Dark Chocolate Blondies with a Hazelnut Crumb

Not only do I have this tower of dark chocolate blondies in my house, but I also have my little sister here. Noelle flew in from West Virginia today and saw Lucy for the very first time. I don’t know who was more excited about her arrival: Noelle, Lucy or me! Seeing my baby sister walk towards me, (no, us!) nearly brought tears to my eyes. I miss her terribly, and it’s broken my heart to not have her nearby during Lucy’s first few weeks of life. I grew up with her by my side. She clung to my dress as a toddler, we shared a secret language, and we’ve cried and laughed together like all sisters do. I’m so thankful she could take time out of her busy schedule to come see us. We’re in for a very good week.

These blondies came about after a quick facebook survey: Apple Pie Blondies or Chocolate Hazelnut cookies? The chocolate hazelnut cookies won, hands down. But when I thought about a thick and chewy bar, my stomach growled. And so I combined both of my proposals into one: Dark Chocolate Blondies with a Hazelnut Crumb. Noelle’s arrival served as the perfect occasion to make these treats!

Roasted cinnamon, vanilla extract, dark chocolate, and toasted hazelnuts elevate these bars. I used McCormick spices and extracts for this recipe…their roasted cinnamon is a must-have. My sister took a bite and said, “these remind me of fall,” and I agree, these bars are perfect for September. Ryan and I live right next door to an elementary school, and with the advent of autumn we now watch kindergarteners play and form alliances on the playground. The school’s PTA is hosting a bake sale next week, and I can’t help but think that these bars would be the most popular item sold.

I had these in the oven within 30 minutes but they made my house smell better than it has in weeks. These are the recipes I love: simple yet flavorful. The dark chocolate and the toasted hazelnuts added a depth of color and flavor to the classic golden blondie. And when I gave a sample to my family this evening? Well, there were no words…just very happy mouths.

Dark Chocolate Blondies with a Hazelnut Crumb

Dark Chocolate Blondies

8 TBSP butter, melted and cooled

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Hazelnut Crumb

4 TBSP butter, melted and cooled

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

2/3 cup chopped hazelnuts

1 teaspoon McCormick Roasted Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8×8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together 8 TBSP melted butter with 1 cup brown sugar. Whisk in egg and vanilla. Fold in flour and chocolate chips. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, chopped hazelnuts, and roasted cinnamon. Pour 4 TBSP melted butter over top and stir until crumbs begin to form (I used my fingers!)

Spread blondie mixture into pan and cover generously with crumb mixture. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the middle of the blondies have just begun to set.

Monet

Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Wild Mushroom Samosas

First. Thanks everyone who voted for Ryan in the American Made Contest and participated in our giveaway last week! I’m happy to announce that Marta, from What Should I Eat For Breakfast, will soon receive a lovely Fox pendant of her own. To make this even more special, Marta lives in Berlin, which means that one of Ryan’s pendants will make a cross-Atlantic journey. Be brave little Fox!

Second. Cameras. Mine broke over the weekend…in the midst of a rather extensive project. And so I had to buy a new one. A Nikon 7000d. I’m already quite happy with the body and look forward to buying a few nice lenses over the next year. Cameras are expensive though, so Ryan and I will be watching our budget closely this next month to compensate for my expensive new accessory.

Third. Lucille. Can I really go an entire blog post without mentioning Lucy? She spent the weekend largely with daddy so I could work on shooting a series of recipes. She’s vocalizing more than ever, and as I type I can hear her squealing in the living room. How amazing it must be to hear your child’s first words! And yes, Lucy definitely made the camera purchase easier. There are countless moments I want to capture over the next few years.

And Lastly. These wild mushroom samosas. I made these on Sunday morning, and our house smelled of butter and curry for the rest of the day. We dipped these bite-sized samosas into a simple sauce made of Greek yogurt and Mango chutney. They were a perfect mid-day meal for Ryan and me, but could also be enjoyed as an appetizer for a dinner party. What a I love about this recipe is that it calls for pie dough. You can make your own, or, if you’re busy, you can purchase pre-made dough from the grocery store (guess what this new mama did?) I also liked that these samosas are baked not fried. Not only are the healthier but the clean-up is far easier too.

I hope everyone has a relaxing Monday (and if you live in the States…Happy Labor Day!) Tune back in on Wednesday to see another round of family pictures.

Wild Mushroom Samosas

1 medium red potato, cut into 1/4-inch cubes (about 3/4 cup)

2/3 cup frozen petite peas, slightly thawed

3 tablespoons butter

1 small onion, chopped (about 3/4 cup)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon Curry Powder

1 package (10 ounces) cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, coarsely chopped

1/3 cup finely chopped plum tomato

1/3 cup reduced fat sour cream

1 tablespoon flour

1/2 teaspoon sugar

2 packages (14.1 ounces each) refrigerated pie crusts (4 crusts)

Curried Mango Dipping Sauce:

1/2 cup plain Greek-style yogurt

1/4 cup mango chutney

1/2 teaspoon Curry Powder

Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring potatoes and water to cover to boil in large saucepan on high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 5 minutes or until tender. Add peas; cook 30 seconds. Drain well. Set aside.

Melt butter in same saucepan on medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir 3 minutes or until tender. Add curry powder; cook and stir 1 minute or until fragrant. Add mushrooms; cook and stir 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in tomato and potatoes and peas. Mix sour cream, flour and sugar in small bowl. Add to pan; stir gently until well blended. Set aside.

On lightly floured surface, roll each crust into 12-inch circle. Using 3 1/2-inch round cutter, cut each into 8 rounds for a total of 32 rounds. If necessary, gather scraps to roll and form rounds. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of filling onto half of each round. Moisten edge with water. Fold in half; press edge with a fork to seal. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Make small slits on top with small knife or kitchen shears.

Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until lightly browned. For the Curried Mango Dipping Sauce, mix all ingredients until well blended. Serve samosas with Dipping Sauce.

Monet

Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Little Things

No recipe today, just simple shots of our life this past week. Tune back next Wednesday for a similar post! I’d also love to have you follow me on Instagram (@cakestand) if you’re interested in more photos of food and baby!

We take weekly (or maybe daily) trips to Whole Foods. She sleeps like an angel. I buy flowers.

A dear friend made me a beautiful necklace while pregnant. The necklace bears the patron saint of pregnant women and mothers. Lucille clings to it each time we nurse, making this necklace even more precious to me as a new mom.

My own dear mother went with me to Lucille’s 2 month doctor’s appointment…despite a broken foot! She’s a strong and beautiful woman. Without a doubt, she’s my hero.

And these two. Yes, Ryan and Lucy have matching moose shirts. Could they be any more adorable?

Lucy at 9 weeks. Enough said.

Chicken soup to help nurse my chest cold. I’m now convinced it takes longer to get over a sickness when you’re a mom.

Wearing my old romper!

And…don’t forget to enter my contest to win one of Ryan’s lovely necklaces! Vote using the web address above and then leave a comment on this blog post for a chance to win.

Monet

Anecdotes and Apple Cores

The Stork

As many of you know, Ryan and I struggled with infertility issues before we conceived Lucille last Fall. Our story is similar to many other young couples…we watched our friends conceive with ease while we faced month after month of disappointment. Thankfully, we found a compassionate and knowledgeable doctor in Austin, who finally was able to explain what was wrong…and offer a course of treatment.

And of course, as many of you also know, we ended up not needing that course of treatment…because it was in her very examining room at our first appointment that we found out we were already pregnant!

Our fertility issue had resolved itself with time, and we were able to conceive our first child on our own.

However, we have many friends who successfully completed rounds of IVF, as well as other less invasive fertility treatments. It is always especially joyful to watch these parents welcome their little ones into the world because I know the tears and struggles they faced to make their dreams of a family a reality. So when Rinovum Women’s Health contacted me about a new at-home fertility treatment, I was eager to share it with my readers (in hopes that it might be of use to at least one of you!)

Rinovum Women’s Health recently released the Stork and received FDA authorization for the kit in 2012. The Stork is an at-home insemination product that can help aid conception for couples who are facing infertility issues due to low sperm count, motility issues, or a hostile cervical environment (it can also be used for couples trying to become pregnant without intercourse). The Stork kit includes a cervical cap inside a condom-like sheath, which collects semen that can then be inserted via applicator just outside the woman’s cervix. While some couples face fertility challenges that require advanced assistance, there are many couples with problems that can be treated without hormones or costly insemination procedures. It is so important to talk to your OB/GYN or reproductive endocrinologist to determine what camp you fall in. If he or she thinks that the Stork might be a good fit for you and your partner, they can write a prescription…and you can try this natural treatment at home!

The Stork was designed as a natural, cost-effective option to help couples bridge the gap between natural conception and more aggressive treatments. It can be used in the privacy of the home without affecting daily routine (which I love) – both for couples with no known fertility issues and for those who are experiencing difficulty conceiving.

If you want to learn more, please talk to your doctor! You can also find more information by exploring the Rinovum website. And please always feel free to contact me if you want to hear more about my own experience with infertility.

Monet

Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Lemon Rosemary Pound Cake AND Stitch and Saw Giveaway!

Seven years ago this October, I fell in love with my husband. It was a cool fall, one that promised snow plows and winter coats to come. In many ways, our dating relationship was effortless. We fell in love quickly and never looked back.

Together, we traveled to Spain and Portugal, Paris and London. We got married in a tiny church in Manitou Springs. We lost a father, a sister, and a nephew together. We ate breakfast tacos in Austin, bagels in New York, and lobsters in Maine. We learned to love each others families as our own. We ran through the rain together. We swam in the ocean together. And then we had our bright baby girl this June. Our greatest adventure for sure.

But perhaps, most importantly, we learned how to celebrate the others’ unique talents. Ryan pushed me to pursue my MFA in Creative Writing, and he helped me deliver wedding cake after wedding cake in Austin. He encourages me in small and big ways every day. So it is with much pleasure that I share some of my husband’s beautiful jewelry and offer the opportunity for one of my readers to win a pendant of their own.

Ryan has entered American Made, a contest that “spotlights the maker, supports the local, and celebrates the handmade.” Starting today, you can vote for Stitch and Saw in the Craft Section of American Made. Winners are determined entirely by popular vote…every click counts! Not only does this give Ryan the opportunity to win 10,000 dollars as well as a feature in Martha Stewart, but it also offers nation-wide exposure. We’re both excited for what this contest might bring.

In Ryan’s own words: