Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Summer is almost over and so is zucchini season.  I love baking with fruits and vegetables. It's one of my favorite ways to sneak in extra nutrition for my kids. The only way I can get my kids to eat vegetables for breakfast is by hiding them in muffins and breads. I especially love baking with zucchini because it doesn't have a strong flavor and it makes everything so moist and delicious. 

To boost these up a notch I decided to substitute Chobani Greek Yogurt for the oil in this recipe and the results were incredible. Greek yogurt is high in protein, low in fat and another way of making your baked goods a little more on the healthy side. 

Chocolate Pecan Toffee Bark

Every Christmas I look for an easy, simple recipe to give to our teachers, family and friends.  I love treats that travel well so my kids won't have to worry about squishing them on the way to school. Something that can be shipped across the country to family and friends with no worries. I also love treats that don't take a lot of effort or have too many ingredients.  We ship a lot of packages at Christmas with family and friends all over the world and with four children there are plenty of teacher gifts needed. 

I've had a favorite "Cracker Cookie" recipe that's more of a chocolate almond toffee bark than a cookie.  It uses saltine crackers but no one knows and it's always a hit.  This year I thought I'd change up the recipe a bit and use pecans because pecans and toffee are so delicious together. I'm so glad I did. 

Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes with Maraschino Cherry Buttercream

My sweet, sweet Mara just turned six. For her birthday dinner she asked for McDonald's (of course) and Cherry Chocolate cupcakes for dessert.  She adores Maraschino Cherries.  So I decided to use the cherry juice in the frosting and my Grandmothers amazingly easy and delicious chocolate cherry cake recipe for the cupcakes.  If you like cherries than you'll love this.  If you don't then just move on there's nothing to see her.  I must warn you though it is sweet.  The frosting was divine and Mara ate it with a spoon and didn't even touch the cupcake. 

Chocolate Caramel Brownies, Wow!

Holy cow these were good.  Caramel and chocolate and brownies are such an amazing combination.  So rich and slightly salty and very sweet and gooey and did I mention amazing. Yes they were really good.  

Cracker Cookies

My good friend Aana gave me this recipe a few years ago.  I will be forever in her debt for sharing these treats with me.  They are the kind of thing that I can throw together with just a few ingredients that I usually have in my pantry.  These are perfect for gifts, entertaining, or a quick treat for the family.   

I know these are called cookies but they are more like a toffee/brittle type thing.  They are super easy and soooo delicious.  If you like salty and sweet then you will love these buttery, salty, sweet little confections.