Identity Crisis Cookies

These cookies are the Sybil of the cookie world. Chockfull of oats, a smattering of spices, an undertone of peanut butter, and studded with chocolate chips, it’s hard to know just what category they fall under. Oatmeal cookie? Peanut Butter Cookie? Chocolate Chip? or d.) All of the above? With three different, distinct personalities all rolled into one bite, I call them Identity Crisis Cookies.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Who doesn’t love pizza? I certainly do! With pizza, there’s something for everyone, no matter what your tastes are. For me, I love a good traditional sausage pizza. Maybe some pepperoni on occasion, but it all depends on where it’s from. Some pepperoni is too wimpy, some too greasy, and some shrivels up into nothing but a tiny crunchy grease cup. But if I get to pick any pizza I want—anything my little heart desires, I’m always going to pick BBQ Chicken Pizza. Always. It’s my absolute favorite, pretty much no matter where it’s from. But going out for pizza tends to get expensive, and with Boyfriend and I trying to cut back on eating out, I’ve started making my own. And I have to say, while it’s a bit more work than just dialing the local pizza place, it’s every bit as delicious.

Homemade Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Okay, so this isn't a baked good. It isn't even a dessert. I'm totally off the rails today! But trust me. It's well worth deviating from the baking norm just this once.

I don’t think there’s a meat on this planet that wouldn’t benefit from a little BBQ sauce. I could probably put BBQ sauce on nearly everything and be content. Meat, potatoes, pizza—all my favorite food groups. At this very moment, I have no less than 5 bottles of it in my pantry (no joke). But sadly, those bottles might just sit there forever, because I’ve found the ultimate, never-eat-bottled-stuff-again BBQ sauce. Sticky, sweet, and spicy—this Honey Chipotle BBQ is my new favorite use-on-everything sauce.

Chocolate Salted Caramel Thumbprints

I swear I spend most of my day in my head, thinking about things that are not at all important to what I’m currently doing. Given even the smallest opportunity, my mind wanders off down its own little path, meandering through its own little world. If I had to guess, I would say that world inside my head probably looks a lot like the board game Candyland, since a lot of what I think about is baking related. Lollipop trees and chocolate rivers. M&M paved roads and marshmallow Peep animals. Not a terrible place to hang out, if I do say so. Somewhere along one of those random paths, I found these cookies.

Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies

What’s Valentine’s Day without a little Red Velvet? It’s my favorite cake flavor, so of course I had to sneak it in again this year. After last year’s not so stellar cupcakes, I went for a different approach this time. Instead of the usual cake, why not Red Velvet cookies? Sandwiched with delicious cream cheese frosting, they’re hard to resist!

And you don’t even have to tell anyone it’s a box mix.

Cornbread

During my senior year of college, between full time classes with more homework than I’d ever had before, a part time job at the grocery store, and an internship with the local police department 3 times a week, I barely had any free time. What time I did find, I lacked all motivation to slave it away in the kitchen. So I rarely cooked. My big meal was baked chicken. Over and over again. But when I didn’t have the time, I’d just throw a box of Jiffy cornbread in the oven and call it a meal. Countless nights I sat at our little kitchen table, highlighter in one hand, reaching for a plate of cornbread with the other.

I wish I would have known about this cornbread years ago.

Lemon Pull Apart Bread

I give you fair warning—if you’re still going strong on your New Year’s Resolution (go you!), turn away. This isn’t for you. This will completely and utterly derail you from your goal, and I don’t wish to be responsible for your demise. So quick—look away! Click somewhere else! Save yourself! For the rest of us… Behold. The carboholic’s dream.

Lemon Pull Apart Bread. Layer upon layer of delicious lemony sugar coated carbs. Amazing. Beyond amazing! So incredibly good, you won't be able to control yourself.

Spritz Cookies

Oh, Spritz Cookies, how I’ve come to both loathe and love you. You’re a staple holiday cookie, which obviously means that most people don’t have all the problems I have with you. But for me, you’re nothing but drama. Last year it was the broken cookie press that made me want to tear my hair out. This year, you just wouldn’t part with the pan. But alas, Spritz Cookie. I’ve finally bested you, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. Because you’re actually pretty delicious!