My husband needed to bring a dessert for an office potluck, so I wanted to make something everyone would like (who doesn't like chocolate and peanut butter), uses simple ingredients (uses ingredients in most peoples pantry's), not too unhealthy (I wouldn't call this health food but it is healthier than normal Rice Krispy bars), is easy to make (no bake all you need is a microwave and a bowl an spoon), transports well (my husband commutes on a train to work), and doesn't need refrigeration.  Or in other words the perfect potluck dessert.  This would also be great for lunches, picnics, road trips, holidays, gifts, etc.

My husband and I were invited to a cook out at our friends house.  They were making burgers on the grill and a salad.  While they didn't ask us to bring anything I thought it would be nice to make something.  The tricky thing is the couple hosting follows the Paleo diet and one of them hates all veggies and fruit.   Hummmm...   So I had to think what would be Paleo that most people would like, that wouldn't need to be refrigerated, and doesn't have veggies or fruit?   I scoured through my pinterest boards, (finally all my time putzing around on pinterest has paid off), and then I had it, brownies.  Who doesn't like brownies? They're always great for a picnic or pot luck!

image via Testosterone

I think it's fair to say that most people celebrating Valentines day either go out to eat or make a romantic dinner for two at home.  Since I don't work outside the home my husband and my usual routine is that I cook dinner every night Mon-Fri, Sat is our date night and we go out to eat or at least do take out, and Sunday night my husband cooks dinner.  So we plan to go out for Valentines day since that's our date night anyway!

Villa Masa Limocello

Oh Limoncello where have you been all my life?  I had never even heard of Limoncello before receiving this sample of Villa Massas, so I did so research about it and it's actually used in a lot of dessert recipes as well as cocktails.  That's what I'm talking about spirits that do double duty! 

As I said in my last post I decided to be a baking rebel for Thanksgiving this year and make 2 recipes I had developed for dessert on the fly (I had never made it before).  Both my Sweet Potato Cheesecake pie and my Dutch Apple Tart turned out great to my relief!  My apple tart was all gone.