Ya’ll are my friends. And I can talk to my friends. This has been bothering me for almost a week now and I need to get it off my chest. And that’s what friends are for, to listen, right?

The other day, I was shopping at Fred’s, getting a few items. While waiting to check out, I watch a woman, in her forties, pull into the handicap spot right in front of the store. As she proceeds to run (and I do mean run) into the store, her male passenger takes the handicap permit out of the console and places it on the mirror. I watch the woman come into the store and dash through the isles.

I won’t say this woman isn’t handicapped, you never know what issues people have that aren’t visible to the rest of us. But on this day, she certainly didn’t need that handicapped space. To top off the story, the space right next to the handicapped one was available.

I know a few people that truly need that handicapped space. And I also know that if they don’t need it, they won’t use it. They understand what it means when they pull up to a store, when they’re having a bad day or they have their passenger that is the reason for the special tag with them, and all the handicapped spaces are taken. Sometimes, it can mean having to cancel the shopping trip, or circling the lot waiting for one of the spaces to open up.

I’m not trying to judge anyone, but on that day I did. I judged that woman. I found her selfish. I still do. I feel blessed that I can run into any store I want, any time, not worried about the physical exertion of walking to the front of the store from my parking space that is closer to the exit of the shopping center than the front of the store.

I guess what I’m trying to say, is if you have a permit, and you’re having a good day, don’t use that handicapped space. You never know when it might be you, that really needs it one day and it’s not available.

So now that I’ve got that off my chest, I feel better. I’m so glad I have friends I can talk to. Ya’ll are the best! Of course I also feel better since I made these cookies. They remind me of a Cinnamon roll but in cookie form.

Cinnamon Pecan Butter Cookies
makes 7-8 dozen

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

5 cups all purpose flour
3 3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons Vanilla Butter and Nut Flavoring
5-6 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.

Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Cut butter into flour with a pastry blender or 2 knives. Beat in eggs, vanilla and milk. Stir in Pecans. Roll dough into 1 inch balls then roll balls in the cinnamon sugar. Place on ungreased cookie trays.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until just starting to turn golden. Let rest on tray for 5 minutes before removing to racks to cool completely.

I’m linking up at some of these great parties.

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I made French Bread the other day. In fact I made several loaves. It was wonderful but after 3 days in a row of french bread at lunch and dinner, I’d had enough. I still had a full loaf plus some to eat up.

I’ve been wanting to make a French Toast Casserole for some time. Usually we eat all the bread up but since I had the extra bread, I knew this was my opportunity.  I’d seen Paula Deen’s recipe and The Pioneer Woman’s. Both were basically the same until it came to the topping. I read several reviews, some said the bottom could get soggy, some said the top was dry.

I took the best of both recipes and made it my own. The only thing I will change next time is breaking all the bread into chunks. Trying to line up the egg soaked bread into the pan is messy business. Much easier to just dump it all in and spread it out.

French Toast Casserole

1 loaf french bread or other crusty bread
8 eggs
2 1/2 cups milk, half and half or heavy cream (or any combination of, I used 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 1 cup milk)
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping
3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick cold butter
1 cup pecans

Slice bread into 1 inch slices or break into large bite sized chunks. In a large mixing bowl whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Place a few slices at a time in the egg mixture, flip to coat and let sit for a few minutes. Place soaked bread in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Repeat with remaining bread.

Pour any remaining egg mixture over top of bread. Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate over night.

In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Cut in butter with 2 knives or a pastry blender. Your mixture will become paste-like. Stir in pecan. Place in a ziploc bag and refrigerate with casserole.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crumble topping over casserole, place in preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, till bread showing is golden brown.

I’m linking up at a few of these great parties.

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I sure hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know we did. I even brined my turkey for the very first time! Why have I never done this before, Ahhhmazzzzing! Moist, full of flavor and the gravy from the drippings…over the top, absolutely the best turkey we’ve ever eaten! I followed these directions from Savory Sweet Life. We weren’t planning on Turkey for Christmas but now…I think I see another turkey in our future!.

We stick to the traditional foods at holidays. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls…it’s the way everyone likes it. But when it’s time for dessert, I want portable food. The hubby loves Pecan Pie. I’m not a big pie maker. Honesty it’s not the making of the pie that’s my issue but the of serving it. I like everything neat and clean. Did I mention, the hubby likes his pecan pie warm, like, fresh out of the oven, warm? It’s messy, gooey, delicious, oozy, messy. It’s yummy, just the way he likes it but it looks terrible. And that bothers me.

So I switched it up this year. Sifting through some old recipe books, I found this clipping from a magazine. It was old, a little dirty, you know how those “good recipe” cards get, from lots of use, a drip here, a smudge there. Problem solved!

Hubby gave this bar a thumbs up as he went back for a second one. No ooey gooey mess, It looks so neat and clean. This would be perfect to take to the office or a holiday party. Definitely travels well.

Now that it’s officially Christmas season, it’s on! I even put up my tree in the living room and got all the decorations out. Please note, I got them out, but haven’t put them up yet. I’ve got the whole weekend to turn the house into Santa’s play place!

Pecan Pie Bars

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cold butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 eggs
1 1/2-2 cups pecans

Combine flour, butter and brown sugar with a pastry blender or 2 knives until crumbly. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 13 x 9 inch pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Beat eggs well and add in condensed milk and lemon juice. Stir well, add in pecans to coat. When crust is done, pour pecan mixture over crust. Return to oven and bake for 25 minutes or until set. Let cool completely before cutting. Store in air tight container at room temperature.

I’m sharing at some of these great parties!

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These Mexican Wedding Cookies are my hubby’s absolute favorite Christmas Cookie. All year long he looks forward to the holidays when I get my baking turned into high gear. I make candy, and bark, and cookies and cakes, bread…I cover everything I find in chocolate…most of it is given away to his coworkers and friends. The ladies at the bank, and our accountant. The police and the fire department get some goodies too as well as the schools.

Honestly, very little of it stays in our house which is a good thing for my waistline. Except for these cookies. They are not allowed to be shared. I’m surprised he lets the kids have any. Such a simple cookie, but it allows the flavors of the butter and the pecans to truly shine through. I’ll make these 3 or 4 times before Christmas Eve. I even freeze the dough so all I have to do is let it thaw a bit then roll and bake. I even caught hubby last night tipping the empty cookie container to get the last of the crumbs out. I’ll bake him more this weekend. After he puts together the new bookcase we just got.

As for the recipe for these wonderful, puffs of white, you get to go visit my friend Roxana of Roxana’s Home Baking. She’s Doing 25 Days of Christmas Cookies. I was so honored she asked me to contribute. If you follow me on Pinterest, you’ve probably been seeing some great cookie ideas being pinned like Hot Chocolate Cookies and Poinsettia Cookies, Nutella Eggnog Cookies and Candy Cane S’mores.

So head over to Roxana’s and get this recipe. And if you’re feeling really generous, you can send my hubby some of the cookies when you make them!

I’m sharing at some of these great parties.

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I love this time of year! Everyone expects you to bake and make sweet treats. It’s like a free pass to go wild in the kitchen. The kids get into too. “Mom, whatcha making today?” “I love you mom, I’ll just grab a few of these (insert today’s treat) and be on my way.” They also help with making the treats.

Thanksgiving weekend was like the releasing of the bulls in Pamplona. How many recipes can we bake/cook up in one weekend? A ton, let me tell you. Part of it is we’re putting together a care package for my son-n-law in Afghanistan.  We went wild, we made Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies, Swedish Christmas Cookies, Fried Pecans, Eggnog Fudge, Cinnamon Biscotti, Hot Chocolate Mix, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Pecan Pie Bars. Peanut Brittle.

This is just the beginning of my Holiday baking. Most of it will quickly leave the house. It has to. It’s just to easy to go and grab a few cookies instead of making something for lunch. I had cookies with my coffee for breakfast the other day.

This fudge never had the chance to leave the house. My son was the one who actually made it. I just supervised (sat at the kitchen table on the laptop…on facebook.) I did help clean up, I licked the spoon and pan. Someone had to do it.

I did also try to get a photo of a piece of fudge with a bite taken out of it, but…I could never get the perfect bite. I tried on four or five pieces of this fudge, honest.

Milk Chocolate Fudge

I’m sharing at some of these great parties!

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Do you ever wander around the grocery store with a list. Intent on only getting those items that are on your list and nothing extra? I always take a list when I go shopping. I have a different list for each store I shop at. I know where the best prices are for things like toilet paper (Dollar General) Meats (my local Freshway first thing in the morning) Butter (Kroger when they have a sale.) For my big run it’s always to Walmart.  Milk, eggs, flour, sugar, the usual stuff on the list.  I wander around the store before heading to the grocery section, especially this time of year.
Finally in the food area, I go slowly down the baking isle. There might be something new I need to have. Or chocolate chips might be on sale. You can never have enough chocolate chips. Just before Thanksgiving, they put out all the holiday baking items. I’m such a sucker, a big display, and these Holiday Morsels are just calling to me. Red and Green Chips, mixed in with semi-sweet. Luckily, only 2 bags jumped into my cart. Home and put away, I forgot about them. Until today.

I was all set to make something else, I had the idea in my head, I was excited about it. Then I saw these chips. Christmas is next week. I have to do something with them. I could have just whipped up a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies but I was in a bar mood. Then it hit me, Seven Layer Bars, I’ll just change up the layers.

I go through the cabinets, pull out what I need and 40 minutes later, I’m tapping my foot waiting for these to cool off so I can have one. I finally went and did some laundry, made another batch of bars (I’ll share those with you next week) Made a few lists for my big shopping trip tomorrow. Finally. Cool enough to cut and try. These bars are perfect for the holidays. A warning, they are super sweet but my family all said they were amazing and don’t change a thing.

Magic Christmas Bars

2 cups crushed vanilla cookies (I used imitation Vanilla wafers)
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/2 cup butter melted (1 stick)
1 bag Holiday chocolate Morsels
2 cups chopped pecans
1 bag white chocolate chips
1 bag Holiday M&Ms
1 cans sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly spray or grease a 9 x 13 pan. Combine crushed cookies, cocoa and butter till combined and cookie crumbs are moist. Spread evenly in bottom of pan, pressing down to form a crust. Now start layering the rest of the ingredients. Holiday Morsels, Pecans, White chocolate chips and most of the M&Ms. I kept out about a handful to sprinkle on after the milk. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over the entire pan, make sure to cover all the nooks and crannies. Sprinkle remaining M&Ms on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, just until milk begins to turn golden. Let cool completely before cutting.

I love all the color in these bars!

I’m sharing at some of these great parties.

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Wow, who knew taking a few days off for the holidays would put me so out of whack? The kids may be on vacation from school and the hubby did get a few extra days off, but as the mom, I didn’t get any time off. The laundry still needed to be done, the family still wants to eat and then there’s all the “extra” associated with the holidays. The decorating, the big meals, feeding 9 for 6 days, even if breakfast is cereal or bagels, still adds up when it comes time to do the dishes.

I wouldn’t trade a moment of it. The house still needs to be put back in shape, the decorations now need to be taken down and stored. I am making everyone eat leftovers, so at least I’m getting out of preparing “new” meals. Besides, our turkey was to die for and we also had a ham so there’s plenty! I’d like to tell you we still have plenty of sweets around but, the supply is quickly dwindling.

In addition to making my family eat leftovers the past 3 nights, I also hid these bars from them. Well, not exactly hid, but I did put them in a solid (not see through) container, in the back, behind all the other treats. Technically, I might have buried them, just so I could keep them for myself. You can’t blame me. Chocolate, caramel and pecans, the greatest combination ever! No one suffered. I made sure they had the Magic Christmas Bars, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Grandma’s Sugar Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookie Cups, and tons of Bark.

Sometimes you just have to keep something out for yourself. Just the really good stuff.

You can make these with just one bag of the caramel bits, but, really, why would you want to?

I’m sharing at some of these great parties.

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Cookies for breakfast? Oh yeah baby, you heard me. Why not. I remember going on a big family vacation with my sister years ago and she let her kids have Rice Krispie Treats for breakfast. Why not, they’re made from cereal. I started looking at my sister in a whole new light that day. After all, she had 3 kids, I only had 2 at the time. Looking back now, she was on to something.

My kids are up before I am. My son and older daughter are out of the house to catch the bus for school before I’m out of bed. Now don’t go thinking I’m a horrible mother. My son catches the bus at 6:10 and my daughter at 6:15. My hubby is the morning person. He’s the one up at 4 am, without an alarm clock. He makes sure they’re up and showered in time. I’m awake, I’m just sitting in bed drinking my coffee and watching the morning news. It’s one of my quiet times. The youngest will usually come in and sit with me (a little cuddle time) before she heads off to catch the bus at 7:10.

Needless to say, they don’t get eggs and bacon for breakfast on school days. We do breakfast for dinner and on weekends we’ll make something special like Cinnamon Rolls or Monkey Bread. No, breakfast on school days needs to be grab and run. I usually have muffins in the freezer for them to grab or granola they can put in a baggie to munch on.

Sometimes you need to change things up a little. And when that change includes a little chocolate? You know it’s a change for the better.

Theses cookies are full of good stuff. Oatmeal, pecans, coconut, bittersweet chocolate, peanut butter. Not overly sweet, full of flavor and they’re sturdy. They won’t crumble up from a little toss in the book bag. Much better than a silly Rice Krispie Treat.

Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

I’m sharing at some of these great parties.

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I should probably name these the lost rolls. I made these rolls almost 2 months ago. Just like I always do, I had a piece of paper and was writing down my measurements as I created, crossing out, making adjustments, spilling on my paper. Just a normal day in my kitchen. I always have that piece of paper right next to my mixer. It’s never a big deal. I usually Will transfer the recipe to the computer while my recipe is in the oven.

But it didn’t happen this time. Someone slept over. I think it was one of Grace’s friends. I can’t even remember. But I didn’t get the recipe into the computer. And then I lost my piece of paper! I searched everywhere. On the counter, in the drawers. I even started shaking out cookbooks. That paper was gone.

These rolls were good. I mean really good. Like burn your fingertips trying to get the last of the caramel out of the pan before it’s cooled, good.  Like the caramel seeped into the twist of the rolls, making every bite a delicious, sugary, caramely bite. So this past weekend, my son stepped into the kitchen with me to recreate the magic. And we did. In fact, I think we made it even better the second time.

I’m sharing at some of these great parties.

Looking for other breakfast ideas?

Bisquick Cinnamon Rolls

French Toast Casserole

Cinnamon Cinnabon Cake from Shugary Sweets

Super Crumb Cake from The Domestic Rebel

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Turtle Bark-Chocolate, Pecans and Caramel all come together in this easy to make Bark.

I love a good Turtle. Chocolate, soft caramel, pecans. Just the perfect combination. I’ve made them a few times but it takes time, especially when you’re making homemade caramels as the base. The results are worth every minute of time spent but sometimes, you just don’t have a ton of time to make candy.

I had bought these Caramel Bits at the store before Halloween, thinking I’d make caramel apples. Well I never got around to it.

Then I made my Fried Pecans. Pecans, Caramel, caramel, pecans…the only thing missing is chocolate and then I’ve got turtles.

I’ll tell you a little secret, I can make caramel from scratch but melting caramel in the microwave…lets just say, it can take days to soak burnt caramel out of that glass bowl. I have to do it over the stove, in a double boiler. Slow and controlled. The same with melting chocolate.

As I’m getting everything out I have one of those light bulb moments. I don’t need to melt the caramel, these caramel bits are so soft, why not just make some bark? In less than 10 minutes, I was setting my bark in the refrigerator to set. An hour after that, I was eating it. Every bite was a perfect combination of pecan, caramel and chocolate.

So easy. Guess what I’m giving this holiday season?

Turtle Bark

I did drizzle a little melted white chocolate just to make it look pretty.

I’m sharing at some of these great parties.

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Brown Sugar Muffins-made with brown butter and cinnamon, then topped with a brown sugar glaze, these muffins will melt in your Mouth!

School has already started here. I’ve got 2 in High School and one in Middle School. The days start early. I mean really early. The 2 in high school have to catch the bus at 5:45 am. Yes, that’s what I said. 15 minutes before 6am. That means we are up in my house by 5am.

Continue reading: Brown Sugar Muffins

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Praline Pecan Fudge Swirl Ice Cream-buttery pecans, brown sugar and fudge swirl make this ice cream a decadent treat!

The end of August, can you believe it? Summer might as well be over. I know, Summer doesn’t officially end until the 3rd week of September, or something like that. But my kids have been back in school for 2 full weeks now. We’re going on week 3 of getting up at 5 am every stinkin day.

My poor kids are so tired when they get home, when it’s time for bed, I don’t even have to tell them, they’re already there. I just have to turn off the extra lights left on and pick up the occasional stray sock.

Continue reading: Praline Pecan Fudge Swirl Ice Cream

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Sugar Crumb Cake-this coffee cake is great for breakfast or dessert!

Remember life before Pinterest? When all the great ideas you wanted to someday get around to doing, you found them in magazines. And then you would cut out the page of that great idea and save it somewhere? In a folder, or notebook. Shoved into a shoebox filled with dozens of other great ideas from magazines you want to someday get around to doing.

It could have been a decorating idea, pretty pillows, a color scheme, dreamy furniture, garden ideas. I always loved (still do) those outdoor rooms.

Continue reading: Sugar Crumb Cake

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Pumpkin Pie Crunch-A new pumpkin treat to love!

It’s no secret that I’m not a pumpkin fan. But it’s pumpkin season so I have to make a few treats that involve pumpkin. I have to, it’s peer pressure in it’s worst form.

Everyone else is doing it. Cookies, cakes, breads, main dishes. Pumpkin is everywhere!

I can’t be the one outcast, just because I don’t like pumpkin

Continue reading: Pumpkin Pie Crunch

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Gooey Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars-your favorite pecan pie loaded with semi-sweet chocolate and made into a bar for easy eating! Do you make pecan pie every year? Do you ever feel the need to change things up but know that if you do, you might never be forgiven? Some things are just tradition. You have […]

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Seven Layer magic Bars-the bar that started all the magic! We’re all friends here so I know I can confess my mistakes to you. We’re all going to have a good laugh about this one. I can try to blame this on my dyslexia, which I did have as a kid. Honestly, I had so […]

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Cinnamon Glazed Pecans, just a few ingredients needed, watch out, they’re addicting! This recipe for Cinnamon Glazed Pecans is one of my favorite ways to fix pecans for a party. A little sweet, a little cinnamony, a lot pecany. Here in Georgia, pecans are a staple. We pick our own. You can read more about […]

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Caramel Pecan Biscuit Bake-Just a few minutes to prepare, a biscuit base topped with a caramel pecan topping and a cream cheese icing! Did you know that September is National Biscuit Month? Neither did I. But that’s probably because in my house, every month, week, day, could be considered a biscuit holiday. Seriously. Biscuits aren’t […]

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