Roasted Pears with Cardamom Granola and Vanilla Ice Cream

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This dessert (recipe here) is SO easy and simple, but so delicious. I’ve made these before, and they’ve always been a hit. There is a typo in the recipe and the butter isn’t included, but you can figure it out, if you read carefully. Use about 1/4 cup of the granola/butter mixture, loosely packed, per pear.

Thick and Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

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These bars (recipe here) are satisfying and delicious. Perfect when it’s your turn to bring snacks for the team/cast/office/troop or whatever group your family participates in…

Chewy, buttery and packed with protein for a “keep you going until dinner” kind of snack. And these are ridiculously quick and easy, too.

Peanut-Pecan Butter and Oatmeal Cookies

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http://m.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Peanut-Pecan-Butter-and-Oatmeal-Cookies-368298

These cookies are so delicious. They’re crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. They are flavorful and are arguably even “healthy,” at least as compared to other cookies, due to the protein in the nut butters and fiber in the oatmeals. They are our new favorite and are even easy to make, since the dough can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator until needed. A dough scoop makes these even easier to whip out quickly.

Chocolate-Chip Walnut Biscotti

Recipe here.  Obviously, I’m a little obsessed with biscotti lately.  I’ve really enjoyed learning how to make these and am experimenting with as many new recipes as possible.  These are absolutely divine.  Super rich and very flavorful.  I use a small offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate on, rather than dipping, as I find it a little easier and neater.  I also use pecans instead of walnuts, because I live in Texas and walnuts are evil.

Pistachio-Orange Biscotti

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Biscotti on my great-aunt Laddye Lee’s vintage china plate.

This recipe (scroll down) from our local newspaper is a favorite of all four of us. The dough comes together quickly (zesting the orange is the most time-consuming part) and unlike most cookies, there’s really no rolling, cutting, dropping or really even forming of the dough at all before baking. These are easy-peasy and very delicious. They keep well for a long time and are perfect for care packages, because they’re very sturdy.