I have a confession to make: I watch The Bachelor. I never used to watch it. Well . . . that's sort of not true. My sister and I used to TIVO the Bachelor with Aaron on it and then watch it on fast forward but that's a little different than actually watching it. We'd call it "Bachelor-vision" and the fast forwarding through the episode was necessary so that we could miss out on all of the potentially embarrassing moments or really gag-inducing heart-to-hearts that they show. But now, this season Dudley and I have started watching The Bachelor and every Monday night we tune in to watch all of the drama unfold. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard Jason declare that "one of these women is going to be my wife." And then there are all of the girls professing their love for this guy . . . no way! And, how can we forget . . . the dramatic shot of the rose. My favorites were the dates when the rose was just there the whole time and you could tell that the girls were just freaking out about it. Or how about when the Bachelor stares longingly at all of the girls' pictures before he goes out to pick his ladies for the next week? I have so many issues with that show . . . and yet the entertainment factor is just through the roof. How can you pass up the opportunity to watch Jason put the moves on different girls every week? I can't . . . this show is some sort of bizarre TV crack and now I'm hooked.
Just like I know that the Bachelor isn't good for me but I love it anyway, I also love the caramel crunch bars. The shortbread dough for these just smelled heavenly while it was baking. I was a little put off by the coffee and the cinnamon and the chocolate in the dough but, oddly enough, it works! And really, these are so easy to make and there's no dough chilling involved, or multiple bowls and steps and that always makes me happy. The only issue that I had was a distinct lack of a 9x13" pan. I don't have a pan this big because, let's face it, mine is not a 9x13" reality right now. Nope, it's much more 8x8" and that's what I used . . . plus a loaf pan . . . and the bottom layer was much thicker on the loaf pan. I also discovered that my thin bars just sort of shattered when I tried to cut them but the thicker bars cut so much easier. So, I think that if I happen to make ice cream sandwiches out of these then I'd probably make them super thin, otherwise I'll just make it easier on myself and make them a little bit thicker. Dudley love, love, LOVED these. I gave half of them to my mom's friend (from high school who lives in D.C. and has been insanely nice to me) who just had foot surgery, I ate one while I watched The Bachelor last night, and then Dudley ate the rest. Thanks to Whitney of What's Left on the Table for letting her kids pick such a fantastic recipe!
16 comments:
I love the nice thick (did you say manageable?) crust you got with the loaf pan. How nice of you to share those. And your guilty TV secret is safe with me... and the rest of the internet.
Nancy
I will confess to some "guilty pleasure" television watching in the past, namely the O.C. and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As for reality TV, there is something about it equally guilt inducing. Guilt akin to that I feel when I slow down to look at a car wreck (a sad comment on my character, I guess, but there you have it).
Your bars, by the way, look great and would make the perfect nibble to eat while catching up on your favorite show!
I know that I shared my guilty secret with the internet . . . but somehow it's safer this way. I don't understand why this is though.
Okay, I will try to make you feel better. When I was at Publix yesterday, I did not have time to read the entire Us Magazine article on Octo-mom while in line, so I threw it in with my groceries and bought it, and when I got home, I read the retrospective on The Bachelor that was also in Us. I felt myself getting stupider with each page I flipped, but I couldn't help it. So I don't think that watching the show itself sounds so bad. Your bars look fabulous! These were highly addictive. I wasn't sure about some of the flavors at first either (esp. the cinnamon) but as you said, somehow it works.
Most of my television watching is total guilty pleasure. Some of it is simply to tough to turn away from. Nice job on the bars!
Haha, I love the analogy. I have to admit that I've been watching the bachelor too (and can I tell you? I think Jason's kind of a weenie. Yeah, I just used the word weenie, but I think it describes him well.). I'll also admit that I'm excited about the drama surrounding Deanna's return...oh goodness. Anyway, onto the other stuff that's so bad it's good: those bars. MAN, they look delicious! I feel like I need to make them now. Thanks for checking out my blog, and I'm so glad to have found yours. It's awesome!
I wish I had time for guilty pleasure TV. I have so many shows recorded on my Tivo that I need to watch. It's not funny.
Your bars look wonderful. I'm glad you liked them.
I love these bars too !! delicious !!! and yeah.. will keep ur guilty TV secret ..shhhh..
You did a great job with that crust! Sometimes I get hooked on the bachelor, but this season it did not interest me for some reason. I don't generally watch reality shows, but I like American Idol for the entertainment of it. After all, we have to have some entertainment in our lives, huh?
Very nicely done, Jessica!
...I have a confession to make LOL ...I cannot stand reality tv!!! LOL
Oh! Well, if we don't agree on the goof box, perhaps we do on food! LOL
I thought those bars were fantastic!
Our bars look very similar. My guilty pleasure? Shear Genius. It's stupid, but I watch every week it's on.
You should be glad you had to make them in a smaller pan - I think the thicker crust is the way to go! They look great. I am not a Bachelor watcher, but I was riveted to the Real Housewives of Orange County reunion show last night...
I am a big fan of the trash tv...my sister is always trying to get me to watch Millionaire Matchmaker on the phone with her and all three of my sisters call me and give me blow-by-blows of What not to Wear....long live tivo!
Ha! What a great analogy. My current guilty pleasure is "Millionaire Matchmaker," it's pretty horrifying but addictive. Your bars look great.
OK Jason is just adorable! But those women... OMG I get embarrassed for all single women. Begging for Jason not to cut them, I can hardly watch!
Oh and your cookies look adorable too.. I loved them as well. :)
You bars look delicious! Good job. I watch far too many tv shows and I'd be embarrassed to tell you what some of them are :) Suffice it to say that I've seen a few episodes of the Bachelor this season. I can't help myself!
Post a Comment