Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Blondies

As I mentioned in my previous post, I'll be posting fun little Valentine's Day themed entries. This week we will end with a simple baking recipe gift idea. These heart shaped chocolate chip blondies are a great and easy way to show someone you care about; either a friend or a loved one you were thinking of them, and well... just because they are delicious anyways! Do we really need a reason? Here's to the first recipe on the blog! Let's get started. 

I N G R E D I E N T S:
- 2 1/8 cups (300g) all purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 1/2 cups (338g) packed light-brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups (210g) mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

D I R E C T I O N S:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Butter a 10 by 15- inch jelly roll pan. This is not a traditional cooking sheet size, it's smaller. 
3. Line the pan with 2 sheets of parchment, one sheet is going in each direction, while leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
4. Butter the parchment paper, and set the pan aside.
5. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, salt and baking soda for about 20 seconds and set aside.
6. In the bowl of and electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix together the butter, and brown sugar until blended.
7. Add in one egg and mix, then add the second egg and vanilla and mix.
8. With the mixer set on a low speed slowly add in the flour mixture and mix just until combined. 
9. Set aside 2 tbsp of the chocolate chips and then mix in the remaining measurement into the batter. Remove the bowl and fold the batter with a spatula until everything is evenly incorporated. 
10. Pour dough onto prepared jelly roll pan and spread into an even layer. 
11. Sprinkle the 2 tbsp chocolate chips evenly over top. 
12. Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through, about 17-21 minutes. They should appear slightly under-baked but a toothpick should come out clean or with a few crumbs.
13. Removed from the oven. At this point you can gently press a few more chocolate chips just for looks.
14. Let cool completely on a wire racks, then lift the bard out using parchment paper and cut into your desired shape.

note: 
- You can substitute the brown chocolate chips for white chocolate ones. But add them all at once rather than reserving some for the tops as white chocolate chips may brown if added to the top.
 - You can also substitute this entire dough recipe for the pre-made Pillsbury Chocolate Chip cookie dough. Just spread it flat onto a cookie sheet and follow the baking temperature and time directions on the packaging. Then carefully cut into your desired shapes.

Recipe Inspired: Tutti Dulce
Original Recipe & Photo Credits: Cooking Classy

Read More

Valentine's Day Other Half Questionnaire

It's February! Brace yourselves,.. let the sappiness begin. So, I was creeping on people via Facebook and came across a friend of mine's blog. She had a pretty neat TAG I wanted to share with you as well. You can visit her blog at My Lovely Chaos! in case you were curious. Anyways, I thought it was cute and short, fitting for this month's theme. As we all know Valentine's Day, the day of love will fast approach. Let me share with you this small tribute to my other half and our life together so far. Four years later and he's still the love of my life. Here goes nothin'

1. Where did you meet your other half?

At my house during a YSA movie night!

2. How long have you been with you significant other?

It's been 4 years since we had started dating.

3. If you're married, when did you say "I do"?

Funny enough, we got married on April Fool's Day! That's April 1st in case you weren't sure haha.

4. What song did you walk down the aisle to?

I know there's a video of it somewhere, I'm not 100% sure but I want to say Pachelbel's Canon in D. Our wedding song though is 1000 years by Christina Perri.

5. Do you have children yet? 

Yes! 3 little trouble makers...

6. What's your favourite thing about your half? 

He's always rooting for me. Even when I don't believe in myself, he does.

7. Were you and your other half high school sweethearts? 

Nope.

8. Where was your first date? 

We had lunch at Chili's restaurant.

9. How long were you dating before you said "I love you"? 

Like a week haha.

10. How long were you dating your other half before he/she proposed? 

This is too funny, it was during our second week of dating. Though he didn't officially propose with a ring and everything until a few months later in March of  2013.

11. Where is your favourite place you have traveled with your other half? 

Well, the only other place we've actually traveled to is Vancouver B.C.

12. How do you and your other half usually spend Valentine's Day?

We have a competition on who gets each other the better gift, have a family member judge it and then laugh about it. I know it sounds strange and superficial but we have fun with it. Then we usually go out for dinner and a movie, and till' the fun begins after hours... ;)

13. What does your favourite "date night" consist of? 

A night off from the kids is always a favourite.

14. What is the best gift you have received from your other half? 

His love... just kidding! I would say... He took me out gun shooting once. That was really fun!

Hope you enjoyed this fun little TAG, and count down with me until the big one/four. I'll be sharing some cute posts until then! Here's a little throwback to when we got engaged in 2013... how time flies.

Read More