chocolate, chocolate, chocolate

I'm on a chocolate kick right now. I have this growing list of chocolate-based recipes that I really, really want to try. All involve chocolate in it's various forms: chocolate chips, Oreos, fudge, brownies - lots and lots of chocolate! If you follow me on Pinterest, you'd see I have a board dedicated solely to chocolate recipes - I'm that serious about this :) So here's a quick peek into what's on my list:

1. two bite chocolate cream pies

2. peanut butter fudge coffee ice cream cupcakes

3. brownie goody bars*

4. chocolate chip lava cookies

5. smore bars

6. another brownie goody bars recipe 

*to view this recipe, you have to be a member. I'm not but I just think it's yummy to look at :)

blogging diy: adding a signature

I'm breaking my new "three posts a week" decision but am super excited to have figured out how to add a signature to my posts! This may not be exciting to you but it was a big victory for me - we're talking a two day battle here :) I'll recap how to do this since the tutorials I found were for the old Blogger interface and led me to a bit of frustration :) I'm amazed at how simple this was!

1. Create your signature. I uploaded mine into Photobucket. Copy the direct link for the image (when you're viewing it in your album, highlight the picture and it's the second option). 

2. On the right hand Blogger menu, go to "Settings" and then "Posts and Comments." 

3. In the second option, "Post Template," insert this code using your image url where I have caps: 

4. Save and you're done! (I will say I want to remove the border around my signature but haven't quite figured that part out yet :)

from 4 to 3

Starting this week, I'm changing up the number of posts from 4 to 3. Still sharing yummy recipes, book reviews and everything else but it'll be on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays. I think it'll be a good change and give me a little more freedom to add some new things. Thanks for reading! And spoiler alert: Thursday's post involves chocolate. Lots of chocolate :)

saturday spotlight: christi with "love from the oven"

I found Christi's blog through Pinterest and she has some great recipes! I went looking through her archive and oh my, I found lots of chocolate and am very excited about that! Head over to Love From the Oven and see for yourself! 

1. oreo truffle stuffed cupcakes w/ cookies & cream frosting

2. peanut butter ball chocolate cupcakes w/ peanut butter buttercream

3. baby bundt cakes

4. caramel & chocolate chip brownies w/ pretzel crust

recipe: ultimate brownie

I saw this and wanted it immediately :) The official name is "Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie n' Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar" and all that chocolate sounds absolutely amazing! I've not made this yet but it's moved to the top of my list of recipes to try - the very top. You can go to the direct link to view her picture-by-picture instructions but be prepared for a chocolate overload :)

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips
• 1 pkg Double Stuffed Oreos
• 1 Family Size (9×13) Brownie mix
• 1/4 cup hot fudge topping

Directions

"Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter and both sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well to thoroughly combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt, then slowly incorporate into the mixer until the flour is just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread the cookie dough in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish that’s been lined with wax paper and sprayed with cooking spray. Top with a layer of Oreos. Mix together brownie mix, adding an optional 1/4 cup of hot fudge topping to the mix. Pour the brownie batter over the cookie dough and Oreos. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15-25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting — brownies may still be gooey in the middle when still warm, but will set up perfectly once cooled. Enjoy!!

* To half this recipe for an 8×8 brownie mix, simply half the chocolate chip cookie dough ingredients."

500th post!

I was writing my book review for Monday when I realized my next post would be my 500th and I thought that deserved it's own post :) Snidbits has come a long way since September 14, 2008. I like that my blog has changed as I've changed. I'm still adding things and tweaking things but I'm excited at what's ahead! Blogging has been an outlet for me. I've been able to share fun things and personal things. I've met some super great bloggers along the way and I'm looking forward to making new friends. Thank you for reading and commenting and sharing in what inspires me! 

image source: http://www.hisgirlamber.com/2010/12/post-number-five-hundred.html

book review: "unleashed" by erwin raphael mcmanus

"Unleashed" is about having a barbarian faith - a faith that isn't tame or something easily contained. Those who are barbarians have a faith in God that may seem to go against the norm - it's a big faith. We can look to the Bible for examples of barbarians: "God would continually call them to believe things they could not see, become someone they were not, accomplish feats that were clearly beyond their abilities, and then hold them accountable for it."

This book is about encouraging you in your faith. It's about stirring you up to want more of God. I've read Erwin's book Soul Cravings was excited to read Unleashed! I liked that it's a short read so I could definitely pick it up and read it again when I wanted a quick read. Overall a good book. I felt at times that he was repeating himself in the point he was trying to make but it worked. I liked the touches of humor he added through out and the genuineness from which he spoke. It all came together nicely for a decent read. 

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson for my honest review.