Chocolate-Dipped Oreos

If all else fails...dip it in chocolate. There. I just saved you hundreds of dollars in therapy visits. If you've read the past few posts, you know that I am currently attempting to bake for Tim's 10 million co-workers for the holiday season.

Okay. Fine. There are only 18. But that's almost the entire Duggard family coming over to your house for dessert. Feel up to the task? Me, either.

I always get motivated at work. Or church. Or anywhere other than my kitchen. But I get these magical vision of me wearing my cute little apron with my hair effortlessly, yet elegantly, pulled back, baking and singing Christmas carols. Of course I'm completely rested after my full day of work and my 5 am workout. I also have a dash of flour on my nose, which my husband finds endearing, yet a little bit sexy.

Not.

I walk in the door and I still have to cook dinner. My lovely husband who promised to help with the dishes has lapsed into a food coma in front of re-runs of Sister Wives. I should know by now that spaghetti does that to him. I have 3 loads of laundry to do, there are 75 Christmas cards calling to me from my corner of the bedroom, and to be quite honest, I stink a little bit. Somehow I've managed to come home sweaty in 55 degree weather. Only me.

This is the path that has lead me to the chocolate-dipped Oreos. Granted, the Oreos are only one of many things I am dipping. They are fun, though. Here are the simple ingredients and instructions:

Ingredients:

• 1 large bag semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon Crisco
• Oreos
• Sprinkles
• Wax paper

Directions:

• Slowly melt chocolate chips over very low heat on the stove. You can use a double broiler if you have one; I don't even know what one looks like, so don't feel like it's a necessity.
• Make sure you stir constantly. You don't want to overcook the chocolate. It messes with the texture. Just make sure it gets to a nice, creamy consistency that you can easily dip cookies into.
• Dip the Oreos either halfway or fully into the chocolate. Apply sprinkles immediately and set on wax paper to cool.
• Eat. With milk. Next to the tree. And try to remember why Christmas is "the best time of the year."

Trust me. It's easier to dip things than bake things. I've done both. Several times.

Love and dipping,

Rachael

5 Ingredient M&M Peanut Butter Bars

I apologize if it seems like all I've been posting lately are desserts. It's because I set my standards too high and make too many promises in December. It always results in too much chocolate, peanut butter and far too little sleep.

I'm an over-extender.

And an over-achiever.

And a people-pleaser

For those of you who know me, you know I'd rather eat a single piece of pizza over a dozen cookies any day. But I will say, I do have a strange relationship with peanut butter. In college, I would eat it straight out of the jar. I was embracing the "freshman 15." And to be honest, I can eat entirely way too much peanut butter on entirely too many types of food.

This is what I consider to be the "lazy girl" bake. And I'm feeling lazy, mostly because it's Sunday and I would like to nap instead of baking all day. So I will.

Make the right decision.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups Bisquik
• 1 large bag of peanut M&M's
• I'm not talking the big bag that you hide in your purse to take to the theater. I'm talking about the BIG bag that you eat when you are mending a broken heart after a break-up.

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray an 8-inch pan with cooking spray
• Mix peanut butter and eggs using a hand mixer
• Add brown sugar and combine
• Add Bisquik and mix. I would use your hand mixer for this, because your arm will fall off without it. This is a thick mix.
• Fold in the M&M's. Don't use a hand mixer. You will find M&M's all over your kitchen for weeks to come if you do. Not that that's the worst thing ever. Still, don't do it.
• Spread evenly in the pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.

I was feeling particularly lazy today and was-to be honest-dreading making this dessert. It was so easy though. And fast. And I'm about to crawl in bed for my nap.

Love and lazy days,

Rachael