“Dont be so hard on yourself, Kim.” My husband says this almost daily to me.I have no idea what it means. But, he knows me pretty darn well so if he thinks I’m too hard on myself, I know he’s right and I know I want to fix it. Sure, I get the overall idea, I’m just not really sure how to apply it. This will be my New Years resolution. Don’t roll your eyes. It’s not too late. I can still do it.
First, figure out what it means to be too hard on yourself. Then, figure out how to stop being that way.
I’ll start by being nicer to myself which I think is different but must be somehow related. A few nights ago when it was cold and miserable in New York, I made the most delicious chocolate chip dulce de leche cookie bars in the world. That was very nice of me. I first tasted them as part of a bloggers cookie swap and I’ve been dreaming of them since (thanks Stacciatella Bella).Now I have 348 days to figure out the rest, but at least I found my favorite cookie of the year.
Salted Dulce De Leche Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Author: Love U Madly via Stracciatellabella
Ingredients
- 2⅛ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 10 ounces of dulce de leche (this is my favorite, but you can also melt 10 ounces caramel candy squares, unwrapped, with 3 tablespoons heavy cream)
- Fleur de sel (or other sea salt), for sprinkling over caramel and bars
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square pan; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Using an electric mixer, mix together the melted butter and sugars on medium speed until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix on low, just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- IF using caramel squares instead of dulce de leche follow this direction: In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels and heavy cream. Microwave on high until the caramels are melted, stirring every 20 seconds. This will take about 2 minutes.
- Press half of the cookie dough into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Pour the dulce de leche/caramel over the dough cookie dough and spread into an even layer, leaving some empty space around the edges. Sprinkle the caramel with the sea salt. Drop the remaining cookie dough in spoonfuls over the caramel and gently spread the dough with a spatula until the caramel is covered. Sprinkle the bars with additional sea salt.
- Bake the cookie bars for 30 minutes, or until the top of the bars are light golden brown and the edges start to pull away from the pan. Cool the bars to room temperature, then refrigerate for about 2 hours to allow the caramel layer to set. Cut into squares and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.
 |
I am definitely going to have to make this bad boy this weekend!
Kim, I have two things to say: you are too funny and you make the best desserts. Ok, so I just thought of some more things to say. You are one smidgeon away from being perfect. So you can either strive for that last smidge or you can accept being one smidge short (it’s probably genetic from your mom’s side) while you plop on the sofa with your hubby, watch a good movie, munch on something yummy, and think about cleaning out that junk drawer.
Listen to your mother, she’s unreservedly brilliant.
Toni
Kim, dreaming and drooling here…