One sad thing about vacation: no baking.

And when your condo has no Wi Fi, and you didn’t bring your laptop anyways….no blog reading. Unless I want to try and navigate the blog world on my Blackberry…but I refuse. The bloggers of the world deserve better than to have their hard work viewed on a teensy tiny screen.

Needless to say, I was suffering from a bit of blog withdrawal when I arrived home Sunday evening. I was torn between snuggling my five year old while I kissed every single freckle on his cute little cheeks, or frantically running to my computer and staying glued to the screen for a good couple of hours.

I chose the freckle kissing, of course. I mean, I’m not stupid.

Anyways, it turns out that a lot of blog stuff happened in the few days I was away. Let’s discuss, shall we?


Joy the Baker blogged about her unmentionables. (I realize that the word unmentionables sounds so 1920′s, but I really hate the P- word. Panties…there I said it. Happy?) She also baked some muffins. And of course, it was all cool. Is Joy ever not cool?

Pioneer Woman had a crazy bad week. So she gave away some knives. And as much as I hate to hear of anyone having a bad week, I’m relieved to hear that PW is human. For reals….homeschooling…super blogging….ranching….cooking….book tours…..she makes me feel like such a slacker. But in a good way.

Lindsey made cheddar biscuits. And if I wasn’t so tired from New Orleans, I would have totally made the drive to Canada to take a few off her hands. Plus, I need a passport. And my Jeep is in serious need of an oil change. But if not for all of that, I’d be showing up on her doorstep. If I knew where she lived. 

Cookies and Cups made Camo Cupcakes. And I thought to myself “Hmmm…I dressed Jerseytastic this week, you made Camo Cupcakes…perhaps we should trade states for a week or so?”. I have a few neighbors here in Arkansas who would be all about a camouflage treat. What do you say, Shelley? I’m thinking a blogging version of Wife Swap. Think it over.


And last, but not least…Meaghan created my cookie soul mate. I shall never, ever be the same. Sigh….I pine.

Of course, like any good blogger, when I can’t bake, or blog, I plan both. And while in New Orleans I came across a super cute treat in the spa gift shop. A super cute, super expensive treat. And I thought, I could totally make something like that. 

So, I did. And they were so easy!! I actually made them while I caught up on last weeks New York Housewive’s finale and fended off two bored children at the same time. 


BTW….someone needs to tell my kids to quit stalking me. It’s like, super illegal you know.

 INGREDIENTS:

Pan of your favorite fudgy brownies (I just made a pouch of Betty Crocker mix)
Candy Melts
Sprinkles
Small red jelly beans (I used Jelly Belly, they are the perfect size)


When your brownies are cool, but not cold, crumble up into a bowl. I set the crust aside because it didn’t crumble well and I didn’t want hard pieces.


Using a small cookie scoop, scoop out the smashed brownies. Make sure the mixture is packed in. Don’t roll into a ball, you want a flat bottom. Drop scoops onto a wax paper lined plate and refrigerate about an hour.


Melt candy melts of your choice and dip the cold brownie scoops into the chocolate. I did not coat the flat bottoms, the bites were a bit less messy that way. Set dipped brownies in the refrigerator.


After they have set, you can drizzle another color of melts over the top, top with your favorite sprinkles and a red jelly bean.


**I got ten scoops out of an 8×8 pan of brownies. I really don’t recommend using cakey brownies for these, the fudgy ones stick together the best.

Yum, yum, yum….


Besides being delicious, these make a super cute gift when packed  in a little box with a bow.


And we all know that a gift you can eat is the best gift of all.


Happy Tuesday!!

So, I’m back.

And I have TONS to talk about. 

Starting with Traveling Clothes. 

What….don’t you always dress Jerseytastic for a long drive?  You mean to tell me that normal people just wear sweatpants and a T shirt? Oh….Hmmm….

K..if you are reading this…apparently we were WAY overdressed for sitting in a car. But, it was fun, wasn’t it? Traveling Clothes should be totally mandatory. It really livens things up. 


Also….New Orleans is a completely awesome place to be. 

I mean, any town that will accessorize a tree gets an A+++ in my book.


And apparently when people get married in New Orleans, they go out on a parade. A parade involving men on stilts.

Dear Husband: Pay close attention to what I’m about to say….

You. 
Me. 
Re-wedding. 
Parade. 
Stilt Guy. 
It’s happening.

Another thing that happens in New Orleans: Bloggers on vacation buy stuff for a giveaway.


Cool bloggers do, anyways.

Honest to goodness Cafe Du Monde Beignet Mix. Fried dough…powdered sugar…you want some. 

Pure Praline extract. Cute glass bottle/endless recipe possibilities. 


Win/Win.


And last of all…..

These really cute oversized recipe postcards. Includes recipes for Creamy Creole Pralines, Bananas Foster, and Sweet Potato Pecan Pie. Frame them and hang them in your kitchen….stuff them in your cookbook and use them until they are grease stained and splattered…write a sweet note and send to a friend (uh…they are postcards, after all). Do whatevah you want, I’m not judging.


Unless you just look at them and then throw them away. Or let your child draw on them with cheap crayons. In that case, I’m judging you big time.

Wanna win this stuff? Leave a comment telling me your favorite vacation food. Is it a fancy restaurant you went to? The beef jerky you ate on the drive? Have you never been on vacation but know what you’d eat if you were?

I wanna hear about it!!!

You must be a follower to enter…I only give free stuff to people who are willing to publicly declare their love for me. That’s how it works. 


Comments will be closed tomorrow (Tues 6/8) at noon. I will draw Tuesday evening using random.org and post the winner sometime following.


If you don’t win…don’t despair. The fam and I are headed to California on Friday for a good old fashioned family trip. Expect lots of Tweeting, celebrity stalking, and another great giveaway when I return!!

Thanks to my awesome friends K and LA for a great time in New Orleans!!


Happy Monday!!