recipe courtesy of The Tasty Kitchen

1 cup soft butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon instant coffee (up to 2 tablespoons for more flavor) (I used espresso powder)
½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoons salt
2-½ cups flour (approximately)
1 cup chocolate chips (up to 2 cups!)

    Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Blend in the almond extract, instant coffee, baking powder and salt. Add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Press into a well-greased 9×13 pan (or a jellyroll pan if you’re doubling it) and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Bake at 350 F for 20 to 25 minutes.

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    Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Chocolate Espresso Bars, Tasty Kitchen, The Pioneer Woman

    Comments

    1. Merry120 says

      March 18, 2010 at 10:40 pm

      Those look great! I feel the same way when I visit your blog. I have a pile of print outs of recipes from your blog to try!

      Reply
    2. Joanne says

      March 19, 2010 at 6:12 am

      It’s a good thing it’s almost flip flop season so that she can wear the flip flops outside…and maybe even get a pair of her own. Do I see a trip to Old Navy in the near future?

      Let’s not talk about bookmarked recipes. I have lists upon lists upon lists. It’s insane.

      These look amazing! I’ve bookmarked them. Sigh,.

      Reply
    3. Sarah says

      March 19, 2010 at 9:11 am

      Thanks for popping by my blog. Being a huge fan of both chocolate and coffee I think I am going to be trying that recipe soon it looks so good.
      Your daughter is very cute I’ve done the last minute sock hunt many times but none of my kids can stand the feel of thongs on their feet.

      Reply
    4. Kris #40 says

      March 19, 2010 at 11:52 am

      She’s too cute! Children’s Place has the best flip flops for kids – 2 for $5. We always stock up.

      Reply
    5. Amanda says

      March 19, 2010 at 6:09 pm

      Well. You get lost at Tasty Kitchen. I get lost here. I just spent WAY too long reading about you and your recipes and jelly beans and traditions and cheese and chocolate…

      Its already 5:00 and I have no dinner ready! I blame you! (but not really)

      :)

      Blessings!
      Amanda

      Reply
    6. Aimee says

      March 21, 2010 at 6:46 pm

      These bars combine my two favorite food groups: coffee and chocolate!

      Reply
    7. hahnak says

      March 23, 2010 at 12:29 am

      hahaha! great story! and thanks sooooo much for satisfying my curiosity (i asked about the chocolate coffee bars). :D yay! these sound positively nummilicious. off to bake…

      Reply
    8. Ramona says

      March 23, 2010 at 10:49 am

      I have to periodically throw out huge piles of printed recipes and clippings because I can’t walk in my junk room.

      Reply
    9. grace says

      March 25, 2010 at 6:52 am

      i think my to-make folder takes up about 77% of my hard-drive…
      these bars sound fabulous…make that 78%. :)

      Reply

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    One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
    I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
    ✌🏻 ✌🏻
    When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛

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    One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
    I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
    ✌🏻 ✌🏻
    When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
    When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
    A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
    The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
    I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also m I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also my lips are never chapped, so there’s that. 😂 And this is only one of my refill stashes. When I was in middle school, I had literally THE WORST chapped lips ever. Like a complete red ring around my top and bottom lips. I don’t think that’s where my lip balm obsession started, but it certainly didn’t help. Jersey winters are no joke (or our hot summers), so don’t mind me while I just add to my collection. What’s your fave?

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