Homemade Butterfingers

You will NOT believe how easy these are to make! I kid you not. Do they taste like the real thing? YES! Mr. E said he liked them more than actual Butterfingers!

Not only are you making a traditional Halloween candy, mini Butterfingers, but you're using a Halloween candy to do so...candy corn! Psst...Thursday will be an excellent time to stock up on half-price candy corn.

There are many melted candy corn-peanut butter versions of homemade Butterfingers on the internets. What they lack, though, is the crunch. This recipe has a couple of ingredients that add in that crunch.

Oh, and the process of making them is actually easy and fun! Hello, chocolate dip. Can everything be dipped in chocolate, please? Is that too much to ask?

I'm sharing the recipe over on The Pioneer Woman Food & Friends today. Put those candy corns to good use! 

Candy Corn Rolo Turtles

Every year at Christmastime, I make Rolo Pretzel Turtles. I have no idea why I've never shared them on the blog...WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!?

When I spied a version made with candy corn and peanuts on Greens & Chocolate last year, I was sold. Since last fall, I've made approximately 792 batches.

Way back when I managed the Mary Engelbreit store in Dallas, one of the ladies who worked there (Hi, Judy!) brought a mix of candy corn and salted peanuts to work. I'd never heard of such a thing, and not being the biggest fan of candy corn, I wasn't expecting much. Y'ALL. From that moment on, I never eat candy corn without salted peanuts being involved in some way.

Fall Break Eats

Jack was home for fall break last week. What a gift to parents of college students! An entire week to look at my baby's face! AH!

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Actual photo of my heart. ❤️

A post shared by bake at 350 : bridget edwards (@bridget350) on Oct 21, 2018 at 6:33am PDT

We didn't go anywhere. Jack visited with some friends and was happy for some downtime. We also ate some good stuff while Jack was home...now I'm on Operation Work Off Fall Break Calories...and I want to share some of the deliciousness with you.

First up, I learned a lesson. Last year, every time Jack was about to come home on break, I would ask him, "Is there anything special you'd like to eat when you're home?" His answer always, "Not that I can think of." Okaaaaaaaaaay.

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A post shared by bake at 350 : bridget edwards (@bridget350) on Oct 14, 2018 at 6:44am PDT

I wised up this time around. I texted him, "What cookies would you like in the cookie jar: chocolate chip, peanut butter, or peanut butter chocolate chip?" PEANUT BUTTER was his answer. So, we had the peanut butter cookies from The Cookie Book by Rebecca First. (Remember I made the pumpkin chocolate swirl cookies from the book a couple of weeks ago?) They were a hit and were delicious for over a week!

Jack's first night home, I made King Ranch Chicken from the United Tastes of Texas cookbook. The recipe was a little more involved (read: no cream of anything soups) than the one I've made for years, but so worth it. Like most casseroles of this type, it was better the next day. Believe it or not, I didn't take a photo, but Leite's Culinaria has the recipe posted online here. [NOTE: when I make it again, I'll tear the tortillas rather than leaving them whole.]

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

There's no doubt about it. You NEED this breakfast recipe in your fall pumpkin breakfast repertoire. Do you have a fall pumpkin breakfast repertoire? 

First off, this recipe contains pumpkin. Should I go on? That's enough of a sell for me in October and November. OK...second, it silences oatmeal haters. I'm serious. This baked oatmeal looks like a sheet cake. There's no arguing. Third, it can be topped off any number of ways. I like Greek yogurt and a little cinnamon sugar, but add bananas or pecans...or chocolate chips! I won't even tell if you add whipped cream.

I should add that this is really, really easy to put together. It's also perfect for leftovers, so make it once and you have breakfast for a couple of days. Win-win.

Candy Corn Fang Halloween Cookies

Love at first BITE! Muahahahahahahaha! 
(Was that too scary?)

Halloween is one of my favorite cookie decorating seasons. You guys know me, though...I like silly and sweet, nothing too realistic or creepy.

That's why I love these sweet vampire fang cookies. Using candy corn for the teeth make these a little whimsical, a lot of fun...oh, and easier to decorate.

No matter what type of lip-shaped cookie you have, solid or with the cut-out middle, I've gotcha covered with how to decorate.

I'm sharing my tutorial over on Imperial Sugar's blog. There are links to the recipes, step-by-step instructions, and one tip for these cookies that you don't want to skip. Come on over and read all about them...we won't bite, I promise!

Houston Astros Decorated Cookies

Well, our house is ready for the 2018 ALCS...if by ready you mean, have a stash of 3 dozen Astros-themed cookies.

You might have to be an Astros fan to "get" some of these cookies. I'll talk you through the colors and shapes used for them, though.

I grew up with the Astros. We watched them at the Astrodome and cheered for Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuz! When I was a teenager, I distinctly remember one day when I was lifeguarding when the girl who checked IDs at the gate came into work and said, "the Astros just signed the CUTEST player." That player was Craig Biggio. ♥ (Side note: last month, I introduced myself to Craig in the Chicago airport baggage claim. Total dork fangirl moment. Someday I will be cool. No, I won't.)

Then, the Astros flirted with a change in color...what were they thinking...but it was the time of Lance Berkman (Big Puma/Elvis), Roy Oswalt, and yes, Biggio, so we forgave them.

In case you missed it, the Astros WON THE WORLD SERIES last year and are about to compete in the ALCS. (Y'all this is the most sporty talk I've ever done.) You know how this goes...we needed cookies.

Homemade Potato Bread

Is there anything in this world as comforting as bread? No. Sliced while still warm from the oven, toasted and slathered with butter, served alongside a bowl of soup...bread is where it's at, man.

This is potato bread. It's like white bread only better. Deeper color, richer taste, softer texture. Potato bread is where it's at, man. (Did I just say that?)

This recipe makes two loaves. Share the second one or stash it away in your freezer. Second only to having a warm loaf from the oven is knowing that one awaits you with only a few hours of defrosting. Having a loaf of bread in the freezer is where it's....never mind.

I'm sharing the recipe over at The Pioneer Woman Food & Friends. Go get it! 

Chocolate Pumpkin Swirl Cookies from The Cookie Book

New cookbook day is like Christmas. Do you feel that way, too? Gazing at the cover and wondering what treasures await inside...very much like seeing those wrapped presents under the Christmas tree.

When the publisher of The Cookie Book: Decadent Bites for Every Occasion by Rebecca Firth sent me a copy, I was beyond thrilled. I actually felt like a live version of the "praise hands" emoji. The cover alone had me swooning.

Is there any question that I want to make them ALL?!?

Flipping through the pages, I knew it would be almost impossible to choose which of the incredible-sounding cookie recipes to try first. And then I saw it...Chocolate Pumpkin Swirl Cookies. Basically, the cookies of my dreams.

The cookies are soft, puffy, nicely spiced, and flecked with bits of melty chocolate. They're THE cookie for a pumpkin and chocolate lover. I speak from experience.

Seven Pumpkin Recipes to Make This October

Baking + Pumpkin + October = the most magical time of the year. Just typing that sentence made my heart race a little bit.

Guys, here are 7 pumpkin recipes to usher in October (click the title to go to the recipe):

1. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

This is maybe my favorite pumpkin recipe ever. I make it EVERY year, usually a few batches, without fail. (Also, look at little kiddo in the recipe post! How was this only 6 years ago?)

2. Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Don't even THINK about eating a bagel between now and Thanksgiving without this cream cheese. It is, as Frechie in Grease would say, "divoon."

3. Spiced Pumpkin Cut-Out Cookies

Yes, you read that right. Not pumpkin spice, spiced pumpkin. There's actually pumpkin in the mix. I made these for The Pioneer Woman Food & Friends. They're as delicious as they are pretty.

4. Baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal with Greek Yogurt Ghosts

These guys just make me so happy. The toasty, warm flavor is boosted here by using coconut sugar. Have you tried it? It's lovely. Also, pumpkin + chocolate for breakfast is a winner any day of the week!

5. Pumpkin Beer Bread

No pumpkin baking list is complete without a pumpkin bread. I bring you - pumpkin BEER bread. Ah, yes. So quick and easy...this could be on your dinner table tonight. No kneading, no rising.

6. Spiced Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Pumpkin Cream Filling

I know these were just on the blog, but they deserve a spot in the round-up. Y'all. That spiced chocolate cookie is AMAZING. Paired with the pumpkin filling, it's out of this world. Perfect for sharing.

7. Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

Last but not least, these decadent, you-must-make-them brownies. Seriously fudgy, seriously creamy, seriously delicious. (My stomach just started growling.)

What are you guys making this October? Please tell me that it involves pumpkin!