TWD: Applesauce Spice Bars

Karen over at Something Sweet by Karen defied the season and picked a treat that quickly put me in the mood for Fall. It helps that the weather here has been unseasonably cool. It should be blazing hot, and all the fans in my house should be on, but instead just one little fan on low, just because the oven was on and the house had been closed up all day (closed windows another sure sign it isn't summer). Before you all get jealous, I'm sure we'll be in for a scorching September and October. Hopefully scorching in temperature only, as we are well known for our October wild fires.


But on to more pleasant talk -- how about these bars!?!? Super easy to make with a minimal of equipment needed (I reread the directions to make sure I added up the number of bowls/pots I would need - two just seemed too good to be true). This was the recipe that made me break down and buy allspice. We've had recipes that required it before, but I've always skipped it. I don't know why this one made me open up the wallet -- I guess that picture in the cookbook just looks too good to mess with.


A whisk, some melting and whisking, a bit more whisking and then gentle stirring. Baking whilst watching a little Big Brother (I was expecting more "oomph" with Chima's expulsion - kinda disappointing), cooling while washing, more melting and whisking (oops, put the vanilla in early!), a little putting the thing back together as it broke coming out of the pan, a bit of spreading, and viola, a yummy dessert!


I like how the spices are there, but not overpowering, and I like the contrast between the apples, the raisins (used those Trader Joe's goldens) and the pecans. Simply delish!

Perhaps some will make it to work tomorrow, but not all. Some will definitely stay behind to keep me (and my hips) company. These are good enough to willingly go to the gym tomorrow (that means they are good!).

TWD: Chipster-Topped Brownies

Every once in awhile one of Dorie's recipes will break your heart, and for me, this was the one. I was rather ambivilant about the recipe -- chocolate chip cookie dough on top of brownies seems a little excessive. It's the "one of a good thing means 5 will be better" kind of thinking that is the root cause of much that is wrong in modern times. But I was willing to give this recipe a shot. I love chocolate chip cookies. I love brownies. How could this go wrong?

It went wrong in one way - not getting cooked enough. When I came out to the kitchen the next morning and saw the crater in the middle of the pan, my heart sunk (just like this recipe!). Although I cooked it for the required amount of time, and did the test per Dorie's instructions, the middle was not cooked enough. The edges were cooked a little too much. If I were to make this again I'd make it in two smaller pans rather than in one large one.

I followed the directions and everything went great. I did use the nuts (stunningly I had just enough on hand), and had no problem getting the cookie dough on top of the brownie layer. The brownie layer seemed to set up nicely while putting the dough together, and I didn't have the problems there that some seemed to comment on in the P&Qs this week.

Since I planned on bringing these to work for an occassion, I tried to save the middle pieces by sending them back to the oven for a short time. Crazy, I know, but desparate times require desparate measures (it was a whole lot of chocolate and butter to just go to waste. I had to try something!). After 6-7 minutes in a 350 degree oven......well.......see for yourself.........

Before.........


After.........

Despite the trouble and heartbreak, these were very tasty and my co-workers gobbled them up. Sadly there were only a few that were just right rather than too soft or too dry (perhaps I'll call these the Goldilocks bars - I kind of like that!).

The recipe can be found at Supplicious and was picked by Beth. I always feel bad when I make something that doesn't turn out -- I don't want the one who picked to think they picked a dud! So Beth, although it was a mixed result, the part that was edible was really tasty (okay -- even the melty version above, super tasty!).

TWD: Carmel Crunch Bars

Today's TWD was just something that needed to get done. You know that feeling -- you've got a lot to do on top of a lot that's already done, and this little baked good is just another thing on the "to do" list that needs to be checked off. That was how I approached this week's choice by Whitney over at What's left on the Table. I know I shouldn't say such a thing out loud, but that was my reality this morning when I started. I simply wanted to get them done.

I really was looking forward to this choice too. If it has Heath Bar anything, I'm sold. This recipe is easy enough, but, if I can confess one more thing I shouldn't, I'm getting a little tired of chopping chocolate. Don't get me wrong, I love to eat chocolate, and I love chocolate desserts. But working with chocolate is messy, and everything I've made lately has chocolate (including Sunday's Oscar night Cheesecake), and I'm beginning to have evil thoughts about it.

On the up side I realized as I worked that the whole "practice makes perfect" thing really is true. I've found a rhythm in my kitchen and baking routine and have a much better idea of how to get ingredients and recipes put together without it seemingly taking all day. I felt pretty good about that, and thought it was my "take away" for the project.

Then, just after I put the base of the bars in the oven, I had a bite of the dough. If my mouth could have done a back flip and jumped up and down like a cheerleader, it would. "Oh my, that was good!" it shrieked (shrieked I tell you!). Suddenly, the whole "project" turned to a joy. Kind of like driving to work in the rain, cursing all the traffic, only to see a double rainbow light up the sky. Or you go to a movie you didn't really want to, only to think it the funniest thing you've seen in ages. That's what these bars ended up being for me.

My co-workers were enthusiastic as well. Their mouths were doing back flips too, I'd guess, based on how quickly the bars went, and how many requests for the recipe I got. So thanks Whitney, for a great pick. And for providing me my double rainbow for the day.