Blondie Bites with Nutella Frosting

A few months ago, I experimented with chocolate baklava. Despite making (and then eating) an entire pan, I still managed to end up with half a jar of Nutella.

Determined to find a more creative way to use that Nutella besides the spoon-to-mouth technique, I whipped up some banana cupcakes that just screamed for Nutella buttercream. Problem solved, right?

Nope. I made two dozen cupcakes, and still ended up with enough Nutella buttercream for another round of treats.

So I present to you, the final saga in the thrilling trilogy that sprung from a single jar of Nutella – blondie bites with Nutella frosting.

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Sloppy Joes

Memorial Day has come and gone and, if you’re like me, you are officially in Summer mode. That means ice cream, a walk around one of our many lovely lakes, and outdoor barbecues with friends!

I was already put in the mood for some Summer cooking when I stopped by Minnesota Monthly’s GrillFest a few weeks ago. But with no grill of my own and no central air, I’m faced with the challenge of capturing my Summer favorites without heating up the house. Continue reading