Peanut Butter Snickers Cookie

Halloween has passed on November is officially upon us.  (I hope you are all ready for Christmas commercials, because I have already seen several!)  I had a decent amount trick-or-treaters this year, and enjoyed every one of them.  But I did still have some candy leftover.  You won't hear me complain about that, because I bought some good stuff this year!

By "the good stuff" I mean my favorite candy bar--Snickers.  I don't always eat candy bars.  But when I do, I eat Snickers.  They are tremendous.  I also greatly enjoy peanut butter cookies.  So why not put them together?  One great treat + another great treat = 1 really great treat!  If you have some leftover Snickers from Halloween, do yourself a favor and use them to make these awesome cookies.  If you don't have any leftover Snickers from Halloween, take advantage of candy clearance and get some!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Scotchies

Holy Smokes!  I can't believe that it is almost time to flip my calendar to November.  I have been super busy lately, hence the scarcity of posts.  That is my excuse for why I have made it this far into Fall without posting any pumpkin recipes.  Shame on me!

But I promise the wait is worth it.  I made these yummy pumpkin oatmeal scotchies this weekend and had to share them ASAP.  Pumpkin is just perfect in any form this time of year.  But there is nothing cozier than warm cookies with the flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.  Then add the heartiness of oatmeal and the sweet deliciousness of butterscotch chips, and you have one amazing treat!

Reese's Bars

Dear The Foodie RD followers,
Sadly, the hot weather is back.  Although it's hard to complain too much about 90 degrees when last summer it was over 100 degrees for the whole summer, it is still hot enough that I am back to my oven boycott.  So it's back to good ol' no bake desserts for me.  Oh well.

As much as I love a good chocolate chip cookie hot out of the oven, I have a bunch of yummy no bake dessert recipes that have more than satisfied my sweet tooth.  An added bonus of many of these no bake recipes is that they are are even easier than their baked counterparts.  And this one is definitely falls into this category.  As if it couldn't get better, this recipe copycats that delicious flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter you would find in one of the world's greatest candies, Reese's.

Makeover Monday: Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwiches

Is there a better guilty food pleasure than cookie dough?  I think not.  It is so delicious!  Most people would even probably agree with me that the cookie dough is actually better than the finished cookie product.  But it is taboo to eat cookie dough, or at least more than simply licking the spoon.  Maybe that's part of what makes it so delicious.  Don't we love things we're not supposed to have?

But with this recipe, eating cookie dough doesn't have to be taboo.  Because it doesn't contain raw eggs, it is perfectly safe for anyone to eat.  And you definitely won't be able to stop yourself at just a lick of the spoon with this stuff!  Fortunately, these chocolate chip cookie dough bars aren't just safer to eat with the absence of eggs.  They are also healthier to eat.  I made a few tweaks to this recipe to cut some serious calories.  And even though they are now less of a guilty pleasure, they are definitely still a pleasure!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Butterscotch Chip Cookie Dough Bites

It is still summer.  Therefore, I still am boycotting my oven.  And, I am trying to eat a little healthier.  And I still have a sweet tooth.  Fortunately, I have found an awesome recipe that meets all my needs, especially my need for delicious!

This is one of those Pinterest posts I pinned thinking I might make it "some day."  It had peanut butter, oatmeal, and butterscotch chips, and is eaten in it's delicious cookie dough form.  And it doesn't have any butter or white sugar.  I had to pin that!  When it started getting hot outside, my "some day" finally came.  So I tried it out, and it was absolutely delicious!

S'mores Bars

Another summer is whizzing by.  I can't believe that the 4th of July has already come and gone.  Where is the time going?  I've got less than a month before my summer vacation is officially over.  So I've got to soak up the summer while I can.  

One of the great iconic treats of summer is the s'more.  They are simple goodness.  Artfully toast a marshmallow over a fire on a summer night, add a milk chocolate Hersey bar, put it between graham cracker squares, and devour.  It's really a pretty simple recipe.  And they are fun to make.  But what if you want s'mores pronto?  What if you don't have a fire?  Enter these amazing s'mores bars.  Easy and delicious come together to revamp this great summer classic!

Makeover Monday: Skinny Strawberry Poke Cake

I have another yummy, lightened up treat for you today!  Much like my blueberry cheesecake bars from last week, this strawberry poke cake features tempting seasonal fruit, and is great eaten out of the refrigerator for a refreshing hot-weather treat.  And I made a few changes to make it less of a guilty pleasure.  Let's just call it a pleasure.

When I say that this cake features strawberries, I really mean that it is bursting with strawberries.  I started with a strawberry cake mix, added strawberry gelatin, and even topped it with strawberries.  Strawberry lovers, rejoice!  This great cake is easy, delicious, and low cal!  If you have never had poke cake, you need to make this.  To make it, you poke holes in a baked cake, pour prepared gelatin over it, and top it with pudding and whipped cream.  It is super moist and refreshing, and very easy!

Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry shortcake is an American classic.  Everyone (except maybe people deathly allergic to strawberries) loves it.  Heck, even people allergic to strawberries must wish they could eat it.  For most of my life, I thought that strawberry "shortcake" meant Cool-Whip and sugary, juicy strawberries covering either angel food cake, or those store-bought miniature cakes made for strawberry shortcake.  That was until I found this recipe.

I have had this recipe for years.  It was one of my first ventures into homemade desserts.  I don't remember what made me seek this out, but in doing so, I discovered that traditional strawberry shortcake actually isn't angel food cake, or Hostess cakes.  It is basically a slightly sweet biscuit.  I know it sounds crazy, but this old-fashioned version of strawberry shortcake is actually quite good.  The biscuit is buttery and flaky, and it doesn't compete with the sweetness of the star of the show--the strawberries.  Plus, they are easy to make, and you just can't beat the taste of homemade! 

Makeover Monday: Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (No Eggs!)

I love a good cookie.  Probably too much.  I absolutely can't have just one.  Heck, most of the time I can't have just two!  That's why these peanut butter oatmeal cookies are one of my favorites.  They are tasty, moist, peanut buttery, and relatively healthy.  Relatively.

Another great thing about these yummy cookies is that they are egg free.  I don't have an egg allergy or anything, but if you do, these are for you.  These are also perfect for people like me who prefer their cookies a tad under-baked.  And by under-baked, I mean raw.  Grab a spoon!

Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Pecan Cookies

A lot of the great things in life were made by accident.  Post-It notes and about half of our population come to mind.  And now, these cookies.  Between you and me, these were totally meant to be something else.  These cookies are the product of one of those "oh-crap" kitchen moments.  

They were supposed to be turtle cookies with chocolate chips, pecans, and caramel bits.  I actually made them for a tailgate party last fall.  The day I was to make them, I sent my husband to the store (which almost never happens) with a very specific list, including caramel bits.  I told him the brand I wanted and everything.  He shortly returned home and reported to me that our small town grocery store doesn't have caramel bits.  "Oh crap" might not have been all that was going through my head at that moment, but I put my thinking cap on and came up with something that was delicious in its own right.

Congo Bars

Congo bars?  What the heck is that?  That's what I thought the first time I saw a recipe for Congo bars somewhere out there in internet-land.  For some reason, it just makes me think of something a gorilla would eat.  Do gorillas live in the Congo?  I think weird things.  Anyway, I kept seeing these Congo bars come up here and there.  So I figured they must be good.  Since everyone else was doing it, I decided to do it too.  I'm like that when it comes to baking.  

So what are Congo bars?  My assessment is that they are a little bit of everything good you could imagine to put into a cookie-type bar, actually put into a cookie-type bar.  These are a soft, chewy bar featuring shredded coconut, chopped toasted pecans, chocolate chips, and even white chocolate!  I don't know how these bars came to be, or why they are called Congo bars, but I am thankful for the person who came up with this idea!

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

In case you haven't been able to tell by all the cheesy jewelry store and Russell Stover's commercials on TV, or you haven't noticed that everything in every single store is either pink or red, tomorrow is Valentine's Day!  And all you ladies out there know that food really truly is the way to a man's heart.  And what better way to treat your sweetheart than with a sweet treat?  

These pretty red velvet crinkle cookies are perfect for Valentine's Day.  They are soft and chewy with the rich, delicious red velvet taste that is sweeping internet-land.  One taste, and you will certainly be love-struck!  And if you have a busy Valentine's Day planned, possibly the best thing about these delectable treats is that they are quick and easy to make.  Yes, these are a cheater's cookie.  But they taste so good, no one will know they took almost no effort!

Makeover Monday: Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies

I didn't eat a lot of store-bought goodies growing up.  I guess I've always been more of a homemade kind of girl.  When I was a kid though, I used to go to my grandma's house after school until my mom got off work.  Like all good grandmas, mine kept lots, and lots, and lots, of snacks on hand.  Looking back on it, it is a wonder that I wasn't obese as a child!  I have many fond memories of delicious treats at my grandma's house, and one of my favorites was Little Debbie's Oatmeal Creme Pies.

But, the doctors keep telling me that I'm done growing, so I guess childhood is over.  And I haven't had an oatmeal creme pie since I was knee high to a grasshopper.  So when I saw a recipe on the internet for homemade oatmeal creme pies, I knew I had found something special.  I love the idea of taking store-bought favorites and making them myself.  

When I finally got around to making these yummy treats, I decided that I would try my hand at making these a little easier on the waistline.  I made a few simple swaps to help me feel less guilty about devouring them, which I knew I would do as soon as they were made.  Which I did.  Hey, they were delicious!  

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is no doubt about the two most popular cookies in our house--peanut butter and chocolate chip (not necessarily in the order).  So I am ashamed of myself that it took me so long to put those two together to make the ultimate cookie.  Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are now officially the new favorite cookie in this house!  Well, we have a lot of favorite cookies.  But these are right up there!

What's not to love about these cookies?  Soft, chewy, peanut butter cookies get an upgrade with the addition of chocolate chips.  It was just meant to be!  I made a double batch of these amazing cookies for a tailgate party a few weeks ago.  I was hoping to be able to take at least a few of them back home to enjoy.  No such luck.  I could only sit back and watch them quickly disappear.  My mistake was actually telling people these were peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.  I should have gone with vegan organic prune cookies.  Rookie mistake!

Triple Chocolate Biscotti

As foodies around America slowly digest their turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, it is time to officially kick off Christmas cookie season!  If you're like me, you've been waiting all year to show off your best cookie creations.  And if you haven't added biscotti to your Christmas cookie repertoire, now is the time!

I know biscotti sounds and looks fancy, but that's what makes it the perfect cookie for your next cookie exchange, or just to share with someone to say "thanks" this holiday season.  I promise it's not hard to make.  I have made biscotti several times, and it has impressed every time.  I'm no fancy pastry chef.  And I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.  It really is easier than you might think!  If you've been putting off trying biscotti because you haven't found the recipe that just knocks your socks off, this is it.  Have you ever had triple chocolate anything that wasn't amazing?  I didn't think so!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Few things are more comforting in the fall than pumpkin and oatmeal.  Of course, pumpkin is the flavor of the month.  But there is something about the heartiness of oatmeal that just makes you feel good.  And everyone knows that few things make people happier than cookies.  So what do you get when you take an oatmeal cookie and mix in some pumpkin and spice goodness?  The ultimate fall treat!

These pumpkin oatmeal cookies are everything you could hope for this time of year.  They are soft and fluffy with a slight chew due to the oatmeal and some crunch from chopped pecans.  The addition of pumpkin and its spice friends, cinnamon and cloves, make these cookies a perfect palate pleasing, spirit warming, autumn goodie!  They kind of taste like pumpkin pie disguised as a cookie.

Apple Pie Cake with Butter Rum Sauce (and Cinnamon Candied Pecan Homemade Ice Cream!)

 It's apple time!  I can't get enough apples this time of year.  I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  And as a snack.  And I could wash it all down with a gallon of apple cider.  That oughtta keep the doctor away!  But, I do actually eat other things, even in the fall.  Because I have approximately 1 million apple recipes, I have to do a little picking and choosing.  It's so hard to decide what to make sometimes!

Apple pie is one of my favorite all-time desserts.  But I'm also pretty fond of spice cakes.  Fortunately, I have this great apple pie cake recipe that brings these two great treats together.  I love it when I don't have to choose!  This is really easy to make, and just tastes like fall!  And as if that wasn't enough, I topped it off with an outrageously delicious butter rum sauce, and served it with homemade cinnamon candied pecan ice cream.  This dessert is heaven you can eat!

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

No-bake cookies are one of my favorite cookies.  Ever.  There is nothing fancy about them, and I'm sure they've been around forever.  But they are just so good I had to include them in my blog.  I have always just called these "no-bake cookies."  But I thought I might make it a little clearer as to what kind of no-bake cookies these are.  Chocolate.  Peanut butter.  I think that says enough about why these are so good!  And don't forget about oatmeal, sugar, and butter!  These are a few of my favorite things.


Another great thing about chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies is that they are incredibly fast and easy to make.  I made these for a coworker over my lunch hour one day.  I mixed it all up in one saucepan, so I had only one dish to clean.  And because they are no-bake, you don't even have to turn on the oven.  That makes them fast, easy, delicious, and eco-friendly!

Butterfinger Ice Cream Cake

Few things are more satisfying on a hot summer day than an ice cream cake.  They are cold, refreshing, sweet, creamy and delicious.  I have always been a huge fan of Dairy Queen's ice cream cakes.  Who isn't?  But I'm not really a fan of the price tag on a Dairy Queen ice cream cake.  Fortunately, I can make my own. 

That being said, please take note that this is not an exact replica of the Dairy Queen version.  But it is still ice cream in a cake pan.  To be more specific, it is a layer of ice cream sandwiches, a layer of chocolate ice cream, and a layer of whipped topping.  And it has crushed Butterfinger bars and chocolate syrup on top.  And it is amazing.  So take that, Dairy Queen!

Makeover Monday: Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

The original version of this recipe, what my mom calls strawberry pie, is frequently requested in our family get-togethers, and quickly consumed. It has a lot going for it; it is sweet, fruity, easy to make, and quite refreshing on a hot day. It has layer of cheesecake-like filling and a strawberry glaze with sliced strawberries all on a pre-baked pie crust.  And it's delicious. 

 

When I got the recipe from my mom, I could see there was a lot of room for calorie reduction. Some things were obvious, like Splenda, sugar-free Jell-O, reduced fat cream cheese, and diet soda. But some things weren't so obvious. And when I went to make this, I wasn't looking for a partial makeover. I wanted the Extreme Makeover of strawberry pie.  

 

My concerns were powdered sugar and pie crust. I've tried a low-fat pie crust before, but there is just no substitute for butter in pie crust. And I've never come across a low calorie version of powdered sugar. I would not be deterred, though!  So I took this fatty, sugary, family favorite and made some adjustments that turned it into something all my own.  It's still delicious, still devour-able, but much more bikini-season-friendly!