Snickerdoodle Bars

 Um.  OMG.  These were so delicious.  Chewy. Sweet.  Cinnamony.  Make these.  Yum.

Snickerdoodle Bars (or Blondies)
Source: Lovin' from the Oven

Ingredients:
2 2/3 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp salt
2 C brown sugar
1 C butter, softened
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tbsp vanilla
2 tbsp white sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of turbinado sugar

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan. 

-Combine flour baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt and set aside.

-In a large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar until creamy.  Add in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, and beat until smooth.

-Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan (I had to use my fingers to press into place.  This dough is thick). Combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and turbinado sugar in a little bowl. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the batter.

-Bake 25-30 minutes or until surface springs back when gently pressed. Cool before cutting. Makes 20-24 bars.  They are very thick and almost rich, so make the cuts on the smaller side.

Cranberry Orange Sauce

F0r a faux-Thanksgiving with friends, I was in charge of cranberries and dessert. I madepumpkin rolls, sugar cookie cutouts using Ashlee's recipe, and an amazing fresh cranberry orange sauce. It is not too orangey and the perfect combination of tart and sweet!Cranberry Orange Sauce

Ingredients:

2 lbs fresh cranberries

2 tbsp orange zest

3 cinnamon sticks

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 pint orange juice

Approx. 2 C water

Place all ingredients in pan and make sure to add enough water to cover cranberries. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for one hour or until sauce has thickened. Add more sugar if necessary. Cool before serving.

Fruit Salsa

Last year, one of my classmates in my graduate class made this when we visited her school and if I would not have looked like a heathen, I would have taken a spoon to the bowl. I have given the recipe out so many times because everyone always loves it so much!

Fruit Salsa

In a bowl mix:

4 Red Delicious Apples, cut to tiny pieces

2 Kiwi, skin removed, cut to tiny pieces

One bag frozen strawberries, chopped (again to tiny pieces)

Add to fruit:

Juice of one orange

2 heaping TBSP apple jelly

4 TBSP brown sugar

Mix everything together. I usually prep this the night before to let the flavors come together. Serve with cinnamon sugar pita chips. You can buy them (Athenos makes a great one) or make them. Making them is a HUGE PITA so I often just buy them.

Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips

Brush flour tortilla with butter and cut into chips (whatever size you desire). Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture and bake in a 350 degree oven until crispy.