Feast your eyes on $72 worth of butter, sugar, eggs, chocolate, extracts and other baking necessities. Thankfully, they all came out delicious because I had to buy some pretty obscure items that I never use or have on hand.
I decided to do a few homemade gifts this year which basically means cookies because I don’t have an ounce of artistic or crafty ability in my body. Just ask my 4th grade art teacher who made fun of my attempt at a self portrait in front of the entire class. Yeah, I still remember that.
So, I spent all day in the kitchen yesterday baking off some delicious sounding recipes from around the web.
- Chocolate nutella fudge with sea salt
- White chocolate tangerine tea cakes
- White chocolate peppermint crunch oatmeal cookies
- Quadruple chocolate cherry cookies
5 1/2 cups of flour, 3 eggs, 3 cups of sugar, 5 1/2 sticks of butter and 6 1/2 cups of chocolate later I was done.
My arteries feel clogged just looking at it all.
This is probably the first time in about 2 years that I haven’t “healthified” a recipe at all. I didn’t touch or change anything about the ingredients in these and holy cow are they decadent. It’s funny because after tasting a cookie with 2 sticks of butter in it, I can definitely say my taste buds have changed. It’s not that I didn’t like these, but they almost taste too rich. Too buttery, too chocolaty, too everything. I honestly didn’t think it was possible, but I much prefer eating my “healthified” stuff. It’s not just that I can eat 2 or 3 and avoid the guilt factor, but it actually tastes better to me now. My, my how times have changed…
If I had to pick a favorite of the batch, I’d say the quadruple chocolate cherry cookies are it. Although, the tangerine tea cakes are a close second. Two complete opposites on the flavor spectrum.
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In other weekend news, Adrian came up Saturday night to help Ulysses wire and hook up our brand spanking new generator so we won’t be the only ones in the neighborhood without power next time it goes out. What that really means to me is no loss of internet. 
He started things off appropriately by finding this absurdly large bottle of Grey Goose in our cabinet.
I had no idea we even had this otherwise I would’ve been hitting that bottle after my mall experience the other day.
We ended the night with the most amazing apple pear crumble I’ve ever had.
Unfortunately, it was accompanied by some really weird bluegrass, banjo type music going on in the bar area of the restaurant. This is what happens when you go out to eat practically on Vassar College’s campus. They breed weird ones over there…
And since it’s been awhile since you’ve seen Ginger, she got a new toy this weekend after decapitating her hedgehog.
We’re hoping she’s nicer to the giraffe.
So far, they’re playing nice. I think she has a soft spot for them since it was her first toy.
If you can look at that and not want a puppy, you’re not human.
Did you do any baking this weekend?
How have your preferences for foods changed over time?
Does everyone have a short week? I think I’m probably the only one working through Friday 
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Don’t feel bad. I’m working all week too
holy cookie! you sure did a lot this weekend! i was following on instagram too and wiping drool off my iPhone haha..i did do some baking this weekend! I got a new kitchenaid from my parents
seriously. so freaking. happy. i baked 6 dozen cookies last night for my coworkers. we seriously have some lucky friends, don’t we? i kind of have a short week..i’m working all the way until thursday..we’ll stick through it together! <3
I totally know what you mean about preferring the “healthified” versions of desserts. Part of it is because they don’t make me feel gross afterwards, but I also just like the taste better. I think maybe we’ve trained our taste buds to be more sensitive to sugar/fats over the years?
I’m working all week too…although I’m hoping most people will be off so I can work with less interruptions.
Wow.
I want to help you taste test and pick a favorite!!
I’m definitely human. She is so adorable!!!!!! ps those cookies look to die for. I think I would rather that than pretty much anything else for xmas.
I flat-out refuse to tally how much I’ve spent on butter. refuse.
At least butter was on sale yesterday! It was those damn extracts and dried cherries that did me in!
I baked a lasagna, does that count?
Everything looks great. I’ll gladly send you my address if you have any leftovers! ha
Lasagna definitely counts! I’ll trade you cookies for some of that
OMG GINGER! So cute!!
I did zero baking this weekend. I had good intentions, but then we spent like three hours moving the treadmill and my nerves were a little shot afterwards.
Please send me a tin of those cookies.
That’s ok I did zero working out….in the past 4 days. Need to get my act together!
Where did you go to eat? I went to Vassar
And yes, there are plenty of weirdos
Babycakes! Love that place
And I said the weirdo comment half jokingly to get a rise out of a coworker/friend who went to Vassar and I know reads this. Obviously, there are plenty of non-weirdos too 
Ohh I love babycakes!
Wow! Well, deliciousness doesn’t come cheap! Aw, Ginger looks so happy
Ginger and her giraffe made my morning! The cookies look awesome!
I’m on my baking cookie day today! i am the same with you, I actually prefer the taste of healthier cookies..eating too much sugar makes me feel sick haha..that puppy picture of ginger is ADORABLE..I wish dogs stayed puppies forever
So adorable! Colby can tear ANYTHING apart. But he has a stuffed owl.. which you’d think would be torn to shreds in a second.. and it is the only toy that is still in one place (besides his Kong)
Yep I want ANOTHER puppy!!
I know what you mean about how much your taste buds can change! Mine have been slipping back into unhealthy territory these past few months but that raw food / juice cleanse really kicked them back into shape! 
However I must say that fudge you made sounds and looks ridic!! Healthified or not!
Looks like a successful baking weekend! I get this Friday off but I will be working on Friday the 30th:( I totally feel you on the lack of artistic talent. I remember making ceramic birds in art class in 4th grade. The teacher claimed that random ones were put in a showcase… but somehow mine was the only one missing.
Haha! That makes me feel better.
Ohhhh it all looks delicious.
Along with working my usual 12 hour shifts on Wed.. Thur. and Fri. I also get to work 12 hours on Christmas day. This has pretty much turned me into the Grinch this year.
Oh, no! That truly sucks. Hope you get some time to enjoy the holiday
I have a handful of good friends who went to Vassar
I do too. I’m hoping it got a rise out of one or two of them
I baked some Banana Everything cookies from “Vegan cookies invade your cookie jar” – outstanding! My daughter’s boyfriend got all the leftover cookies and broke my hubby’s heart. I baked the second batch and settled that
My work week goes through Sunday night and it is ok!
I can’t help myself when it comes to healthifying recipes. I just need to do it! I certainly was not that way before though, so I guess that’s a way things change.
I actually got the whole week off this week! I’m sorry you have to work late, but maybe you start late too?
I’m so glad you liked the tangerine tea cakes! They are my second favorite, too — after a tie of maple sugar cookies and peanut butter kiss cookies!
Such a cute puppy!! I’m working all week too….with 75 fifth-graders! I don’t know who’s more excited for the weekend, them or me!
I cannot believe you put a $ figure on the baking supplies. That is something I want to be blissfully ignorant of. Your cookies look to die for, especially the nutella fudge. Great gifts to hand out. I would be happy with one of those tins. The photo does sort of make me want a puppy….just a bit. I need a dog nanny to make this happen.
Your dog is freaking adorable. Can I have him? Pretty please.
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