Chocolate Cookies with Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Pieces

These cookies do not look like much, but there were tasty.  The mint pieces aren't very visible from the outside, so they look like plain chocolate cookies.  

I think that spring has finally arrived around here.  The weather has warmed up.  Flowers are blooming.  Last weekend was the cherry blossom festival.  The blossoms were in full bloom which doesn't always coincide with the festival.

Chocolate Pancakes with Reese's Pieces and Peanut Butter Cups

We have been having peculiar weather where I live.  Last week it was very cold and snowy.  Today it reached 70 degrees.  In just one week the daily high temperature rose at least 40 degrees.

It was so warm yesterday and today that I rode my bike to work.  It has been a while since I could comfortably ride my bike to work.  Next week the temperature is going to get back down to the 30s and 40s, but this Spring time weather was been a wonderful break.

Caramel Brownies

It has been snowing quite heavily for about 24 hours where I live.  I have helped shovel the drive, but have been inside for most of the day.  

Days like today are the perfect type of day to bake and eat decadent baked goods like these brownies.  It is a perfect day to snuggle up with a good book and eat a brownie. 

Peppermint Chocolate Pancakes with Chocolate Chips

I haven't posted for a while.  I indented to over the Christmas holidays, but other things got in the way.  Since returning back from the holidays I haven't been busy, just lazy.

Yesterday I saw Miss Saigon for the first time.  I had heard about the musical, but I was unfamiliar with the story line.  I also had never heard any of the music before yesterday.

Chocolate Cookies with Reece's Baking Cups and Reece's Pieces Candy

The holidays are fast approaching.  Are you ready?  

I spend last Thanksgiving in Spain.  It is a pretty epic way to spend the holiday.  This year is going to be much more low key.  I am going to go hang out at a friends' house.  We are not even making thanksgiving foods.

Chocolate Cake with Blueberry Pie Filling

I got back on Monday from a vacation to Scotland.  I went with my family.  My parents, sister, an aunt, an uncle, and two cousins went.  

We traveled around in an eight passenger van.  We drove the van ourselves.  I even had the opportunity to drive.  It was a big van on small roads.  I think we did pretty well.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Chocolate and peanut butter is probably my favorite combinations.  I really like chocolate and caramel too.  

I like peanut butter by itself, but there is something about peanut butter and chocolate together that makes the world seem like a better place.

Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Yesterday was a such a beautiful day.  It was warm and breezy.  I went with some friends to a botanical garden in a neighboring city.  It was a perfect day for such a trip.  

The orchids and azaleas were in bloom.  Orchids are my favorite flower.  The roses bushes were still naked.  I think they must bloom later on in the season.

Bangor Brownies

I heard a really funny story today.  I was taking an Uber.  I took the cheaper option, and so there were other travelers in the car.  When we dropped of one of the passengers, the driver told me that the man who had just exited the car was pretty upset.

The man hadn't realized that he was taking an Uber pool instead of the single passenger option.   In short, it took this man two hours to get home from the airport.  The driver hand picked up multiple passengers and dropped them off by the time the man arrived home.  The drive would have probably taken about 45 minutes without stops.  He would have arrived home sooner if he had just taken public transportation.

German Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

I have jury duty on Monday.  It is only the second time in my life that I have had jury duty.

The first time, I wasn't selected to be on the jury.  I wanted to be selected so that I could have the experience.  This time I am a little busy at work, so I would prefer to not be selected.  

Fudge with Walnuts

Fudge!  I made this for a party where we watched "The Christmas Story."  People brought appropriately themed foods.  Someone brought egg rolls and orange chicken because it is Chinese food.  Another person brought mashed potatoes.  It was all very witty.  

This was actually a post Christmas party.  It's fun to keep the holidays alive for a little while longer.  January and February are hard months.  The holidays are over, but it is still really cold.

Caramel Popcorn and Chocolate

I seemed to have misplaced my camera.  I'm a little disconcerted about it actually.  I took it home with me over the holidays and may have left it.

I took these picture with my phone.  I took pictures of the process, but those are still in my camera.  This with be shorter  blog post because of my missing camera.  That may be a good thing.  I'm not sure pictures of the process are needed or wanted.

Chocolate Pancakes with Mint M and Ms

This month is flying by.  I only have a week and a half before flying home for Christmas.  Yesterday I participated in a white elephant gift exchange.  I had forgotten about it until the last minute.  I was already leaving when I realized I needed to bring a white elephant gift to the party.

I ran back up to my apartment and grabbed one of my cookbooks from my shelves and threw it into a bag.  After someone had selected and opened the gift, I saw a piece of paper peaking out from behind the front cover.

Giant Chocolate Cookie with Mint M and Ms

It's starting to look like Christmas.  Everybody has Christmas lights, the radio is playing Christmas music, and everyone is throwing Christmas parties.

It is an exciting time of year.  Yesterday I took a walk at dusk and saw all of my neighbors' Christmas lights.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Cadbury Harvest Mix Candies

I'm in a cookie making roll.  It's a tasty habit, but it isn't necessarily good for my health.  It is the season of overindulgence.  

I have made other recipes between these two batches of cookies, but I wanted to post this fall themed cookie recipe before Thanksgiving.

Chocolate Cookies with White Chocolate Chips

It is going to be an excited November.  I'm leaving to go to Spain this coming Thursday.  I'll be there vacationing for ten days.  

I will work for two days when I get back from Spain, and then I am going to San Francisco for a few days for a work conference.  Unfortunately,  I'm not going to get much work done in November.

Chocolate Pancakes with Skors

We are having some strange Fall weather this week.  It was wet and rainy on Monday, which isn't unusual for Fall.  The unusual thing about Monday is that it was humid, hot, and muggy.  It has been hot and sticky since then.

I can't go to long without posting a pancake recipe.  I have a big soft spot for pancakes.  The are a great way to eat sweet carbs for breakfast.