No Bake recipes bar cookie recipes are some of my favorite cookie/bar types of desserts, especially this time of year when I’m so busy. I quickly mixed up these up  one afternoon, and my kids told me these were a “home run” (well that was what the boys said). My daughter loved them even though she isn’t a coconut fan. These No Bake Chocolate Peanut Bars call for ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. These make a great afternoon snack, dessert (with milk) and an easy homemade gift for Christmas or Hanukkah.

It’s the time of year when my kids get hooked on any type of hot chocolate desserts. My 3 kids especially love “molten” and “lava” cakes. So, I thought, “Why not change a recipe around a bit to create another tasty treat for them.” Instead of using ramekins, I tried some fun stoneware mugs. These Molten Cakes in a Mug came out absolutely wonderful. They make a simple, inexpensive holiday gift. Just purchase a stoneware or ovenproof mug, and tie a recipe card with this recipe to go along with it. It may just be what my neighbors are getting . I hope they aren’t reading this…

Just coming off speaking at Food Blog Forum in Nashville this weekend, I woke up feeling so inspired. The talent of food bloggers across the globe truly amazes me. These are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet. If you’re not a food blogger, I can’t begin to describe the amount of time and effort it takes to put together just one post. Starting with the recipe concept, there is grocery shopping, cooking and testing, writing, photography, styling and then posting. Each post takes many, many hours. On that note, I wanted to start the week with comfort food at its best: Fall pies and Tarts. These selections have caught my eye in the last week, and I’m not sure which one to make first. This Pumpkin Pie Tart with Almond Crust (Gluten Free) comes from fellow blogger and friend, Marla Meridith of Family Fresh Cooking. I can’t wait to make this one with my kids. Hope you will enjoy looking at these recipes and photos as much as I have.

Fig Almond Tart from Gourmande in the Kitchen

Mini Apple Pies from Family Food Finds

Gingery Cranberry-Pear Pie with Oatmeal Streusel from Cooking Light

Tollhouse Pie from Completely Delicious

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie from How Sweet it Is

Maple Almond Tart from Better Homes and Gardens 

When I read Kathryn Stockett’s book, “The Help”, last year, I couldn’t put it down. I loved it. I must admit. It sort of hit close to home since I was raised in Alabama predominantly by my maid, Alice. Alice rode the bus to our house five days a week, and she took care of me from the day I was born until I was a teenager. I was the baby of the family with three other siblings. My parents traveled often, and since I was the youngest, I usually spent the majority of my time with her. Looking back, it’s really amazing that Alice didn’t own a car or have a driver’s license, and yet, I happily stayed at home with her all of the time. Unlike the book, we didn’t have separate bathroom quarters. Instead, my parents treated her as a part of our family. She was so loving, and she had the sweetest heart. She made the best fried chicken, fried okra and of course, desserts. Last night, I took my daughter, Leigh, to see The Help, and I highly recommend it.  In honor of this movie and in memory of Alice, I thought I would share a recipe for this Southern Chocolate Brownie Pie. It’s so easy, crustless and it’s one of my favorites. Cheers to “The Help” and great women like Alice and those in this fabulous story.

This is not one of my typical “lightened-up” recipes, but I had to share these Any Occasion Chocolate Cupcakes with you. My daughter, Leigh, made this recipe for me the night I arrived home from being in Italy for a week. I was so excited to come home to my family and true comfort food. These are so spectacular. You don’t even need to make homemade icing. I wanted to post the recipe for Father’s Day, but I was traveling again this past week. I realized that this recipe is perfect for so many occasions: Father’s Day, birthdays, parties, showers or just because. I thought they would be a great way to start off the week so enjoy.

I wanted to say happy Friday with Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Muffins. I thought I’d leave you with this recipe as I am off to the BlogHer Food conference in Atlanta and to the Atlanta Food & Wine event (I’m a speaker at both events). I am really looking forward to a packed weekend surrounded by foodies. I have never attended a BlogHer conference, and it is the first ever Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, so it should be a spectacular weekend. In the meantime, enjoy these muffins and have a great weekend!

Since I have been working with so many brownie recipe variations for one of my food clients, I realized I needed to create the Best Passover Brownie. This ingredient combination worked like a charm. When I took them out of the oven, I took a picture and put them on Facebook (I was so excited how they turned out). I had a lot of people wanting the recipe ASAP so here it is. It is so easy and fabulous. My friend said, “These are the best Passover Brownies I have ever tasted.” I hope that you like them too, and that they sweeten up your holiday.

I am so excited to share this recipe for Banana-Dark Chocolate Muffins. It’s a twist of my very popular banana bread recipe. What’s great about it besides the taste is that all of the ingredients can be combined in one bowl, and no mixer is needed. I use nonfat Greek yogurt which adds moisture and increases the protein. These muffins are amazing, and my kids went wild over them. I almost wasn’t able to take a picture of them before they ate them all. Enjoy these muffins for a wonderful breakfast treat, afternoon snack, lunch, or dinnertime dessert.

1. Lightened Up Spiced and Sugary Pecans

2. Watermelon and Goat Cheese Arugula Salad

3. Pecan Pie Bars

4. Warm Lentil Soup

5. Apple Muffins

6. Radicchio Winter Salad

7. Flaxseed Crusted Salmon

8. Greek Yogurt Banana Bread

9. Chunky Nut and Dried Fruit Granola

10. Easy Beef-Vegetable Kabobs

One to Grown On:  Chocolate Chip Cookie Bark

Wow, cookies are in abundance this time of year, and instead of racking my brain trying to create something new to give as holiday gifts, I decided to go back to a tried and true favorite. Dark Chocolate Chip-Peanut Butter Cookies are so incredibly fabulous. This recipe is adapted from a “Cooking Light” recipe that I have made many times. What I love about it is that it is lightened up a bit since it has no butter. Instead, it uses Canola oil, water and egg whites. These cookies come out soft and moist with just a hint of peanut butter. Feel free to substitute semisweet chocolate chips or even mini chocolate chips if you like. These are great to give as gifts to neighbors and teachers as well as to leave out for Santa on Christmas eve.