Magic Cookie Bars for a Cause

I love a good bake sale! Who doesn't and what better a cause then fighting cancer?





I was excited to join my team at the Ace Hotel in the Relay for Life this year.



You can still donate-just click here.


I decided on some sweet, simple and irresistible Magic Cookie Bars. I have been making these with my fam since I can remember and they always hit the spot!





You will need:


1.5 cup graham cracker crumbs


.5 cup butter (melted)


1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk


2 cups M & M's


1 1/3 cups flaked coconut


1 cup chopped pecans


...I added about 1 cup mini chocolate chips to make them extra chocolately and too good to pass up for all the relayers!





Smashing up the grahams is the most fun!











Mix the melted butter with the graham crumbs in the ziploc and then place in greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Spread evenly and press down to form the crust.





Then pour the condensed milk over the crust evenly.















Bring on the toppings! Just spread em' all out evenly and press down tightly!










Can I dig in now???? Nope, must bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes first.













The roasty toasty bars! YUMMMMMM!






I sliced and bagged them for sale. The theme of the relay this year was, "More Birthdays" so we sold the sweets as more Love, Smiles & Hope! I know these were a hit because the tray came back to me empty!

Cheers to baking for a good cause and bringing people together for one goal!

xoxo,

Tipsy

Tortilla Trade Off

In turn for the Family Apple Pie Recipe my sweet friend Luna promised me her family tortilla technique! I have to warn you that they has even less of a recipe then my Granny's "globs of lard" and splashes of this and that. So, if you want to learn you will probably have to ask Luna! I don't think I have quite the credentials after just one go at it!

Luna instructed me to fill a deep bowl with Tortilla Flour-La Pina to be the best.

Next, add some water and some lard. Like I said, I really have no idea on the quantity. I guess the value of this post is the story, not the recipe.

Knead it up until all the moisture is absorbed...

...you can see the Mr. getting the shrimp cleaned in the back... Go hubs!

The dough should be slightly sticky, but you should be able to roll it into about 1.5 inch balls.

Let the dough sit for awhile. We started up the shrimp and the margaritas while it sat for about 15 minutes.

We sliced up some colorful peppers and simmered them down with tomatoes, garlic and some chicken bouillon for extra flavor.

SO DELICIOUS and colorful!

Next, we started slapping out the tortillas. This technique took me a few tries before I got the rhythm down. I definitely couldn't get the tortillas as thin as Luna could, but I will have to get more practice!

Then we tossed them onto a super hot pan and pushed down any air pockets with a paper towel. Once there are little brown bubbles on one side -flip it!

The gorgeous delicious meal with some refried beans and queso fresco.

Thanks Luna! I had so much fun and I can't wait for our Peach Cobbler/Tamale trade off!

Cheers to sharing delicious family traditions and learning something new.

xoxo,

Tipsy

Chocolate Birthday Truffles

After soooo many cupcakes and cakes over the holidays and the recent family birthdays, I was ready for a different sweet treat for my birthday.



How can you make cookies & cookie dough better??? Cover them in chocolate of course!



I had received some Oreo Cookies Truffles from a friend at Christmas and I had to have more. They are so easy to make!



Just toss a regular size package of Oreos in a blender or food processor until they are crumbles....everything good in the blender, of course! I went with the Oreos with chocolate filling for extra chocolatey chocolate truffles.











Next, just toss in an 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese and blend together.






Roll the dough into balls (it's ok if they aren't perfect because you can roll them into better balls once they are chilled) and put in the fridge for at least an hour.









I also looked to my dear Paula Deen for some inspiration and that sweet lady never lets me down-Cookie Dough Truffles! Are you kidding me??? How can you beat that!


1/2 cup softened butte

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flower

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

(I skipped the 1 cup chopped pecans, but the recipe does call for that-I wanted more chocolate instead!)

1.5 pounds chocolate candy coating (melted)





First, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy (just like regular cookies.)

Add condensed milk and vanilla and beat until combined.








Gradually add the flower and lastly the chocolate chips (and pecans if you included them.)



It looks and tastes just like cookie dough! I wanted to just eat this stuff up!







Again, roll into balls-this one needs to be in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This batter is waaaay stickier then the Oreo dough.

Once the dough is chilled melt up that chocolate! For both recipes I used a total of 2 pounds of chocolate. You can buy chocolate candy coating in almost any grocery store baking aisle.

Use toothpicks to dip the chilled doughs in the chocolate and place on a baking sheet-definitely use some parchment paper if you have some. Clean up would have been such a nightmare without it. CHOCOLATE EVERYWHERE! :)

I used some Oreo crumbs and m & m's for the garnish on the Oreo Truffles

The Cookie Dough Truffles were not as easy to make pretty, so I mixed up some frosting to cover up the cookie dough that didn't get completely coated.

The real mess. YIKES!

SOOOO YUMMY!

The final look....you won't believe how delicious these un-baked good are! They will definitely be a tradition in my house now...and I already have friends wanting to order some more!

Cheers to birthdays with good friends and LOTS OF SUGAR!

Cheers,

Tipsy

Love & Colors

For Valentine's Day I just had to pull out the old DeYoung cook book for some sweet sugar cookie love!

It is a family recipe...shhhh! So, I thought I would just share the colorful frosting that I mixed up with my dear friend Michelle instead of all the Dutch details!!

Rolling out and cookie cutting the dough...

Crispy baked cookies and all the colorful frosting!

I asked the Hubs to make one for me and look what he came up with! I LOVED IT! :)

My cookies for my Valentine! So cheesy, but I love it! If you can't be cheesy on Valentine's Day after a few mimosas, when can you be?

AND!!!!!! My new official Tipsy Baking mascot! We adopted her Valentine's weekend and she loved watching me make cookies/eating up any little crumb that I dropped-my little girl, Tipsy! She has three legs, so she doesn't really need a drink for an excuse to be tipsy...literally, she tips over! LOL! I just love her and have to share a cute pic of her!

Cheers to the hubs being creative, adopting a new little love and celebrating love with some fun colors and sweet treats!

xoxo,

Tipsy

Baked Brie Heaven

Oh Paula Deen! That is all I have to say! She has done it again!



I went in search for a yummy baked brie recipe for one of the Christmas parties we had and I found just what I was looking for! Brie is one of my favorite cheeses and it only gets tastier when it is melted between some flaky puff pastry with sweet raspberry jam and toasted pecans!



First melt a tablespoon of butter in a sauce pan and then add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts. Add 1/8 teaspoon of the cinnamon and stir over the heat until the butter browns and the nuts are toasted.









Then roll out the pastry dough so that it is large enough to wrap around the brie and toppings. Her recipe is for an 8 oz. wheel of brie, but I doubled it and used a 1 lb. wheel. The more the better!





Whipping up the eggs a bit...

Then I got the brie ready by topping it with the nuts and the jam.

Then washing the egg on both sides of the puff pastry for that golden crispy layer!

Wrapping up all the goodness!

The baked beauty! This is such a decadent treat! Best served with some chilled white wine or some of my sassy spicy cider! ;)

Cheers to decadent brie heaven!

xoxo,

Tipsy

Italian Cream Cake Remix

With so many places to go I had to turn my kitchen into a bakery like never before! I had made a yummy Italian Cream Cake for someone at work and because it was for them, I didn't actually get to really try it. I just snooped a tiny morsel...so it was time to make one (or maybe 3 or 4) that I could sink my teeth into.

I found a great recipe at this Tasty Kitchen site...one of my new found favs.

I toasted the pecans in butter and brown sugar....these little bebes are irresistible by themselves!






Then, I toasted the coconut.

I made a few different sizes...using all the different pans that I had....of course, the little heart is for the hubs.

Getting the frosting and coconut coating going.

The many finished products..,

All the yummy pecans and coconut inside the rich cake! This is the richest tasting, non-chocolate cake evah!

Cheers to some rich Italian Cream Cake and many many parties! Even Tipsy is ALL partied out! Can you believe it!

Cheers to good times with friends and families and eating until you can't eat anymore!....and hopefully sticking with some New Years resolutions to undo the damage.

xoxo,

Tipsy

Sassy Spicy Cider

After braving the malls and party after party, the hubs and I are always ready for a little at home relaxation!

Our good friend Jeremy taught us this little delight and I added my lazy mans touch to it!

You can buy mulling spices at the store, heat the cider up with the spices and then strain them out. I went for the Starbucks Chai Tea Bag (lazy) approach. Once the cider is spicy enough, just remove them.

Once the cider is hot and spicy, pour it into your mug of choice and then add the sassy part. I went with DeWar's, but Crown Royal is delightful as well.

To measure the sassy addition, or not to measure? That is the question. Tipsy says-add to taste, but feel free to measure if you would like to know just what you are getting yourself into!

This little Holiday bevee is sure to make you warm...and toasty!

Enjoy with your favorite Holiday cheeses and treats.

Cheers to the Holidays! Merry Merry Christmas and much love to everyone!

xoxo,

Tipsy