Oatmeal Toffee Cookies (gluten-free)

Luckily for me, we are not gluten-free around here...I'm living on a diet I like to call the "All Gluten, All the Time Diet."  BUT, I kind of fell in love with oat flour when developing a gluten-free cut-out cookie recipe for Decorating Cookies Party.



Oat flour has great texture, and makes for a substantial cookie.  Oats are naturally gluten-free, but if you do suffer from Celiac disease, make sure to look for oat flour labeled as gluten-free because of cross-contamination.



These cookies: chewy, sweet, with just a little extra hint of sea salt...so good.  Mr. E can't get enough of them.

I'm sharing the recipe over on Imperial Sugar.



(To find the gluten-free cut-out cookie I mentioned above, check out Decorating Cookies Party...it's a chocolate cookie that I know you'll love, gluten-free or not.)


This is month 4 of a year of oatmeal cookies for dad. Find the rest here:

• Janurary: Oatmeal Bourbon Raisin Cookies
• Fabruary: Crunchy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• March: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Sweet on Trader Joe's Saturday: English Toffee

This morning, I sent kiddo to Trader Joe's to pick out our review item since I was busy doing important things...putting a deep conditioner on my hair. Now that I think about it, I should send him to pick up the dry cleaning while I write this intro.
(Minus the worry, having a driving teenager has its perks.)

Today, we're reviewing Trader Joe's English Toffee with Milk Chocolate.


An 8-ounce package costs $3.49 and contains about 8 small bars of toffee. Each bar is covered in milk chocolate and chopped almonds.


A mom's (my) take: I definitely prefer my toffee IN things...like Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, for example. If you are a toffee lover, you might really love these. The toffee center is thick, crunchy and buttery. I can't help thinking they could use a little pinch of salt and more chocolate. I don't taste the chocolate at all here. Chopped up in coffee ice cream, though? That might make these a 10.
Overall rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

A teenager's (kiddo's) take: Well, unlike my mom, I prefer toffee OUT OF things; by itself. The nutty taste hits hard at first, but is soon balanced out by the thin, but very tasty layer of chocolate, and, of course, the title item -- the toffee. I really enjoy the consistency, and the fact that it doesn't get stuck to your teeth like some other toffee does. I do agree, however, that it could use just a tad more chocolate.
Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Trader Joe's English Toffee with Milk Chocolate: not quite 5 stars, but not bad.

Read all of our Trader Joe's sweet treats and dessert reviews!

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First Communion Cookies for Mac

My nephew Mac is celebrating his First Communion this weekend. As soon as I saw this picture of the banner they made...

...well, you know where my mind went. Cookies.

I've made First Communion cookies before (decorated a little differently), and posted them on the blog back in 2011. (That post also has pictures from kiddo's First Communion which, oh my gosh, seems like yesterday and was actually EIGHT years ago.)


Let me walk you through making the cookies. You could always hand-cut your cookies, but I absolutely recommend buying this cutter. So much easier.


Also, these are DOUBLE-DECKER cookies. Oh yeah. I love a double-decker.

{I really wish you guys could see these in person, because pictures of that red disco dust just doesn't do it justice. Think Dorothy's red slippers.}

To make first communion cookies, you'll need:

• cut-out cookies, chalice and host shape and small hearts
• royal icing, divided and tinted with AmeriColor Gold, Bright White, Sky Blue, and Super Red
• couplers and tips: #2, #4
• disposable icing bags
• squeeze bottles
• toothpicks
• meringue powder
• small (clean) paintbrush
• red disco dust

First, use #2 tips to outline the cookie using white and gold icing. Reserve some of the gold piping consistency icing before thinning. 

Thin the gold and white icings with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup. You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin. Count of 2-3 is good. Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.

Stir the icing gently with a spatula, then pour into squeeze bottles. Flood the cookies with the thinned icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and pop any large air bubbles. Let the cookies sit for at least one hour.

(Use the same technique to cover the heart cookies in red.)


With the reserved gold icing, go back over the outline of the chalice.


Use a #4 tip to pipe a cross with blue icing.

Let the cookies dry uncovered for 6-8 hours, or overnight.

Once the icing is dry, combine 1/2 teaspoon each of meringue powder and water. Use a clean paintbrush to paint onto the heart cookies. Sprinkle on the disco dust and shake off the excess. Use a dry paintbrush to brush off stray sparkles, if desired.


Pipe some icing on the back of the heart cookies and place onto the chalices. Let set for 30 minutes or so.

Happy First Communion, Mac!!! ♥

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Chocolate Almond Blondies

Is there ANYTHING chocolate doesn't pair well with? Chocolate and peanut butter, chocolate and vanilla, chocolate and coffee, well...we've already discussed chocolate and orange.

I have *always* loved chocolate and almond. I'm pretty sure that love affair started with a Hershey bar. ♥


If you love almond, you're going to LOVE these blondies. They are over-the-top with almond flavor with just the right hit of bittersweet chocolate. The blondies are soft, a little cake-y, very moist, and have a great added crunch thanks to the slivered almonds on top.

Get ready to heat up your oven...these are so easy to make; you'll be on your second piece within the hour. ;)

Chocolate Almond Blondies

2 eggs
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup salted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/2 cup bittersweet (or semisweet) chocolate chips
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 325. Grease an 8x8" pan.

Beat the eggs. Add in the sugar and salt, and mix well. Beat in the almond extract and melted butter. On low speed, mix in the flour, just until incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.


Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Top with the almonds.
(Don't worry...this is as close as I let him get.)

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until done. Cool on a wire rack.


Enjoy!

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Sweet on Trader Joe's Saturday: Smashing S'Mores

Today's review is Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Smashing S'mores.

These little guys are one of the first Trader Joe's treats I ever had. Before we had a Trader Joe's, my friend Teresa sent me a Trader Joe's care package. That's a true friend right there. 

TJ's Smashing S'mores consist of a graham cracker and marshmallow covered in chocolate in a mini treat. The package suggests that for a more traditional treat, they can be microwaved for 4-6 seconds. A 7-ounce package (about 12-15 treats) costs $4.29.

A mom's (my) take: So, these are perfect. Just the right ratio of graham cracker to marshmallow to chocolate. I tried these at room temperature and microwaved and they're both delicious. Each component tastes just right...and each treat leaves me wanting another. 

Overall rating: 5 of 5 stars

A teenager's (kiddo's) take: The first thing that your tongue encounters is the thin layer of chocolate. Despite its size, it is very flavorful, and I would probably give it 5 stars for that alone! Once you get into the s'more itself, the marshmallow and graham cracker provide a tasty variety. I personally enjoy those components better when they're mixed in my mouth rather than being separate (that's just me). These taste great, and like I say every time, I could definitely eat a whole box of them. (I almost did a few days ago!)
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Smashing S'mores: Smashing!!!

{psst...don't forget that there's a giveaway going on through tomorrow...and shopping, too!}

Read all of our Trader Joe's sweet treats and dessert reviews!

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Are you a Mary or a Martha?

{Bear with me...I'm going to ramble a bit, but there is a GIVEAWAY below and SHOPPING!}

I'm so lucky to have friends who invite me to things. It's actually LOVELY to get out of the kitchen, get away from the computer, visit with other women, see new things, and maybe learn a thing or two in the process.

Imagine...learning and growing and nurturing friendships without Instagram. It's revolutionary.

Last month, my friend Beverly invited several of us to go "into town" to the Houston Catholic Women's Conference. There was so much good that went on that day...lots of prayers, lots of inspiring speakers (including one of kiddo's teachers, a Dominican Sister, who is so full of joy and fun that she lights up every room she walks into), and lots of bonding with our van of ladies from out in the 'burbs.


This conference was also where I was introduced to a line of home goods that took my breath away, Mary & Martha.


The Gospel story of Mary and Martha always gets me. I'm so a Martha...convinced that I have to do "everything" all the while feeling anxious and wishing I was a Mary, being a true hostess and spending time with my guests. Lately, I've been trying to find a balance...not just with guests, but with my little family. Serving is a way to show love to them, but really listening and being present is the bigger part. It's also the part *I* need the most. Maybe we're called to be little of both...and I know I need to nurture that Mary side a bit more.

I had this inkling that you guys might love Mary & Martha, too. When I talked to the consultant, Stacey, about doing a giveaway on the blog, she said...Yes! And, how about a party, too?!?
Alrighty!

So, here is the piece that some lucky Bake at 350 reader will win...

...this beautiful, teal cake pedestal. I just love the detail, so elegant.
{I ate the cupcakes for you. You're welcome.}

You can access the entire Spring catalog here and place an order here if your heart desires, but I want to show you some of my other Mary & Martha favorites:


First, I am so getting this pizza tray. I mean...we have pizza night every Friday. Even a DiGiorno would look fancy on here.


Can we talk about this floral set? The way the flowers are painted...those speak to me. Oh! And see that "canvas" in the back behind the plate? Stacey had one like it at the conference. It is actually one of these tea towels:

...just stretched around a canvas. Genius!


Dishes! So pretty! How fabulous is that footed bowl?


These hospitality pieces are SO DARN smart! So much better that what I normally do...send food in a foil container covered with more foil and a Post-It note stuck on the top. Or worse, I forget that I have no disposable containers and send my dishes which just puts a burden on the person I'm bringing food to. Not good.
Yeah, I'm stocking up on these.

More of that teal cake pedestal...

If you'd like to order any Mary & Martha items, please click the link here.
Stacey, our consultant extraordinaire, is paying for all drop ship charges. (You'll still pay regular shipping, but not the extra drop ship fee.) How nice is that???

More info and larger pictures of the products are in the online catalog.
(If you have a touch screen computer and are having issues opening the catalog or flipping pages, try the touch screen rather than the mouse.)

To enter to win the beautiful cake stand,

• leave a comment on this post, telling me any of the products that strike your fancy.
• for an extra entry: tweet, pin, tell your sister...or something along those lines...and let me know you did (in a separate comment). 
• US addresses only. 

Both the shopping party and giveaway entries will end this Sunday, April 19th at 11:59CST.

Good luck and go embrace your inner Martha and Mary! ♥

Sweet on Trader Joe's Saturday: Salt Water Taffy

This week, we ditch the chocolate and review Trader Joe's Salt Water Taffy.

The package package and the taffy pieces themselves are so pretty in spring colors.


In the bag, you'll find an assortment of flavors: cherry, strawberry-banana, red licorice, sour apple, and watermelon. A 7-ounce bag of assorted taffies is a bargain at $1.99.

One note is that the taffies are colored with plant extracts...red radish, red cabbage, and turmeric.
Now, why can't my vegetables be flavored with candy extract??? 


A mom's (my) take: Why do I rarely buy taffy? I think because I'm always drawn to chocolate. Well, these Trader Joe's taffies are good! Chewy, sweet, and in a few cases, tart and tangy...they're a perfect sweet treat. I really appreciate the fact that Trader Joe's colored these with plant extracts. While I use food coloring for decorating cookies, I love finding products without or that use natural options whenever possible. Good stuff. The sour apple and watermelon flavors were my favorites.
Overall rating: 5 of 5 stars

A teenager's (kiddo's) take: This is by far the best taffy I have tasted that I can remember! The consistency is just stiff enough where you have to work for it, but not too much. The flavor does take a second to come out, but once it does, it is incredibly powerful! It leaves a pleasant aftertaste, and doesn't leave any stickiness behind because it tends to stay in one piece (unless you purposefully bite it into separate pieces). These little guys pack a flavorful punch!
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Trader Joe's Salt Water Taffy: 5 stars all around! 

Read all of our Trader Joe's sweet treats and dessert reviews!

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