Black and Tan Brownie Sundae

The Black and Tan Brownie Sundae from McMenamins Kennedy School- two warm brownies with two scoops of ice cream and caramel and chocolate sauce. MmmMmmMmm!

Housewarming: Chocolate Chip Cookies

What could be the best housewarming treat you can give yourself? Chocolate chip cookies of course!

After doing some unpacking and settling into our new home, I made these incredibly delicious chocolate chip cookies. I'm pretty critical over what I make, so if I think that these cookies were delicious, then you KNOW that they are amazing!

What you need
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 oz (1 stick) softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon water
2 cups semisweet mini chocolate chips

What you do

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Mix together flour (1 1/4cups), baking soda (1/2tsp), and salt (1/2tsp) in a medium-small bowl. Set aside.

3. Beat together butter (1stick), brown sugar (1/2cup), and sugar (1/3cup) at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla (1tsp), and water (1/4tsp).

4. At low speed, beat in flour mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms. Fold in the chocolate chips.

5. Using a spoon or a small ice cream scoop, drop the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.

6. Bake cookies until golden, about 7 minutes. Let cool or enjoy while warm!

Even though these are simple chocolate chip cookies, they will make you go weak at the knees. You won't be able to just have one!

More Donut Glory

Yesterday I met up with my college friend, Mellini to have some lunch and explore a little bit of downtown Portland.

Part of that exploration was to revisit Voodoo Donuts- probably the funkiest donut shop I've been to by far!

This time I chose the McMinville Cream- a maple glazed donut filled with a custard. It was out of this world!

Donuts from Helen Bernhard Bakery

I walked across this cute bakery on our first night in Portland and knew that it wouldn't be long until I bought some goodies from there.

The next morning I picked up two fresh donuts for Adam and I. His favorite are the maple bars, and I can never pass on a crumb donut.



Helen's is literally FILLED with all kinds of baked goods: danishes, breads, cookies, cupcakes, cakes, you name it! Judging by how good these donuts were, I can only imagine that everything else is just as delicious. I already can't wait to go back!

Mochi Ice Cream Sundae

Last night's dessert took place at Koji Osakaya Restaurant, a lovely sushi place near our new home!

We had a combo of Chocolate, Strawberry, and Mango Mochi. While all were very yummy, I think my favorite was the chocolate!

Kind of looks like a Japanese sundae, doesn't it? =)

Dessert at Spirit Mountain

Today I went with Adam's family to the Oregon coast, which was a beautiful day to go!

Our first stop was at the Spirit Mountain Casino for a delicious and filling buffet. I couldn't leave without having dessert and because there was so many treats to choose from, I couldn't just have one!

Below is a mini eclair, apple tart, and caramel-chocolate brownie. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be the brownie; it was gooey and moist!

Cheesecake Marbled Brownies with a Twist

The past week has been filled with lots of excitement! Adam and I moved from San Francisco to Oregon, we got engaged, and we found our new home in Portland within days of relocating. Things seriously couldn't get any better!

To help celebrate all of these wonderful things, I knew I needed to make something incredibly delicious. I remember making the Smitten Kitchen Cheesecake Marbled Brownies a few months back, and everyone seemed to enjoy them. So I thought, "Why not?! They were good the first time, and maybe I can make it even more yummy!"

With a minor adjustment of adding peanut butter chips, I was right. The brownies came out perfectly and the peanut butter made a world of a difference! Everything blended well together and the brownies were moist. The fat kid in me was very happy!

Brownie Batter

- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

- 1 cup sugar

- 2 large eggs

- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

- Pinch of salt

- 2/3 cup flour

Cheesecake Batter

- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

- 1/3 cup sugar

- 1 egg yolk

-1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Other

-Few handfuls of chocolate chips and peanut butter chips (or 1/2 cup each)

What you do

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8X8 pan

2. In a medium-large bowl, melt butter (1 stick) and unsweetened chocolate (3oz) double-boiler style: simmer water in a pot and place mixing bowl with ingredients on top. Whisk occasionally just until ingredients are melted and remove from heat.

3. Whisk in the sugar (1cup), eggs (2), and vanilla (1/2tsp), and a pinch of salt until well combined.

4. Whisk in flour (2/3cup) until well combined. Pour batter into pan and spread evenly.

5. In another bowl, mix cheesecake batter ingredients until smooth (cream cheese, 8oz; sugar, 1/3cup; 1 egg yolk; vanilla extract, 1/4tsp).

6. Dollop cheesecake mix over brownie batter, then swirl with a knife. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.

7. Place batter into oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. When finished, you can serve warm or at room temperature.

I'm very pleased with the way these turned out, especially because I got my future mother-in-law's approval! I'd 100% recommend to make these for any gathering. People will be going for more than just one!