Blueberry Jam Kiss Cookies

There`s no way these can get better. Just taste one and hear the Angels sing. Oh, dear Heaven. What would have been life without sweets?

Don`t ask me how I came across this recipe. It`s something me and my mom made after a failed Easter dessert. Of course, my absent-minded way of dealing with things in general, lead to burning the first batch of cookies. Yes, buddy, I was so focused on braiding dough for another dessert that I simply forgot about the cookies in the oven. The smell of burned desserts is among my biggest fears ever. 

Of course my mom went off at me for being so forgetful. 

But we baked another batch and this time I watched them constantly. Like, 20 minutes sitting in front of the oven. 

Then came "fun" part where I had to remove the cookies from the tray and arrange them on a whire rack so I could fill them with blueberry jam. Yeah, after I destroyed 6 cookies, because they were just sooo fragile (so watch it if you decide to make them) that they broke apart at the slightest pressure. Not pretty.

I managed somehow. Don`t ask how I got a back pain trying it.

Listen, I still got a few recipes to share with you and can`t wait for it, but I am so damn busy every day. I`m struggling between school, gym, private classes and my mare who foaled recently. I want a holiday.

I`m bitten by some thoughts regarding people around me. I keep wondering if they just make fun of me or...well, I shouldn`t bother you with my problems. Stay positive, girl! I`m not planning to turn this blog into sort of an online diary. 

Ahem. Now we`re supposed to pay attention to the cookies, which are flaky, buttery and melt in your mouth. Oh my God! I think I found my love. Cookies, will you marry me please?

You know what else I love about these? They last, buddy. Actually, they are better the next day. Or next week. Exactly! Isn`t life taking you by surprise?

The difficult part here is that these are drugs. Literally. You keep wanting more than one. I can`t even handle it right now. I promise you`ll get high, but legally, of course. 

I don`t know what to say anymore. I feel like dancing. Not. 

Ingredients:

185 gr unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

35 gr sugar

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

250 gr. flour

for the meringue:

2 egg whites

pinch of salt

100 gr. granulated white sugar

additional:

blueberry jam (try one that has a firm texture)

powdered sugar

Directions:

1.In a large bowl, beat the butter and the sugar together for 2-3 minutes. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix the vanilla extract in. 

With the mixer set on low speed, add the flour. Then, using your hand, pull the dough together to form a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. Preheat your oven at 350 d F/160-170 d C and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Take the dough out of the fridge and stretch it out into a 0.5 cm(1/8 inch) thick rectangle. Then take a round cookie cutter and cut out circles. You can use a smaller cookie cutter to make that hole in the middle, but that`s optional.

3. Arrange the small circles on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, watching them carefully and checking them after such time. Take them out and let them cool completely in the pan. Place them on a rack and sandwich them together with blueberry jam.

Make the meringue:

Beat the egg whites with the salt until they form dry peaks. Add the sugar 1 Tablespoon at a time until you get a glossy meringue.

Schmear some of that meringue on the top of the cookie. 

To dry the meringue, heat your oven at 100 d F/50 d C for 15 minutes. Turn the heat off. Place the iced cookies in the tray and let them sit in the oven for 1 or 2 hours or until the meringue gets dry.

Chewy Berry Brownie

This might be one of the most perfect brownie recipes I`ve ever made...and tasted.

So Easter is here and I am already trying to make up my mind about what to bake. Of course I`ll share the recipe&pictures with you, but I have sooo many ideas: Turkish Delight Crescent Rolls, Shortbread Layers Lemon Bars, Romanian Easter Cheesecake Bread (Pasca), Meringue Coffee Delights. Oh my Goodness...can`t decide.

But leaving that aside, let me present these amazingly delicious Brownies. This is the perfect balance between sweetness and tartness. Yeah, ok, I know I`m not helping you if you are on a spring diet or something, but taking into account that there`s berries in here, you could think this is healthy. Somewhat. All right, not healthy at all. But it`s surely worth the indulgence.

I love how these turned out! Exactly how I imagined: not overly sweet, packed with flavor and lovely texture. Whenever a brownie turns out like that, there`s nothing that can make me happier. Except, well, eating a piece.

Sorry, the pictures are horrendous. Who cares? I just had the best dessert in the world. I declare right now, in front of you, that this will be from now on my go-to recipe for a quick&easy yet scrumptious treat.

And have them for breakfast. That`s right. I am rebelling against healthy breakfast when Easter is here! We should enjoy ourselves and leave the guilt aside. I`m going to have another piece. Thank you!

I promise that I`ll try to post as many healthy&low fat&low sugar&vegan dessert recipes as I can, but you know, I kinda have a difficult time in doing that. 

What can I tell you more? There`s 10 pm here and I`m not tired a single bit. I just had a fight with my mom, and (lucky me!) I found some chocolate which I am constantly snacking on right now. Life has good and bad parts. 

Yep.

Am I the only one who feels like this brownie is calling my name? I want it! And it shall be mine. Soon. After I cut down on sugar and fats for a week or two?

What? I`m serious `bout it.

Who am I kidding? I can`t keep my hand off anything tasty& naughty. If I am to eat my calories, then let me eat them in what I like.

I am the worst example for kids to follow. Really.

Have I mentioned how I hate the light&sharpness at these pictures? I H-A-T-E them. But I keep posting because...why not? It still looks delish.

I don`t care how unappetizing this looks! It`s the best brownie I`ve ever eaten and made. It`s so easy that even a toddler could do it. Just be careful when you bake it. Brownies can change their consistency&texture depending on how long you bake them. I usually bake mine at a lower temperature and a bit longer (with 5-10 minutes, not a big deal) so this way I can ensure the brownie is fully done and it doesn`t fall apart when cut, but still remains moist&chewy&gooey in the middle.

Ingredients:

250 gr butter

3 heaping Tablespoons (65 gr) cocoa powder

7 Tablespoons milk

1 and 1/2 cups (405 gr) granulated sugar (white or brown, doesn`t matter)

1 and 1/2 cups flour (308 gr) 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

260 gr. mixed berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries. cherries)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 d F/170 d C. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside while you make the batter.

2. In a large saucepan (like those your mom uses for soups or large meals), add the diced butter, cocoa powder, milk and sugar and stir over low heat until butter melts completely and sugar granules dissolve. Take off the heat and allow to cool a bit.

3. Meanwhile, beat eggs very well. Add it carefully to the slightly warm mixture, pouring in a thin stream, so the eggs won`t scramble. Mix thoroughly until eggs are well incorporated. Next, fold the flour in 2 batches. Lastly, add the extracts (vanilla, almond) and berries. 

Pour in baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, keeping an eye close on it, so it won`t burn.

4. Allow to cool completely in pan before cutting and serving it. Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy.