In just a few hours, I’ll be landing in New Orleans for a 6-day seafood retreat with 15 of my favorite foodies and fellow bloggers. If you’re interested, here’s a neat article from the Louisiana Seafood board about what we’ll be up to during our stay.
Here are a few of the highlights… “crabbing in Slidell, shucking oysters at an oyster farm, deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, jambalaya-making with the best local catch, and Creole cooking classes at the New Orleans School of Cooking.” Keep in touch with me this week on Twitter and Facebook as I post live updates and photos from the trip. I seriously cannot wait to get started!
While I’m away, here are a few of my favorite treats to keep you company. These are on my “must make as soon as humanly possible” list. A few I’ve already made and must make again, some I’m dying to try for the first time. For now, I look and swoon.
Fudge Revel Bars by Mandy’s Recipe Box. These looks crumbly, buttery, ooey, gooey, and chewy. And fudgy. My favorite things.
Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies by Two Peas and Their Pod. I’m a big fan of adding a box of instant pudding to desserts. And it’s the secret to these super soft cookies in this chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Homemade Twix Bars by Hooiser Homemade. I absolutely love that this recipe uses club crackers. I could munch on those alone all day long, how dangerous would they be with the butter, sugar, chocolate and peanut butter in this recipe??
Mud Hen Bars by The Sunday Baker. Chocolate chips, marshmallows and brown sugar combine to create this completely fabulously looking treat. Will someone bring these to Alabama, please?
Candy Corn Butterfingers by The Plain Chicken. I must try this fun recipe for homemade Butterfinger bars using just three ingredients — the star of the show being candy corn!
Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Frosting by How Sweet Eats. My dad would love these. I am completely intrigued with this white chocolate frosting recipe. Must try.
Chocolate Caramel Shortbread by The Project Princess. Chocolate. Caramel. Shortbread. Hyperventilating.
Robin’s Eggs Malted Blondies by Culinary Concoctions by Peabody. I love blondies. And malted blondies? Yes. I saved this recipe at Easter, and since I probably wouldn’t be able to find Robin’s Eggs this time of year, I was thinking of using M&Ms.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars by In the Kitchen with Krista. Beautiful. That crumbly topping is calling my name. And there’s peanut butter in the middle. Heaven help me.
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Pound Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze by The Recipe Girl. I’m in love. Peanut Butter Glaze?? Get out of town.
How on earth am I going to decide which one to make first?
Have a great weekend!
You’re going to put us through your seafood photos AND these? Be still my hear t(and stomach!)
I gained weight just looking at these pictures. So difficult to pick and choose, so will probably have to try them all (eventually).
Wow — I think you killed my diet with these photos. Yummy! Thanks for sharing. I love your blog. So much fun stuff.
oh wow. i am hungry now. i am going to have to add some of these to my recipe box! thanks!
Amanda,
How do you eat all these sweets and still stay thin?
They do look delish! BTW- I love your coral rose petal embellished tank. :)
WOW!!!! These are pretty amazing finds! I’m putting all of them in my recipe box right now – they look too yummy! And so bad for me…but that’s ok! I can’t resist!
Star Hughes Living
Everything looks sooo amazing! Thanks for sharing these!
All I can say is that it all, every single desert looks fabulous! I am dying here!
That trip sounds like so much fun!! I can’t wait to see pics. I’m still dying to make your triple layer brownie / oreo / choc chip cookie creation. It’s on my list for this summer. :)
I am so jealous! I used to live in Slidell. I would love to go back. Have an awesome foody vaca!!
Thank you SO much for sharing my Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars! I was traveling for a few days when you posted… but it totally made my day when I saw this =) I’m a huge fan of your amazing food photos, not to mention the gorgeous pics you posted a few weeks ago from the canyon trip!
I am beyond thrilled to see my Fudge Revel Bars featured! I love your site!
You are so wrong for this! LOL! I want to try all of this…NOW! OMJ! I’ve gone in to a sugar craving for all this yummy looking stuff. Thanks for sharing!
All of these look amazing! I’m having a serious case of the munchies now.
OKAY I AM OFFICIALLY HOOKED!!! I’ve been following you blog for a bit but after this post I am hooked…I am also trying those recipes!!!
Caramel Shortbread first!!! My family is from Scotland, so whenever I go back or I can convince my brother to send them, this is a must for me to get – it’s local from Scotland, and just DEE-VINE. :)
Oh my gosh! This is really a dangerous blog to read. I’m salivating all over the computer.
Oh. My. Gosh. It’s food porn.
WHOA. I needs me some chocolate now! :)
That last one is the one that did me in. I have to make this ASAP. Drool.
Yep, pretty sure I gained 20 pounds just reading this post! Thanks so much for sharing such delicious looking recipes! Now I just have to figure out which one to make first…
Well, I only gained eight pounds looking at the pics and reading about them! Have a wonderful time on the seafood cooking trip! I can’t think of anything I would rather eat!!
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!! Good gravy, woman, you have outdone yourself! Thanks for posting some incredible recipes… we have two parties to attend this weekend where we are bringing a dessert. Think I’ll try out one (or two!) of these!
Happy weekend!!
In my computer “files” I have a folder for recipes…..well, today I honored you as few are honored in my computer cabinet……I made a special folder just for Kevin and Amanda……..in this world of overwhelming information and just wonderful stuff, to have your own folder on my computer, well, it’s a compliment extraordinaire……….
Congratulations, I do love your blog, and I’m probably of a demographic that you don’t actually “target”……I’m 65…….really enjoy your blog,
Janet
I guess you really have to have exceptional handwriting however to have your font done……I’ve submitted twice !!! But I do love the fonts you have done and have downloaded a few…..thank you for your talents and efforts.
OH. WOW. I want all of them and have no idea where to start. Thanks for sharing these!
Have fun in New Orleans! If you get a chance, please get a snoball at Plum Street Snoballs…. Mmmm… best. snoballs. ever.
Have fun on your travels :) :) Louisiana sounds awesome. I’ve never been there. Oh the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California is really neat. You should visit there sometime. they also have a smartphone app for Android phones and iPhones, too…I think. It’s called Seafood Watch and it shows you were to find restaurants that get their seafood from su stainable fish farms etc…where to get the best helthy seafood etc. It looks like a wonderful app. I just thought of that, since you mentioned seafood in Louisiana :) Have a wonderful time with your fellow friends :) Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)
Thanks for sharing my homemade Butterfingers! I need to make some again soon.
Have fun in New Orleans! Can’t wait to read all about it. We are planning a trip down there next year. Need food recommendations!
I’m honored to be in such a GREAT round-up! There are several blogs I’m not familiar with…off to check them out!
Have a wonderful trip to New Orleans Amanda!! Wow, 6 days! Cool!
~Liz
I think I am going into a sugar coma just by looking at these pictures! Thank you for always sharing such yummy recipes. I have to try the chocolate chip peanut butter pound cake. Just printed out the recipe!
I just moved to Dallas from Slidell, LA! Have fun, NOLA is a a beautiful city with the most incredible good. I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Seriously all those pictures are making my mouth water! I want dessert for breakfast!
Wow…mouth watering!!!
Oh, and because I know you NEED to know where the good cupcakes are, check out the Kupcake Factory. You have to try the sweet praline – it is hands-down the best cupcake I’ve ever had. There’s stores on S. Claiborne (on your way back downtown if you go to the Camellia Grill *wink*) or one at 800 Metairie Road which is fairly close to City Park and not too far away from downtown. Also don’t forget to check out Sucre (there’s a location uptown and one in Metairie beside Lakeside Mall) for chocolates, macaroons, and gelato. Last year my birthday present from my aunt was a box of goodies from Sucre, and inside was some kind of chocolate-hazelnut mousse tart. It might just be the best thing I’ve ever had. And if you need a sweet-sampling local to join you, email me! :)
Those all look AMAZING! Especially the top one and the homemade Twix! Looks like I need to make a grocery store list.
You’re coming here this week? I wish I could come meet you! (And go on all the foodie adventures!) I’m sure they’ll be taking you to awesome places like Brennan’s & Jacque Imo’s to eat, but if you get a chance, check out the jazz brunch at Court of Two Sisters (my hubby, who is a small man, ate FIVE plates there) or if you get uptown eat at the Camellia Grill in the riverbend by Audubon Park. Camellia Grill isn’t distinctly New Orleans, but they have THE BEST burgers and the atmosphere and wait staff cannot be beat. And get ya a snoball while you’re down here, because it’s hot! Have a wonderful time!!!
OMGosh, you are killing me. I could lick the computer screen. May have to make the Red Velvet Brownies.
These look delicious. I am like you…which one do I make first!?!?!
Have fun in Louisiana and say hello to the “Swamp People” for me.
You are so bad…LOL and I am trying to limit my sweets, these all look amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Amanda,
So excited about your trip to Nola! You are going to have a great time. I highly recommend stopping into Central Grocery in the quarter for a stuffed arctichoke! They are the best!! They also have great mufaletta’s!
I’m sure they have y’all set up at all the best restaurants…try to go to August. Even if just for drinks and appetizers. The building itself is amazing as well as the food.
Have a great trip!
Anne
Welcome to New Orleans! You are in luck! This weekend is the creole tomato festival in the french quarter! You are perfectly in time to experience our AWESOME creole tomatoes! They are just delicious! If you are in the quarter, stop by for breakfast or burgers anytime at Camellia Grill on Chartres. They are an old style diner, complete with seating all at marble counters and waiters in white coats behind the counter – personal service at its best! I could go on and on! I just love my town! So many things to see and EAT! Enjoy it!
They all look great to me! XO
Oh my! This posting is absolutely inhumane! How can you expect a working girl chocoholic to sit at her desk all day and think of anything else but these scrumptious looking treats?!! I’m already making my shopping list so I can gather all the needed ingredients during lunch hour and make something on this list as soon as I get home!
Have fun! And thanks for featuring my cookies! They are one of my favorites!
Wow! I just gained a pound looking at these! I can’t wait to try the Twix Bars! Have a great time in New Orleans! As a Louisiana native, I must suggest that if you have time, go to Irene’s for dinner! It’s our favorite!
Oh Amanda, you need to stop doing this! I can’t resist! These look so good, I guess I’ll be doing some baking this weekend! :) Have fun in New Orleans!
Thanks so much for featuring my bars! Everything seriously looks so good I almost can’t look. Great to-do list!
Oooo, I wanna try all of these too!
oh my goodness….those look soooo yummy. All of them.
i was checking out the posted recipes and I love twix so i wanted to try the recipe you have but i dont eat peanut butter. would I use 1 2/3 cups of chocolate chips? have a great trip and I am excited to read out it!
I just had to wipe the drool off of my iPad. Have a blast! I can’t wait to see the pictures.
Yum!!! I made the Mud Hen Bars for woek and everyone loved them!!! If you come to MO, I’ll make ya some!
Amanda, I am from New Orleans and now live in one of suburbs just west of the airport. Except for maybe the HOT,HUMID weather you will have a blast. Welcome to the seafood capital of the world. Laisez Les Bon Temps Rouler!!! ( Let the Good Times Role!)
Amanda! You’re killing me with these treats!! I get your post first thing in the morning before I have eaten breakfast and this sends me over the edge!! Making those vanilla pudding cookies tonight!! Enjoy your trip!!
Amanda.. I live 45 minutes South of New Orleans. You will have such a great time. We love spending our time in the Quarter!! Enjoy the culture while you are there, its like no other!
Umm these are not weight watchers friendly at all! They all look soooooo good! Your trip to NO sounds awesome!!
Oh, my, wow! Everything looks too good. I’m marking this page to come back to later. Have fun on the trip – I was born in Slidell when my dad was in grad school in New Orleans. It’s such a great area!
Yum I love them all!! Have a safe and FUN trip!!
I think I just gained 5 pounds!
THEY ALL LOOKED SOOOOO YUMMMYYY!!!!!!!
I think that chocolate caramel shortbread will be getting my attention first. You know, research! ;-) Have a great time! Can’t wait for the recap blog!
These look scrumptious!!! YUM!!! How exciting that you will be in New Orleans. That is where I was born and now live an hour from. In fact, I will be there on Wednesday at Children’s Hospital with my four year old. He will be having surgery there. You are so going to love all the food and flair of the city!!
This post is so not helping my diet….
Amanda,
Your chocolate chip bar, orea, fudge brownie concoction is all over the internet. Congrats! I wanted to ask you what you do with all those goodies. I know you don’t eat the whole pan right? We host a small group every Sunday so I can get away with making a yummy dessert but I’ve got a small group to help eat it. Just wondering?
Like Jessica mentioned above, I woke up to this email. And now I’m supposed to eat yogurt and granola for breakfast? :) I think one of these recipes may get sampled this evening!
Thank you so much for sharing my red velvet brownies! I am now craving all of these sweets at 7am. Mmmm.
OMG!! Now that is an awesome to do list!!! One I think I will adopt for sure!!! Seriously, my mouth is watering!!
Have a fantastic trip! Can’t wait to see your pics on that!
Amanda…ALL those treats look amazing!! A few of them I have seen before already but most are new-to-me…I love finding new recipes to drool over!
And I know a couple people who are going on the seafood trip. I hope you all have a BLAST in NOLA. I mean, how could you not, right! :)