Buttery Brioche

This bread doesn't have crazy ingredients and really the steps for it are very simple if you just take a glance at them, but the time it takes to make it really will blow your mind.  That being said, if you love soft and buttery bread then it is totally worth it.  Better than that if you make the full recipe (which Dorie Greenspan says you should...so you definitely should) it makes enough dough for two loaves OR a loaf AND honey buns.  Buttery, gooey, sticky, honey buns.  So good. I've linked to another website with the ingredients and directions because honestly I just don't have enough patience to type it all out.  I will say that the hardest part is being patient enough to wait for the butter to be incorporated, so make sure you pull up a magazine and get ready to sit for a litle bit!

-D

Caramel Crunch Bars

Anyone else feeling like the holidays are really just an excuse to eat anything and everything in sight with no shame? I sure hope somebody else out there is shaking their head yes in response to that..... Regardless, with time off from work it definitely means our kitchen is busier than normal and I wouldn't have it any other way (my hips probably would though...).

These Caramel Crunch Bars by the one and only Dorie Greenspan (you need this book) have a crumbly shortbread base with chocolate and heath chunks on top. I was a little concerned by the combination of cinnamon, chocolate, and coffee in the shortbread, but one thing I've yet to learn is to just go with what Dorie says. These aren't the most glamorous or fancy or earth-shattering, but they are simple and delicious with a cup of coffee as you think about how you will definitely shed those 30 pounds this year.... Here is a link to the full recipe, enjoy!

-D