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On the to do list…

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

Fudge Revel Bars by Mandy’s Recipe Box. These looks crumbly, buttery, ooey, gooey, and chewy. And fudgy. My favorite things.

pudding-cookies

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.

Twix-Bars1

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??

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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?

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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!

rvbrownies-5

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.

CCS1

Chocolate Caramel Shortbread by The Project Princess. Chocolate. Caramel. Shortbread. Hyperventilating.

robineggblondie1

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

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.

Peanut-Butter-Pound-Cake-6

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!

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67 Responses
  1. Kim

    I gained weight just looking at these pictures. So difficult to pick and choose, so will probably have to try them all (eventually).

  2. Autumn

    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. :)

  3. Kim

    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. :)

  4. Krista @ Meet The Swans

    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!

  5. Alberta

    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!

  6. Deb @ JADA Farms

    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!!!

  7. Meredith

    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. :)

  8. Tara

    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…

  9. cary jenkins

    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!!

  10. Jennifer

    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!!

  11. Janet Thwaits

    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.

  12. Katie

    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.

  13. Heather :) :) :)

    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 :)

  14. Stephanie@PlainChicken.com

    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!

  15. Liz@HoosierHomemade

    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

  16. Gia

    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!

  17. Leanne

    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!

  18. Tara

    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! :)

  19. Tara

    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!!!

  20. Anne Ryan

    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

  21. Celeste Haar

    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!

  22. Terri

    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!

  23. Aimee

    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!

  24. Laurie

    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!

  25. Tanya @ Sunday Baker

    Thanks so much for featuring my bars! Everything seriously looks so good I almost can’t look. Great to-do list!

  26. Janet

    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!

  27. Tina Mac

    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!)

  28. Kim Bell

    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!!

  29. Kay

    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!

  30. Kristen@PrettySweet

    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!

  31. The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh

    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!

  32. Jenn

    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!!

  33. Susan Bowers

    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?

  34. Erin

    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!

  35. Jessica @ How Sweet

    Thank you so much for sharing my red velvet brownies! I am now craving all of these sweets at 7am. Mmmm.

  36. rani

    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!

  37. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga

    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! :)

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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