candy Archives - Page 13 of 35 - Lovin' From the Oven

Caramel Oatmeal Cookies

November 9, 2013 by kim 1 Comment

Being a flight attendant, there are a lot of things that come with the job that I never would have thought of before. One of those things are flight delays. We literally sit around either on the airplane or in the airport just waiting… We do a lot of “airport appreciation.” San Francisco has to be one of the worst airport with delays because of the heavy low fog that likes to roll around.

By the way, don’t get mad at the flight attendants or gate agents for weather delays. We have no control over that. If there’s a crazy storm and airport traffic control has stopped planes from landing, it’s not our fault. Taking your anger out on us for your delayed flight isn’t going to solve anything. Just saying.

My crew and I did a lot of “airport appreciation” last week and these cookies helped us get through it. I brought over two dozen of these cookies with me on the trip and the pilots alone ate half.

Homemade oatmeal cookies are better than monogamous airport food, I guess.

I’d definitely recommend using a silicone mat for these cookies since the caramel tends to stick to the pan if you don’t. I used one from BrightSpring and it worked like a charm. Nothing stuck to the mat or the pan and the cookies slide right off. It fit my baking sheet like a glove and the clean up was even easier.

You can find more information about BrightSpring bakeware here.

I love using the caramels bits from Kraft because they remain soft and won’t chip your tooth after baking. Here’s to another great oatmeal cookies recipe from Six Sisters Stuff!

Caramel Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups quick or old-fashion oats, uncooked
1 package Kraft Caramel Bits

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Fold in oats and caramel bits.
Drop by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.

https://lovintheoven.com/caramel-oatmeal-cookies/

I was sent product to review, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Chewy Monster Granola Bars

September 20, 2013 by kim 3 Comments

Folgers has created a program called The Best Part to help you with little pick me ups that’ll not only help you get through the day, but give you a boost of positiveness whenever you need it. In other words, it’s an online community that’s made for sharing your random acts of kindness or words of inspiration. I’ll start out with sharing a bit of my “best part.”

Let’s be real here. There are days at work where you want to pull your hair out, days where you’d rather be anywhere but here. All it takes is one person (or in this case, one kid!) to completely change your outlook and get you out of that negative mood.

At after school day camp the other day, I was walking the kids from their school to the center when one of the boys exclaimed, “We’re almost home!!” Confused, I corrected him, “You mean, we’re almost at day camp, right?” His response just about made me melt into a puddle.

He looked up at me and said, “Oh yeah, but I love day camp here just as much as I love being home.”

I realized that camp counselors affect kids a lot more than they realize. Sure, it may be work to some, but to the kids attending the camp, it’s almost as if you’re there for them. You’re there to give kids a place to go after school where they can learn, have fun, and be safe. You’re not there for yourself. A camp counselor should never go to work for themselves because there are so many little eyes on them at all times. Your mood and your behavior affect all of the kids around you, whether you realize it or not. They’ll pick up on your bad days in a second, and they’ll make a comment that can make you laugh just as fast.

Here are just a few of my conversations with kids from work:

Kid: But why? You don’t work.
Me: What? I’m working right now! And I also work somewhere else.
Kid: Where?
Me: In the skies.
Kid: YOU WORK IN HEAVEN?! FOR GOD?!?

I walk up to two boys at work and catch the middle of their conversation..
Boy: If they mate, then…
Me: EXCUSE ME?! What are you two talking about?!
Both boys: POKEMON!

Kid 1: If you tell me a really funny joke, you’ll be my first best friend.
Kid 2: I already told you a lot of funny jokes, I don’t want to tell you any more.
Me to kid 1: What?! You’ve never had a best friend?
Kid 1: I have a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th best friend, but he’ll be my 1st best friend if he tells me.

Girl: I can’t wait til i’m 18! .. or 12.
Me: What? Why 18.. or 12?
Girl: Because that’s when I can get a dog!
Me: Why can’t you get a dog until you’re 18.. or 12?
Girl: Because that’s when my guinea pig will die. I think they live for like 8 years.

I curled my hair for the day when I usually wear it straight..
Girl: You look like a lion!!!

Did any of those make you smile just a little bit? The innocence and honesty of kids are a constant reminder for me of the optimism that still exists in the world. It is so easy to keep a positive outlook around them for me because of their carefree and easygoing personalities.

If I could read conversations like that every day, I would. In fact, I’m pretty sure I tell all my friends all the silly conversations with kids as it happens. Now, the only difference is that I can do it online in a community where others have the same kind of stories and photos to share. The Best Part is dedicated to making you smile every day. It’s a place where people can share their heart warming stories and spread happiness. We can all use a little happiness in our lives, right? There’s enough negativity in the news and online that The Best Part will be somewhere where you can escape from it all. Nothing bad, all good.

To celebrate how gosh darn cute kids are and spread even more cheer, I’m making a dessert that screams elementary school: chewy monster granola bars. They’ve got peanut butter, chocolate, and oats. It doesn’t get more elementary than that. They’re the perfect sweet surprise to hide in their lunch boxes. The M&M’s peaking out will be sure to make them smile. Pass that smile forward!

Chewy Monster Granola Bars

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups quick rolled oats
3/4 cup Rice Krispies
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini M&M candies
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 8x8 pan with foil or parchment paper.
Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.
Press the mixture into the pan and bake for 18 minutes. Cool completely before cutting.

https://lovintheoven.com/chewy-monster-granola-bars/

The Best Part is an online community that’s dedicated to brightening your day—every day. How? By spreading optimism, one share at a time. The Best Part posts inspirational stories, encouraging quotes, good news and other upbeat items on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—and encourages fans and followers to share that optimism with their friends. Because when optimism is shared, it grows, making an even more positive impact on our world. Check out what others are sharing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Chewy M&M Cookie Bars

July 1, 2013 by kim 28 Comments

I feel complete now that I have my DSLR with me back down in Southern California. Taking pictures on a point and shoot is just not the same. Although, now with this heat wave, I don’t want to do anything since I’ve become so lethargic. It takes a lot more effort to do something when it’s 100 degrees outside vs when it’s a cool and breezy 65 degrees. This is about the only time I’d prefer to be in SF than LA.

I thought it was impossible to find mini M&M’s anywhere now and days, but then I stumbled across some at Target. Were they always there and I somehow overlooked them?

I have a love/hate relationship with Target (but really, it’s mostly love). Every time that I go shopping there with the intention of buying one item, I somehow wind up juggling six-seven things in my two hands and end up searching for a shopping cart nearby that I can throw everything into. You can never walk into Target and only buy one thing. It’s impossible.

I mean, have you seen all their new items recently? Cotton candy is my achilles heel, along with churros.

It’s kind of like the Costco disease. Who goes to Costco and spends under $50? No one. Buy five items and you’re already over your limit.

Oh, back to mini M&M’s. They’re the best… better than any regular sized M&M’s (except for Crispy, but those have sadly been discontinued). They’re much better for baking, too. Just take my word on it.

Some days, I just want a bit of something sweet, not an entire bar. I cut these into little strips so that there was plenty to share and just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

This recipe comes from Fantastic Family Favorites and are perfect for traveling. I’d throw them into a ziploc bag and take them on a trip with me for easy eating. The bars were sturdy, soft, colorful, and not at all greasy. Would I make them again? Definitely.

Chewy M&M Cookie Bars

Ingredients

2 1/8 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
12 TBSPs butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 tsps vanilla extract
1 12oz bag mini M&M's, divided

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9x13 inch pan with foil, with the foil overhanging on the sides.
Mix together the butter and sugars until combined. Stir in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.
Fold the flour salt, and baking soda into the wet mixture until just combined.
Stir in 1 cup of M&M's and turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula.
Sprinkle remaining M&M's on top and press in slightly.
Bake until the top of the bars is light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, and edges start pulling away from sides of pan, 25-28 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.

https://lovintheoven.com/chewy-mm-cookie-bars/

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