First off I want to give a big thank you to those who donated so far to this week’s unexciting but needed telethon (don’t worry I am stopping any and all bugging on Saturday and won’t ask for a year). I know a lot of you don’t believe me but I truly mean it when I say that I appreciate any amount you give. The dollar donations are just as meaningful as any larger amount. There are more than enough times in my life where a dollar was a precious thing and I get it…especially the single moms/dads and starving students out there. As well as anyone who has been hit hard with the economy.

We were having a discussion on my FB page the other day about if you had to be allergic to either chocolate or bacon which and therefore could never have it again, which would you chose? BTW- if you are not a fan of the FB page you are missing out on life shattering discussions such as these. Most people said they couldn’t give up chocolate. I couldn’t give up bacon. Milk chocolate is sooo yummy but is filled with dairy and I become more and more sensitive to dairy as I get older. So my vote was for bacon. I liked the person who asked if suicide was an option since they couldn’t chose.

I thought about making a chocolate bacon cupcake with a toffee frosting. So I did. The favor was good but the texture was odd. So I tried again. This time though I saved the bacon for a topping and put the toffee in the cupcake. That worked better this time. I think the bacon grease may have affected the outcome last time the first round of cupcakes. Plus this way if you have people who are anti-bacon on their baked goods you can leave it off…more for me.

All this week I will torture you with the sad Crazy Cocker Spaniel eyes asking you for your dollar donation….so here she is.

Chocolate Toffee Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting and Bacon

Chocolate Cupcake Recipe of your Choice (I used this one)
1 cup toffee pieces
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup salted caramel sauce (I used Trader Joes)
4 cups powdered sugar
Milk to thin

Bacon pieces
Toffee pieces

Preheat to the temperature your recipe calls for. Line cupcake tin with liners.

Prepare your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe but add toffee piece to it. Bake according to the recipes instructions.

Remove from pans and let cool on wire rack.

Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment add the butter and salted caramel and beat until fully incorporated. Add powdered sugar a cup at a time and beat until you reach desired consistency. If still too thick add milk to thin out.

Top with toffee pieces and bacon.

2011.
You were an interesting year to say the least. I never say if a year is good or bad, as I am more of a shades of gray kind of gal, but this year was what they call in hockey a restructuring year.

There were highs and lows, with the lows being just as valuable as the highs. As my dad always told us (and still does) “you have to have the bad days in order to recognize the good ones”.

This year I amazed myself by turning my black thumb into a shade of green, growing a little farm out on my patio. And of course winning $1000 because people liked my farm best was pretty darn awesome. I still look at the photos and can’t believe I got stuff to grow…and grow well! Soil is the key.

The state of Washington decided I had jumped through enough of their hoops to give me a teaching certificate. Interestingly enough the tests I took apparently a lot of people don’t pass them (all the people sitting around me at both test were all retaking it). Many, like when taking the SAT, take a prep course. I didn’t study for either of them. Of course I didn’t study for the SAT either and some may argue that I did pretty well on that as well.

I’ve interacted with someone who modeled for me everything I don’t want to be in a human being. And while some may say how is that a positive, it has helped me in more ways than you will ever know.

I continued to get the love of my ever sweet and loyal cocker spaniel. I would like to say the same for the bunny, but he really only loves me when it’s cold and he wants to snuggle and get warm.

I discovered the joy and time suck that is Pinterest. Not only is it fun for me, it has brought many new people to the blog this year and I greatly appreciate that. So thank you to any and all who have ever pinned one of my recipes. And while I don’t blog to get readers (or to please them as some point out ), I do always enjoy knowing that people like what I am doing…most of the time.

But 2012 is knocking loudly at the door and I must think about what I would like to accomplish. As always my resolution is to gain 16 pounds. Since I suck at keep resolutions that seems like a good one to not happen. But in all seriousness, this is my plan (well the food related stuff):

There has been much talk lately about some of us bloggers who have been around for a while not feeling the connection and community that the food blogger world once had. Now I am guilty of this myself. I used to read a lot more blogs than I do now, but back then I didn’t have three part time jobs in the mix. But I’m going to do my best to get around more and let people know I’m there and I care about what they are doing too.

I want to introduce some savory meals, mostly ones that are family friendly (if you don’t know why I’m doing family friendly, you should probably read my About Me page that was updated in August).

I want to go through my cookbooks and really figure out what ones I use. And if I’m not using them I really need to donate them. I’m pretty sure Confederate Cooking is on the top of my list to donate. Not even sure how I ended up on that one.

And lastly to lighten up a little. The world will not end if I didn’t make the dinner rolls, just bought them instead. Just buy some good ones and be done with it. I know sometimes when you are the cook or the baker people expect grandiose things like that. Don’t let them or yourself put pressure on you. Time is a precious thing, if you have the time to make it and want to go for it but if you don’t have time to make your own pasta the world will not come to an end. Well it might, but it won’t be for that reason.

So here is to you my dear readers,

I wish nothing but good things (with a couple of not so great just so you can recognize when you do have it good). I wish you to realize that you are good enough and don’t let Pinterest think you are a bad mom for just making cupcakes for your two year olds birthday party instead of a themed extravaganza. Don’t make things harder on yourself, make them easier. Be kind to others. Be kind to yourselves.

Below are recipes from each month of the year. They were the ones I liked best (or what were making me hungry at the time when looking back). What about you? Did you make anything from my blog this year? If so, what was it and did you like it?

Oh, and one last thing…watch out 2012…I’m coming for you!!!
January 2011

Rasberry and Almond Bark Muffins

February 2011

Red Velvet Brownie Dipped Vanilla Double Stuffed Oreos

March 2011

It’s Not Swimsuit Season Yet Mini Cadbury Caramel Egg Fritters

April 2011

Cadbury Cream Egg Pie

May 2011

Chocolate Marshmallow Cake

June 2011

Sweet Corn and Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream

July 2011

Neapolitan Cupcakes

August 2011

Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bites

September 2011

Candy Corn Whipped Cream Frosting

October 2011

Mummy Oreo Pops

November 2011

Grape Jelly Purple Layer Happy Sprinkles Cake

December 2011

Peppermint Bark Deep Dish Cookie

Nothing says Christmas like football? Well they do thank God a lot when they get a touchdown.

I spent most of my day at the Seahawks game. It was my first NFL game ever. It was…interesting. We had been given free tickets and said what the heck. It’s the only sport that I have had to been pat down and go through a metal detector, that was the first bad sign. Then there was drunken peanut guy. He was so drunk he couldn’t keep his head up and kept throwing peanut shells at people…he was escorted out. Then you have the extra coaches in the stands that let the team know what they should be doing. Keep in mind most of the people “coaching” them couldn’t run half way down the field without coming close to dying. Four dollars for a diet coke? $30 to park…and that wasn’t the highest amount…some wanted $50! And my favorite is that they aren’t allowed to swear in the stands so when a ref makes a bad call instead of saying bullsh!t they shout out “pitch it”.

I was definitely an unusual way to spend Christmas Eve. I can honestly say football to me is far more fun watching at home, in my comfy clothing. Not freezing and squeezed next to some man spilling out of his seat and into mine. And buying a beer doesn’t require taking out a loan.

But now it’s truly Christmas Eve and my traditions are starting to kick in. I had pizza for dinner. My mother always ordered pizza as she was too busy preparing for the meal the next day. One year when all the pizza places were closed it has become such a tradition that we made English muffin pizzas.

Right now most people aren’t on the Internet reading blogs. But if you are I just want to say that I hope you are having a happy and loving holiday with people you want to be celebrating with. I hope you wake up tomorrow and that Santa has brought you what you want. And if you didn’t get it have the grace to accept what you got. You can always save up for something yourself.

I’m off to open my Christmas pajamas (for those wondering someone got my Christmas pajamas.:)) , make a nice cup of peppermint hot chocolate, snuggle up with CCS, and watch a little Christmas Story.

All my best to you and your families. Merry Christmas!

Dear On-Line Retail Stores,
You can suck it. Oh sure you offer up your too good to pass deals to lure me in. And so I add you to my cart, get all excited thinking I am done shopping and go on my merry little way. Only to get an email from you six days later saying opps we don’t appear to have that in stock.

You don’t appear to have that in stock? What ever happen to that thing called inventory? I thought we were of the modern age where you could track stuff like that better. And especially On-Line. They say there are three available, I buy one of those and then there are two left. I know we aren’t the leading county in math, but come on people, it can’t be that hard can it?

And let’s not forget the part where they already charged you for it so you have to wait for them to put the money back into your account (if debt) or on your credit card. How is it that they can take your money in a millisecond, but to return money it will take 8-14 business days? Clearly there is something fishy with that system.

Gets you so mad some days you want to throw back a few. Since it’s the holidays and all there is always Egg Nog to take the edge off. Though ironically I like egg nog desserts and even a latte, but I don’t like actual egg nog…is anyone else like this? The BFF had a pot luck and of course signed up for desserts so I wanted to do cheesecake, but something a little more portable…enter the cheesecake bar. There was no bourbon in them for the work ones, but the ones that stayed home were garnished with a little bourbon whipped cream for good measure.

P.S. Only a few more days left to shop!

Egg Nog Cheesecake Bars

Crust:
1/3 cup sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
Filling:
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup Egg Nog
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
3 eggs
2 TBSP all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

Heat oven to 350°F.

Combine 1/3 cup sugar and butter in large bowl.

Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add 1 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Beat until well mixed. (Mixture will be very crumbly.)

Press crust mixture onto bottom of ungreased 13×9-inch baking pan. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine all filling ingredients except nutmeg in same bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture is creamy.

Spread filling over hot, partially baked crust; sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. Continue baking for 28 to 33 minutes or until set. Cool completely. Cut into bars with wet knife. Store refrigerated.

From Land O’Lakes.com