The Joy of Baking

As many of you may know, I love to cook and bake. I used to say that I hated baking because it was too precise, now I love it. Maybe it's my sweet tooth, but I cannot get enough of it sometimes. Now, add a pinch of photography and you have my new endeavor. I plan to begin documenting my baking and cooking through my photography.

I was inspired by bakerella.com. The recipe I made tonight can be found here: Bakerella

Now, some of my pictures are very similar to hers, so no points for originality today. However, I loved combining two of my passions!

Here is the recipe:
Congo Bars

2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter, softened
1 lb. light brown sugar (Oh my and thank you!)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
11.5 ounce package milk chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

By mixer:

Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
Combine butter and sugar using a mixer until blended.
Add eggs, one at a time to sugar mixture, mixing on low in between each addition.
Add vanilla and mix.
Add flour and mix until combined.
Stir in chips and then pecans.

By hand:

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Set aside.
Stir brown sugar into softened (not melted) butter in another large bowl until butter disappears. You can use the back of your spoon to help incorporate the two together.
Add eggs one at a time to butter mixture and stir well after each egg.
Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts. Mix well.
Add dry flour mixture and stir until well combined.

Coat a 13 X 9 pan with non-stick spray and spread batter evenly into dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Make sure you don’t over bake.



mmm...chocolate chips








The end result... Sooo good!







I think I may go eat another! ;)