Sweet on Trader Joe's Saturday: Pumpkin Macarons

I snapped this picture in Trader Joe's yesterday:

It is OFFICIALLY pumpkin season!  Yay!!!

Today, we review Trader Joe's Pumpkin Macarons. 

You'll find these in the freezer section, but don't worry, they only take 30 minutes to defrost.  Trader Joe's description of these is "light and delicate, yet abundant with the smooth, warming flavor of pumpkin and traditional pumpkin pie spices..." A box of 12 macarons costs $4.99.


A mom's (my) take: Trader Joe's does macarons right.  A delicate, crisp shell, a chewy interior, perfect little feet, and a flavorful but not overpowering filling.  The pumpkin flavor is just right...you can taste both the pumpkin and the spices, really reminiscent of pumpkin pie.  My only complaint, as it is with all macarons...it's way too easy to eat 6 of them and still want more. ;)
Overall rating: 5 of 5 stars

A teenager's (kiddo's) take: These are the best store-bought macarons I've ever had. The light, airy shell is perfectly balanced by the chewy, sweet interior. The pumpkin flavor is not too strong but still enough to taste it. I could also eat several boxes of these.
Overall rating: 6 out of 5 stars :)

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Macarons: it's pumpkin season, y'all.

To read more of our Trader Joe's dessert reviews, click here.  
 

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Xanadu, your neon lights will shine...

Birthdays...when we were growing up, my parents instituted a "birthday party rule."  Birthday PARTIES were every other year...on the "off years," we could invite a friend or two to dinner, or to the movies, and over for cake.  I have no idea where they came up with this idea, but we decided to carry on the tradition with kiddo, too.


I had been thinking about one of my teenage birthdays...I think I was 12 or 13.  One of the movie theaters in "the city" was having a special showing of Xanadu.  I think the movie came out a couple of years earlier and I already had my white roller skates and knew all of the songs by heart.  My parents took a few of us down for the movie.  I can't remember much else from that birthday...just Xanadu.

{photo credit olivia-newtonjohn.com}

Please tell me you're a Xanadu fan, too!  I loved all things Olivia Newton-John.  Her voice, her face, her accent, her perfect hair!!!  Remember those thin hair ribbons?  And, that off the shoulder white top?  Oh!  And, that cowgirl outfit?  And Gene Kelly?!?  Oh my gosh...yeah.  I loved Xanadu.


In my mind, I was ONJ as Kira....in reality, I was a frizzy-haired girl with braces who was a little (a lot) wobbly on those skates, but man, it was fun to pretend.


The week I was thinking about those birthday memories, I got an email from McCormick.  They're celebrating their 125th (!) birthday this month. Did you know September is the most popular month for birthdays?  I didn't, either!


To celebrate, McCormick is igniting a conversation about birthdays and asking people all over the globe to share their favorite birthday flavor story.  For every story shared on McCormick's website or social media channels, McCormick will donate $1 to United Way to feed those in need.

In honor of birthday month, they released a new vanilla extract: Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract.
It's luscious and rich...25% stronger than the classic vanilla and the perfect balance between sweet caramel and bourbon-rummy flavors.  It is PERFECT in baked goods...and also to dab a little behind your ears. ♥


I used it to make Vanilla-Clementine Cut-Outs for the Xanadu-inspired cookies.  The strong vanilla flavor combined with the sweet and fresh clementine is just swoon-worthy.  The cookies also have a little kick of salt that balances out the flavors so well.  I love them almost as much as I love Xanadu. ;)



Vanilla-Clementine Cut-Out Cookies
{makes about 12 cookies, depending on cutter size}

2 & 1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into chunks
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract
zest of one clementine
1 teaspoon clementine juice

Preheat oven to 350. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together.  Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add in the egg, vanilla, zest, and juice.  Beat until well combined.  Add in the flour mixture on low speed, mixing until just combined.

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.  Once chilled, roll to 1/4" thick on a surface dusted with flour, and cut with cookie cutters.  If the dough becomes sticky, refrigerate.  Place shapes onto parchment-lined cookies sheets.  Freeze the shapes for 5-10 minutes before baking to help retain the shape.

Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until done.  Cool completely on wire cooling racks before decorating.  Use royal icing to decorate.

What's one of your favorite birthday memories?  Does it involve Xanadu?

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Decorating Cookies Party: sneak peek!

Last week I finally (FINALLY!) got my hands on some copies of Decorating Cookies Party!  Yay!

{Spike is VERY into cookie decorating, as you will see.}

Just a week or two to go until the books will hit stores.  The official release date is October 7th, but sometimes Amazon likes to send out books a little early. 

I have a fun giveaway planned for the official launch...stay tuned.  For now, I wanted to show you a few pictures from the inside.
This is tough...because I want you to see most of it for the first time when you're flipping the pages in your own kitchen, or sitting in the car line at school.  (Am I the only one who arrives at the school parking lot with a stack of magazines and cookbooks?)

I posted here about what you'll find inside.  This is a cookie PARTY book after all, so here are some of my beautiful friends (cookie) partying it up.  (Next time, I promised them wine.)

I'll walk you through hosting a cookie party of your own in the book.

Just like Decorating Cookies, this book has step-by-step photo tutorial of every decorated cookie.


Plus, 5 cookie recipes!!!  (One gluten-free, my friends!  No fat-free, sorry.)



You'll find detailed instruction and photos for all kinds of cookie decorating...including some new techniques in this book, like stamping and using silicone molds.


You guys...I'm just so excited for this book.  Not only does it contain some of my favorite cookie designs, but I actually took most of the photographs, too.  With the exception of the 10 shots of the cookie sets, each and every photo was taken by me...right here in my kitchen.  Well, Mr. E took approximately 1,792 pictures of me to get two passable author shots. ;)


Like I said, I want you to see the book for the first time when you have it in your hands, but just a little peek...

{I never thought I was a princess girl...until I made this cookie.  I love her.}

On October 7th or thereabouts, you should start seeing Decorating Cookies Party in your local book store. 
I get lots of questions...mainly from friends (and my mother-in-law) about whether this book I've been working on will be available in "actual bookstores."  YES.  No, I'm not selling it out of the trunk of my car. (Well, only on special occasions. NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.)  

Until then, it is available for pre-order.  I have all of that information HERE, along with how you can get exclusive recipes if you pre-order by October 7th.

 {I have a picture of kiddo in the exact spot reading my last book 2 years ago.  He's changed so much...and I still haven't painted my walls.}

I do have a few local events in the works...and I'm begging, pleading politely asking my publisher to let me go a few places outside of Houston to sign books and meet you.  If you have city requests, please leave them in the comments.


A few dozen sprinkles were consumed in the making of this book. 

Hey! You Got Peanut Butter in my Chocolate (Chips).

Hopefully, you're old enough to remember that commercial.  Remember the person walking down the street eating peanut butter from a jar?  I mean, Nutella I get, but peanut butter?  Anyway...the commercial is still burned in my brain.


You know when you see something at the grocery store and you don't think twice, you just buy it.  Well, when I saw these peanut butter-filled chocolate chips, that was exactly the case. (Note the caramel-filled chocolate chips behind them.)


What do they taste like?  Tiny peanut butter cups.  In other words, they're dangerous.  Baked into soft, puffy peanut butter cookies, they are irresistible.

I'm thinking you need to go pick up a bag right now.  Yes, you in your yoga pants.  Go.  You, in your pjs.  Well, change out of your pjs, then go.

 

Soft Peanut Butter Cookies with Peanut Butter-Filled Chocolate Chips

{makes 24-ish...honestly, we ate them so quickly, I forgot how many}

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 & 1/4 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup butter, cut into chunks
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 TBSP corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 & 3/4 cups peanut butter (I use Jif Natural)
1 (9-oz) package Nestle Delightfulls peanut butter-filled chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, baking soda, salt.  Set aside.

In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, both sugars, and corn syrup for a few minutes until light and fluffy.  Add in the eggs and vanilla; mix until well combined.  Beat in the peanut butter.

Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips.

Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to dollop the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets.  Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until the cookies are done.  Remove to wire cooling racks to cool completely.


What are you waiting for?  Are you heading to the grocery store to get those chips?!?

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Sweet on Trader Joe's Saturday: Cowgirl Bark

Our very first Trader Joe's review was Cowboy Bark, so when I spied this bag of CowGIRL Bark on our last visit, I just had to pick it up. 

To tell you the truth, I felt a little bad about buying it.  The base is white chocolate, and I am so not a white chocolate girl, but...the bag is PINK and the name is so cute.  I couldn't help myself.


Trader Joe's describes this as "Cowgirl Bark offers you an unexpected and adventuresome treat...white chocolate with crisp rice, triple ginger cookies, pretzels, cranberries, almonds, and peanuts."  The 8-ounce will set you back $3.69.


A mom's (my) take: As I said before, I am not a white chocolate girl.  This Cowgirl Bark might have just converted me.  I LOVED it.  It's the perfect combination of sweet and salty.  The crisp rice gives extra crunch, while the cranberries add some chewiness.  The ginger cookies and the white chocolate play nicely together.  I'm sold.
Overall rating: 5 of 5 stars

A teenager's (kiddo's) take: I love white chocolate. I like the texture and overall feel, but there's something about the fruit mixed in that doesn't agree with me. I guess I'm not a big fan of fruit and chocolate together. Or maybe it's because I'm not a "cowgirl". :)
Overall rating 3.5 out of 5 stars

Trader Joe's Cowgirl Bark: mosey on over to TJ's and rustle some up for yourself!

Want to read more of our Trader Joe's dessert reviews?  Click here.

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Quebec City...pack your bags, people.

It's not easy to surprise your husband with a 50th birthday trip. 
Heck, I could barely click "purchase now" for the airline tickets without asking his opinion on the prices and flight times.

Quebec City has been on our "maybe someday" list of places to visit every since my cousin and her husband (remember their engagement cookies?) honeymooned there.
(Also, they just had a baby girl yesterday...named Bridget. I cried. Hi, baby Bridget!!!)
I remember seeing the pictures and thinking that Quebec City looked magical.  It is.

So many people have asked, "why Quebec City?"  Since I was sold on it through pictures, that's what I'll share with you, too.  Mainly pictures and a few tidbits.  (No, this is not a sponsored post.  Yes, Quebec City...consider this an open letter.  We're available for relocation. ;))

I could talk all day about these yellow shutters...

Utterly charming.


{Yes, that is a water fountain for horses. I TOLD you...QC is SO cute!!!}

Quebec City likes its statues...


The food. Oh my gosh. This is from a bakery called Le Croquembouche. Mr. E ordered an ice cream. Kiddo ordered a sandwich. My order is below:
That little pastry with the heart is chocolate mousse with a praline crust covered in dark chocolate.  I'll remember that forever.

Before the trip, I tried to learn a little French on the sly. My French app really seemed to understand me.
Also, every time I spoke French to someone, they answered me in English.  Hey, I tried.


No trip out of the country is complete without a parking ticket.  Just ask my dad who has a 20-year-old outstanding parking ticket in Ireland.  (PS: we paid this one.)


There are lots of cool things to see outside of the city, too.  Like Montmorency Falls.  Not as wide as Niagara Falls, but taller.


Y'all.  We rode a cable car to the top...walked across a bridge over the top of the falls, and walked down about a million steps to get back down.  It was cool.

The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.  Beautiful.



Let me tell you about the hotel where we stayed:
Le Chateau Frontenac.
It's easy to see why it's the most photographed hotel in the world.  I could NOT stop taking pictures of it...from every angle. (It's in the first picture of this post and a few of the collages, too.)

{Again, this is not a sponsored post...but if you visit, think about staying here, or at least have a drink in the bar.}


Lobby.


Gorgeous bar.


I knew we had breakfast included with our stay, but let's be honest, hotel breakfast are usually a let down, right? Not this one. I contemplated staying there all day. Four (4) kinds of croissants, fresh crepes, eggs, CHOCOLATES (!!!), and a million other goodies, PLUS juice in the cutest glass bottles. There was even a big bowl of Nutella! It was dreamy. 
{Yes, the longest paragraph of this post is about a breakfast buffet.}

We were totally smitten with Le Chateau Frontenac...and so glad that my cousin & her husband recommended it.


There are SO many things to see, and do, and EAT.  The museums, Ile d'Orleans, etc., etc. If you go, will you take me with you?


PS...Mr. E was totally surprised with the trip! Maybe we'll go back for his 51st. ;)

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