Boston Cream Pie

First off, let me wish my husband Jim a very very happy birthday today!

Now buckle up, because I have a story to tell you.  A story about love, heartbreak, failure, persistence, and inspirational underdog-comebacks.

My wonderful same-age-as-me-for-a-couple-months-out-of-the-year husband Jim is so awesome.  He supports me in whatever I choose to pursue, no matter if my newfound hobbies cost a fortune in groceries and kitchen supplies, whether they increase our waistlines or not, whether the fruits of my labor are good or even edible.  That's love.

He even goes above and beyond, supporting my arguably OCD need to chronicle these kitchen adventures on my blog, suggesting new and exciting foods for me to try to push me to experiment and always improve myself.

So for his birthday he humbly requested a Boston Cream Pie, his favorite type of cake.

Killer Whole Wheat Bread

I baked you some bread.  Sometime you should try it.  

It's very rewarding, kneading the dough with your own hands (because the dough ball is far too ridiculously large even for your amazing 7 qt stand mixer).

I think the part I like best about this bread is the way it smells as it bakes.  I'm pretty big on smells.  

I have been known to buy shampoos/conditioners solely based on the way they smell (which explains why my hair may or may not be yucky so much of the time...and by the way, I may have mentioned this before but what is up with shampoo smelling better than conditioner?!  Not fair!).  

I worked a stint at Yankee Candle Co. in college and blew an insane amount of money on smelly candles...I even gave only candles to everyone one year for Christmas...yeah that happened.  Sorry friends and family.  

Also, I will decide whether we can continue to be friends after spending 3 seconds in your home based on the way it smells.  I'm not talking like you have to be spraying Febreze everywhere or anything like that, just if YOU as a person have a weird smell...your house will reveal it.  FYI.

Chocolate Double Peanut Pretzel Cookies

I don't know if you noticed this about me...I bake a lot of cookies.  It's kind of my thing.  Possibly my favorite thing to bake, and definitely my favorite thing to bake.

And of course, like most people out there, I find there to be a special particular allure that comes along with the appropriate ratio of chocolate to peanut butter.  When I was little my mom (who never skipped dessert but inexplicably has always remained perfectly-figured and gorgeous to this day) used to make the most delicious brownies and then swirl peanut butter through them.  Like all picky little nerd children, I was skeptical at first, but after one taste I never looked back.  These cookies replicate that experience for me, but just take it to the next level.

They don't necessarily come out looking gorgeous...and people will be skeptical.  Here's what will happen.

Me: "Hey want a cookie?"
People: (Doubtful eyebrow raise, hesitation) "...What kind are they?"
Me: "Chocolate Double Peanut Pretzel?"
People: (Sigh) "I guess I'll try one," (takes bite, pauses), "oh my gosh these are the best thing you've ever made."

Triple Chocolate Oreo Chunk Cookies

Oreos have a special place in my heart.  Obviously, considering the past two batches of cookies I've made have featured them rather prominently.

When I was a kid, I could never decide whether I would rather twist apart the halves and eat the center first, or dunk them in milk until they were deliciously disintegrating.

I think these cookies definitely capture all the goodness that is the Oreo.  They're a cookie within a cookie (kind of like a dream within a dream).