Oh Nuts!

 

Normally I'm OK with my natural aversion to all things nuts because of my allergy to them, but then there are days like today, National Toffee Day, when I realize that there are some things that might be worth pulling out the EpiPen for! I mean look at all this yummy deliciousness that I can't have {sad face}.

I suppose I could just make it without the nuts...but wouldn't it just be caramel then? Not that I mind just caramel but toffee it would not be.

Rum-Peach Ice Cream Sundaes with Pound Cake Croutons

Drooling already aren't you! I don't blame you, this was a DELICIOUS after dinner treat! Think of it as a sweet, rich, flavorful party in my mouth! This is a grown up version of an ice cream sundae and it does not disappoint! OK, stop drooling, of course I'll share the recipe with you!

INGREDIENTS
Serves 6

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 oz pound cake, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
6 ripe peaches, cut into thin wedges
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup rum
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 pints vanilla bean ice cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the over to 350 degrees F. In a large pan, melt 1 tbsp of butter, add pound cake and toss to coat. Spread pound cake cubes on a baking sheet and bake until toasted. About 10-15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, add remaining butter to pan, toss in peaches and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally until the peaches are slightly softened.
3. Add the brown sugar and stir to melt. Remove pan from the heat and add the rum and lemon juice. Tilt the pan slightly and carefully ignite the alcohol.
4. Return pan to fire cook over medium heat until the peaches are softened and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.
5. To serve, scoop ice cream into bowls and spoon peaches and sauce over the ice cream. Garnish with the pound cake croutons and serve immediately.

Brownie Cookie Cups...BROOKIES!!!

Like many people, I get a lot of recipe inspiration from Pinterest, how could you not?!?!? There are thousands of yummilicious looking treats and decadent meals that make you want to stop by the grocery store on the way home from work and cook up something FANTASTIC!

This brownie cookie cup is no exception! I am pretty sure I saw it on Pinterest but it wasn't a recipe it was some "special" pan that Williams-Sonoma used to carry but I don't think they do any more. But it was simply a pan that was slightly larger than a cupcake and maybe slightly flatter and I believe it was sold with brownie and cookie mixes. So today I decided to just go ahead and test it out with my old trusty cupcake pan and guess what...IT WORKED!

OK so yes, if you haven't guessed I have a bit of a sweet tooth! I do cook real food and sometimes it's even healthy! I'd probably have to actually post such things so you'll believe me, but this is a new blog so just give me a little time! {Please and thank you!}

So back to this yummy sweet ridiculousness! It's everything you would want when you can't decide between a brownie or cookies. That sounded greedy...let me rephrase...Uhmmmm... I got nothing! It's just yummy and good! And after all...isn't that what we all REALLY want deep (not so deep) down inside?!?!?!?! Just look at it!

Look how good that looks sitting on that plate! Can't you just imagine how good this would be?!?!? The brownie cup forms a perfect little bowl for the super yum brownie/cookie filling inside. It's the best of both worlds. This offers something for both the chocolate lover and the cookie fiend! It was quite simple! Just make a batch of brownies, then make the cookie dough. Or, you can be lazy like I was today and just use the box brownies, the basic Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie box is my personal favorite and grab a roll of Pillsbury chocolate chip and you're done! I greased the cups, poured the brownie mix in half way and then topped with about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough and baked for about 35 minutes.

But of course I couldn't stop there!!! Oh no...that would be nonsense to just stop at combining a cookie and a brownie. Nope...I like going that extra mile! I like pushing the envelope of ridiculous! I like going right to the edge of that cliff and then just diving off face first. Yep...I did it!!! I topped it off with some delicious Haagen Daaz Dulce de Leche Ice Cream!!! Yep...RIDICULOUS!!! 

And I won't apologize for it either!