Valentine Roundup

Today my blogger friend Jemma at 

at home with Jemma is 

featuring some ladies from Etsy to show off

their Valentine's Day treasures.

I am one of the 

blessed ones!

Isn't she so sweet to do that? Here is a sneak

peek of the items I included

but click over to Jemma's blog

to see what's in her shop

and all the other 

pretties the ladies

are offering. There are

even some sweets!

Happy (early) Valentine's Day

and 

Happy Shopping!

AnnMarie xoxo

Frigid Weather = Comfort Food (Dessert!)

.....and comfort food includes desserts and sweets too!

While most of the country is in a deep freeze, there may be some of you that are still enjoying a balmy 80 degrees. You'll want to turn your oven on for these too.

We all have made the chocolate chip cookie bars from the back of the chocolate chips at least a hundred times, right?

Well, I am tired of those. The last time I made them they were too thin and too crunchy.

I searched for a new recipe and the one that I found is so good that I made two batches, one after the other while the oven was hot. I need one batch for an event this weekend and I could not bear to bring them all and not have any for home!

My new favorite word to describe something really, really good is Ridiculous.

These chocolate chip cookie bars are RIDICULOUS.

Delicious Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Bars

(they had me with this title)

Ingredients

2 1/8 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

12 tablespoons butter ( 1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with foil, letting the excess hang over the edges of the pan by about 1 inch so you can grab those edges and pull the brownies from the pan after they have baked. Spray the foil lined pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Mix the flour, salt and baking soda together in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk the melted butter and sugars in a large bowl until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla and mix well. Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until just combined; do not over-mix. Fold in the chocolate chips and turn the batter into a prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula.

Bake until the top of the bars is light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, and edges start pulling away from the sides of the pan, 24-28 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Lift bars out of the pan with the foil edges and cut into squares.

TIPS:

I followed this recipe to a tee. I usually "cheat" and put everything into the electric mixer but I think the hand stirring is what keeps these so fluffy and light.

It took mine the full 28 minutes to be done.

A good baker has to test her goods. I trim the ends off to a straight edge and eat that slice of goodness. There are no calories in the ends.

Start your new year off with some comfort food and chocolate chips. You have the whole rest of the year to work the calories off!

AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up with these blog parties:

Full Plate Thursday
Share Your Cup
Home Sweet Home
Dishing It & Digging It
Over The Moon

The Vintage Kitchen

In an effort to replenish my Etsy shop after a very good holiday sales season, I have been thrifting every chance I get.

It just occurred to me that out of the last 14 items I have found, 12 of them are kitchen items.

Hmmmm......

Is this the time of year to clean out the kitchen? I know it is the time to get new bedding and linens, clear out clutter and clean, clean, clean.

I guess the kitchen is a big part of that.

Good for me! I found some great vintage kitchen items and I have been furiously listing them in my shop.

Here they are in no particular order:

This pitcher makes me want to redecorate my kitchen in pigs! Or maybe pink and add pigs! I thought it was so cute when I found it. It is made by KMC and available here.

This classic kitchen icon is such a great find. Perfect to add a little whimsy to your kitchen. He is from 1988 and is available here.

You gotta love a good enamelware pot, if you are at all into vintage. I happen to have an obsession with it! I have a whole section of enamelware in my shop. This classic white pot with red trim is available here.

Another cookie jar, as five of my new found treasures are cookie jars. This one is from Hyalyn Pottery and has a pretty wildflower design on one side....

....and an orange and yellow floral design on the other. It is quite large and made of porcelain. It is available here.

Remember these cute little froggys? They are from the 70's/80's and hold your scrubby sponge at your kitchen sink. This one is large and has been hand painted with flowers and a butterfly. It is available here.

These two cookie jars are from the Pfalzgraff Treasure Craft collection. There are yellow pears on one and peaches on the other. The blue and white checks are the Hopscotch design. They are available here and here.

Oh, if only I had room on my counter tops for a sweet cookie jar or a nice vintage milk glass canister set like this one from Wheaton. I would have my pick, wouldn't I? It is available here.

Another item I do not have room on my counter top for but wish I did, is a paper towel holder. This one was made in France and is white painted cast iron. There is a cute rooster on top for that French Farmhouse style kitchen. It is available here.

This mason jar style canister is great for anything, as it's name La Cuisine implies.  How about cookies? It is available here.

Lastly, this enamel coffee pot has a retro look to it with it's collection of 60's style kitchen items on it. Fill it with cookies. Just kidding! It makes a great vase though. It is available here.

Oops, I just realized I said 12 kitchen items and I only showed you eleven. There is one more great milk glass Hamilton Beach Pyrex mixing bowl available in my shop, in case you are needing one to, you know, mix things in. Like baked goods that you will be making on these cold wintry days.

What will my next thrifting adventure turn up?

Stay tuned....

AnnMarie xoxo

I am sharing with these great blog parties:

Share Your Cup

Vintage Charm

Anything Goes Pink Saturday

Best of the Weekend

Tuesdays With a Twist Link Party