To Cut or Not to Cut...

A certain little lady got her very first haircut tonight.  Actually, I'm not really sure if it can be classified as her first haircut... it was just a bang trim.  I basically distracted her by letting her bang on the computer keyboard while I hacked away just praying not to stab her in the eye.  It was a hot mess for a while but it actually turned out pretty darn cute.  She's working a very stylish side swept bang like all the big celebs :)

I had a major panic moment midway through vacuuming the hair up off my desk.... I FORGOT TO SAVE SOME!  Good new friends, I found a little "clump" that was stuck under the keyboard and it's now safe and sound in her baby book.  Phew!

She also got her very first bake set today :)  That rolling pin!  She did a lot of chasing the dogs around to get back her cookies and cupcakes.  Someday I'll just lounge around on the couch while she slaves away in the kitchen cooking dinner and baking dessert.  Someday.

Mini S'more Cups with Chocolate Ganache

Yep, this is the second s'more inspired recipe this summer :)  S'mores are one of my favorite treats and with no campfire in sight a girl's gotta improvise!  I have to say, these mini s'more cups are even better than the s'more pops.  There's a little more graham cracker going on in this recipe.

Everyone know's you've gotta do a little grocery shopping before you start making sweets.  The babe had a party in her crib last night so she is rocking her oversize shades and messy bed head look.

First up- the chocolate ganache.  It's so easy to make even though it sounds fancy smancy.  Pour your chocolate chips into a bowl and set aside.  In another bowl heat the heavy whipping cream and butter.  I just did this part in the microwave in 30 second intervals.  Once the cream and butter are nice and hot (not quite boiling) add the mixture to the chocolate chips.

Whisk into chocolatey perfection.  Go ahead and stick the ganache in the fridge while you work on the graham cracker crust.

I put the graham crackers in the food processor and blended them up to nice tiny crumbs. Mix the sugar and graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter to make the crust.  Push the crust into a cup shape.  Bake the crusts at 350 for about 4-5 minutes.  They should be slightly browned on the edges.  Take them out and fill the crust with chocolate ganache then top with half of a marshmallow.  Back in the oven they go!

Don't forget to put your oven mitt on.

It's hard work getting the oven mitt on with two crazy doggies trying to get in on the action.  They must have thought this cupcake mitt was the real deal because they were going crazy for it.  (What? Don't you make bake with no pants on?)

My helper decided she'd rather just stick to the grocery shopping and let me handle the hot oven.

Back to the s'mores.  Yum, yum, yum.  Leave them in the oven until the marshmallows start puffing up.  Once they are nice and puffy, turn the broiler on and brown them to your liking.  A marshmallow takes on a whole new life once it's heated and browned.

Let them cool and pop them out of the pan.  Getting them out of the pan was the hardest part.  I think if you make sure you add enough butter to the crust they will set up better and not be such a pain to get out.  I'm sure me being impatient had nothing to do with it.

Another super easy and yummy s'more recipe that doesn't require a campfire :)

Enjoy!

Chocolate Ganache

6oz chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)

 1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tbls butter

Graham Cracker Crust

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

5 tbls butter, melted (you may need to add more)