The one about the blondie...

A few weeks ago, we were at Lowe's picking up another tile for the floor when I noticed this fantastic fall dessert recipes magazine on the rack. It was a bit out of my price range, but after thumbing through it and showing the super cute husband what it had to offer, he gladly bought it in the hopes that I would actually make him something out of it.

Since then, I've had fun trying out some of the tasty treats! Like these white chocolate cranberry blondies with a delicious white chocolate cream cheese frosting. Oh. My. Gosh. They were so heavenly.

White chocolate Cranberry Blondies

3/4 cup cubed butter
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
6 ounces white baking chocolate, coarsely chopped.

Frosting:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange peel (optional)
6 ounces white baking chocolate, melted
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped

In a microwave, melt butter, stir in brown sugar. Transfer to a large bowl and cool to room temperature. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; gradually add to butter mixture. Stir in cranberries and chocolate.

Spread into greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until your preferred method of poking (fork, toothpick, does it really matter?) comes out clean. Cool.

For the frosting, beat the cream cheese, sugar and orange peel until blended. Gradually add half the melted chocolate until blended. Frost brownies, sprinkle with cranberries and drizzle with remaining chocolate. Store in the refrigerator.

(Okay... so I'm really not dumb or anything, I knew this had cream cheese and probably needed to go in the fridge, but it had been one of those days, and well, you know how it goes. Needless to say, we did not get to even come close to enjoying the entire pan of these sinfully delicious brownies because... I did not put them in the fridge.

No, they did not go bad or make anybody sick.

It turns out, however, that if you leave the "plastic wrapped" brownies on the island and then go and devour a turkey swiss croissant sandwich at the "Little Deli" with your super cute husband, you may just come home to find the kitten literally bouncing off the walls and most of the frosting gone from the brownies. I'm just sayin....)

Stay tuned for more yummy recipes from this magazine as well as news on my dishwasher, my wedding ring, the "luddle" code, and if we're really energetic, more tile.

Oh, and a giveaway... yep. The prize? She's cute and adorable and fluffy and black and loves pinecones, sticky tape, chewing on tin foil and sucking on the same bathroom faucet you brush your teeth in. Come on now, you know you want to win that one!

Sorry husband, I tried.

Oh, what I wouldn't do for a dull moment.