Treats for appetites of every size
Summer has this really annoying way of seeming like it stretches on forever until all of a sudden the other end of it is almost here and you’re running out of time. Last weekend, my mom and I were casually browsing travel books while we planned our trip. Today we are in a position, two weeks from being in London, where we should really have hotel accommodations booked.
Before getting into this week’s post, I of course have to say Happy Father’s Day to the best Daddy-O a girl could ask for! Love you! I’m sad I don’t get to spend the day with him, but in five days I’ll finally be moving back to Massachusetts and will be able to see him all the time! Also, in light of that, my dad recommended a theme for this week: my Parting Post from Passaic.
Last week was my birthday, which is the best day of my birthday week, which is the best week of my birthday month. I’m not sure when exactly I decided my birthday was in fact a month-long event, but it was definitely a decision that I stand by. In fact, I was still celebrating my birthday week this weekend at Taste of Country Music Festival, which is why this post is a day late.
“Pride keeps you warm on Easter.” That’s what my mom said to me as we speed-walked to church this morning in the bitterly cold wind wearing pretty dresses meant for much warmer weather. Being back in Massachusetts for the holiday, it really does seem like winter will never end. There actually is still snow on the ground. And I’m not just talking the snow piles in parking lots at the mall. In my parents’ backyard, there is snow.
When I told some friends, also first year teachers, that I would bake for them if they came over to my apartment to lesson plan, their request was obvious: chocolate. So naturally I immediately thought of brownies. Now, I personally am a huge fan of boxed brownie mix. I think Ghirardelli does a perfectly good job, and, honestly, duncan hines are delicious too. But a blog post about how to add water to chocolate powder wouldn’t be all that exciting, and there was the additional request of chunks, which boxed mix doesn’t do all that well.
I know, I know, it’s Monday, not Sunday. And you all thought I forgot you. Yesterday I ran a half marathon. So while I did bake, I was a little bit too exhausted to think about uploading pictures and typing a post. But not to worry, I’m here, on a Monday, to tell you all about Oh Henry Bars!
So I had no intention of making carrot cake cupcakes today. Tomorrow is the first day of school (Yay!) and I wanted to make something quick, but when I was looking through ingredients, I dropped my carton of eggs and three cracked. This recipe called for three eggs, so I put on Mamma Mia and went for it (Side note: the Mamma Mia soundtrack is hands down the best baking music I’ve ever found).
In college, my friends all decided that my spirit animal was a baby elephant. I’m not really sure what that says about me, but I do think that elephants are cute, so I decided to embrace it. As my inaugural post to SMiLes by Meg, and my first baking adventure in my new apartment, it only seemed fitting that I would make elephant cookies.