Chocolate & Peppermint

**Apologies for being AWOL over here...things are hectic at work, I've been dealing with some relationship drama, and basically just haven't been in a blogging mood. Sorry!**

There isn't much I love more than the combination of chocolate and peppermint. Thankfully, the holiday season is the season of pepperminty goodness, so I'm in heaven right now.While I personally think peppermint treats are just great year-round, they're especially great for holiday gifting--festive AND yummy!

Here's a few peppermint/chocolate treats that I'm dying to make and eat...

Peppermint Patty Brownies--How Sweet Eats: you could so easily make this a bit more festive by tinting the white mint layer with food coloring...or just make as-is. These sound phenomenal.

Homemade Oreos--My Kitchen Addiction: So these aren't pepperminty, but you could sub peppermint extract for the vanilla extract in the filling and make homemade peppermint Oreos! Yummmm.

Peppermint Crunch Truffles--Bakers Royale: Three ingredients so you (and I) have no excuses for not making these.

Peppermint Ice Cream & Hot Chocolate Affogato--A Couple Cooks: Oh man...this looks and sounds amazing. I'd probably double the mintyness by using peppermint hot chocolate, but you could do this in so many ways: caramel ice cream w/ plain hot chocolate, coffee ice cream w/ caramel hot chocolate, vanilla ice cream w/ cherry or caramel hot chocolate...the list is never-ending.

Peppermint Hot Fudge Sundaes--Martha Stewart: Peppermint. Hot. Fudge. I'll just take a jar of that and eat it plain, thanks.

Chocolate-Peppermint Cake--Martha Stewart: Said to be rich, fudgy and brownie-like...which are all good things and exactly how I like my chocolate cake.

Homemade Peppermint Patties--Oh Nuts Blog: SUPER easy. Yum.

Also on the list: Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Private Selection Mint Hot Chocolate, and York Peppermint Patties (of course!). Mmmm!

Going Nuts

I have a little bit of a weird relationship with nuts. Sometime I just cannot stand nuts in anything I'm eating and other times I can't get enough. I'm currently in a "can't get enough" phase and I'm kind of loving it. Walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, macadamias...I need them all. They also have great health benefits so I guess my little obsession isn't too bad.

A few nutty recipes that I'm dying to try...

Pecan-crusted Chicken: Southern Living (you know it's going to be good)

Carrot Walnut Muffins: Live. Love. Learn. Eat (also vegan, if you're into that!)

Raw Almond Butter Cups: Oh She Glows (that picture is making my mouth water)

Doubletree Hotel Copycat Cookies: The Little Kitchen

Chocolate-Almond Cake: Annie's Eats

White Chocolate Cherry Macadamia Cookies: Daring Gourmet

Yum...I need some of these things in my life RIGHT now!

Chocolate Chip Cookies Solve Everything?

delicious cookie photo and recipe from here

I'm tired. I'm physically tired, mentally tired, tired of worrying about what's next, what I should be doing with my life and/or this blog, tired of not feeling successful...there's a lot going on. Lots of potential big decisions are floating around and it's exhausting trying to weigh the pros and cons of each.

As a way of feeling successful about something in my life, I made this cookie-in-a-mug recipe yesterday afternoon. I was skeptical because I've heard lots about mug desserts that were terrible, but I was pleasantly surprised that the cookie was so good! The next time I make it (which will probably be today, let's be honest), I'll probably add a bit more vanilla and make it in a little ramekin instead of a mug. Quick and easy and so chocolatey...it's a keeper. I'm also looking forward to trying this brownie-in-a-mug recipe.

What you should take away from all of this rambling: make the cookies, because they're yummy.