Pumpkin Cookies

Credit: Cookies and Cups
Recipe: http://cookiesandcups.com/2-ingredient-pumpkin-cookies/

Cochran Review: These are so easy and so yummy! They'll satisfy your cookie and cake craving. Fair warning, they expand while baking. So, make the cookies slightly smaller than you want them to be when putting them on the cookie sheet before baking. We decided not to do the icing and throw some chocolate chips in them. Yum! Enjoy!

Here's a picture of our cookies:

Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip No Dairy Ice Cream

Credit: Disney Jr
Recipe: I didn't look up the recipe exactly. I just saw a commercial for it and made it up as I went along. I cut up 4 bananas in 1/2 inch slices and freeze. Once frozen, place bananas in food processor or blender and mix till smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. I used natural peanut butter. Then add a handful of chocolate chips. Mix until ice cream consistency.

Cochran Review: This is so yummy, and totally satisfies an ice cream fix without added sugar or dairy. Enjoy!

Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Mommy Savers
Recipe: http://www.mommysavers.com/2012/03/chocolate-chip-pudding-cookies/

Cochran Review: So, so, so yummy and easy! I threw these together after dinner last night. I used Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Chips, Nestle Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Chips to make up the two cups of chocolate chips in the recipe. I also added about a 1/4 cup of crushed walnuts. They were great last night and I can't stay out of them today! Enjoy!

Pic from our kitchen:

Nutella Gooey Butter Cake

Credit: Plain Chicken
Recipe: http://www.plainchicken.com/2009/09/nutella-gooey-butter-cake.html

Cochran Review: Make it! This is so moist and good! Pretty easy to pull together, too. My 15 month old and I made this together in about 20 mins. It is tasty by itself, but very good and creamy with a scoop of cool whip on top. Enjoy!

Guiness Cupcakes

Credit: Beer Run Cupcakes via Serious Eats
Recipe: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/11/beer-run-cupcakes-stout-cupcakes-with-pretzels-recipe.html

Cochran Review: Making these tomorrow. My hubby loves Guiness. Can't help but sing the 311 song "Sippin on a Guini and low and behold..." I'll report back soon! -- These are very good, and very sweet! The chocolate pretzels on top really help balance the sweet, so don't skip them! My husband said he didn't think they had as much flavor as he was expecting. The rest of us didn't experience the same disappointment. If you have a Guini or sweet tooth lover, give these a try! Enjoy!

2 Ingredient Strawberry Fudge

Credit: Cookies & Cups
Recipe: http://cookiesandcups.com/strawberry-2-ingredient-fudge/

Cochran Review: These are super sweet and tasty! I used Ghiradelli White Chocolate Chips and a whipped strawberry icing, because that is all my grocer had in regards to strawberry icing.

If you haven't melted chocolate in the past, be sure to put the setting on low, stir often and be patient. There's no quick, successful way to melt it. I put the combination in a 9x13 pan. I think next time I would choose a smaller pan to make the fudge thicker.

Once it was in the pan I sprinkled chocolate M&Ms... so technically, I made it a 3 ingredient recipe. :)  I tried to make the cute heart shaped fudge like the original recipe shows, but I failed. I cut the pieces in squares and served it on a plate. My fudge didn't display near as beautiful as the original recipe shows, but they were very good, none the less.

Our family really enjoyed this quick and easy treat. Hope you enjoy it, too!

Chocomole (Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding)

Credit: Choosing Raw
Recipe: http://www.choosingraw.com/raw-chocolate-avocado-pudding/

Cochran Review: This was so good and I had fun being sneaky! Served it to my family as homemade pudding... which it is. Once they liked it, I revealed it was made w/ avocado and dates! I chose to make it w/ Ghiradelli Dark Cocoa. I think when I make it next time I won't make the cocoa heaping spoonfuls. If you're using milk chocolate, this is probably a good idea, though. My husband, who insists he doesn't like avocado, said, "This is proof Ghiradelli Chocolate makes anything good." LOL! I served it w/ a little whipped cream on top... store bought. I hope to make my own one day soon. Enjoy!

Pretzel Bites

Credit: Get Off Your Butt & Bake

Recipe: http://www.justgetoffyourbuttandbake.com/?p=932

Cochran Review: We made the Garlic Parmesan Pretzel Bites for a party recently. They were a big hit! We enjoyed them without the cheddar dip, but I'm sure that would be delightful, too. These were pretty easy to make. They seemed to take 30 mins to bake in our oven rather than the 15 mins the recipe references. Also, I didn't melt butter for the bites. I just rubbed a little stick butter over the top as they were fresh out of the oven, sprinkled garlic powder, cracked sea salt, sprinkled fresh grated Parmesan over the top, tossed, and served. One guest referred to them as being "legit". :) Enjoy!

2/6/12 Update: We tried the cinnamon sugar w/ icing dipping sauce on Super Bowl Sunday. Oh. My. Goodness. So, so , so good!!!! The garlic Parmesan were a hit once again, but the cinnamon sugar bites were the shinning star! Also, garlic Parmesan bites were very tasty dipped in the queso dip! Yum! Enjoy!

2 min Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Credit: Babble
Recipe: http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/08/16/two-minutechocolate-peanut-butter-cake/

Cochran Review: My friend Sara found this recipe a few months ago, & our families instantly fell in love! My husband couldn't believe I made it so quickly! He asked, "Where did this come from?" I said I made it, and he said, "Just now?!" I said yeah! Ha ha! Give it a try! It is a great way to satisfy your cake craving and not have a whole cake laying around to tempt you again and again! Your lips and hips will thank you! We highly recommend serving this with natural vanilla ice cream! Enjoy!

Oatmeal Bars with Strawberries, Bananas, & Chocolate Chips

Last Week's Treat

Credit: Inspired Taste
Recipe: http://www.inspiredtaste.net/9928/baked-oatmeal-with-strawberries-banana-and-chocolate-recipe/

Cochran Review: This is AH-MAZING!!!! I made this as a treat instead of breakfast. We warmed it and served it w/ natural vanilla ice cream! Yum! I used Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Chips and pecan bits instead, because I had them already. Try this one for sure!!!!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cresents

Our Treat for the Week!

Credit: For the Love of Cooking
Recipe: http://d1307624.t196.myhsphere.cc/2009/10/chocolate-and-peanut-butter-filled-crescent-rolls.html

Cochran Review: Wow! These little guys are AH-mazing!!! Cheap, easy, and melt in your mouth good! Yum! Yum! Yum! I thought spreading the peanut butter on raw dough might be tough (splitting, stretching, etc), but I had no issues. I used natural peanut butter and Ghiradelli dark chocolate chips. My mouth is watering for them as I type this! We will have these again, and again, and again! Ha ha! Enjoy!