The Yummiest Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe | Pic's Peanut Butter

I can honestly say that one of my weaknesses in life is a good peanut butter chocolate chip cookie. One that just melts in your mouth and the kitchen gets filled with a delightful aroma that leaves only one thing on your mind: getting your hands on one of those cookies!

I have always been a peanut butter lover, but I am pretty particular about the ones that I buy because I believe in using brands that are 100% natural! Gone are the days where yummy desserts mean heaps of artificial ingredients that you leave you feeling guilty after indulging.

My go-to for any of my recipes that call peanut butter? Pic’s Really Good Peanut Butter! Founded in 2007 by Pic Picot, New Zealand-based Pic’s Peanut Butter is New Zealand's #1 selling peanut butter and is peanut butter worth eating.  Made from the finest quality Hi-Oleic peanuts from Australia that are fresh roasted and lovingly squashed in Nelson, Pic’s then quick seals its peanut butter to preserve freshness and flavour.  Pic’s is all-natural, is gluten and sugar free and has no additives – simply peanuts and a trace of Kiwi salt, the unsalted version containing 100% peanuts.  Pic’s Peanut Butter is NON GMO Verified.  I loooove the salt-less Original, but it actually comes in four varieties are offered: Original (Crunchy), Original (Crunchy, no salt), Smooth and Smooth (no salt). Whichever you prefer, I can honestly say this peanut butter certainly does not disappoint.

Pic’s PB blended into a delicious chocolate cookie is simply the perfect combination worthy of an award! The peanut butter and chocolate mix cannot be beat, and the best part is you don’t have to feel guilty about indulging!

Here’s my recipe for a batch of delightful Pic’s PB Chocolate Chip Cookies! And if your sweet tooth is really calling, turn your cookie into an ice cream sandwich by sandwiching your favorite gelato between two.

Pic's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients: 

1 cup Pic's Peanut Butter

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup milk chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips. When blended, mix in the chocolate chips. Using your fingers, form 1½ inch balls (dough will be very wet and sticky) and place onto a lined baking tray.

Space well as they spread during baking. Bake for 7-9 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before moving to a rack.  Makes around a dozen small cookies.

Romantic Treats for Valentine's Day with Rigoni di Asiago

One of my favorite parts about Valentine's Day are all the yummy treats that come with the holiday! There are so many fun variations to make ordinary sweets festive and flirty. 

If you know me, you know that even when indulging, I do my best to keep things on the healthy side. I always like to use ingredients when making food that I can pronounce, are natural and that I've heard of. On top of that, I'm dairy-free as I have an allergy so a lot of times I have to miss out on desserts. I know a lot of people have a similar struggle as me, but I am so happy to say that I have found the most delightful, all-natural brand of spreads - Rigoni di Asiago! I'm absolutely obsessed with their delicious fruit spreads and infamous Nocciolata spread! They make for THE best ingredients that make any dessert that much more delightful!

Each jar of Rigoni di Asiago Fiordifrutta contains over three pounds of perfectly ripened organic, non-GMO fruit and is sweetened with only organic apple juice (no sugars added). A low-temperature production process not only best preserves the nutrients and flavors of the fruit, but also significantly reduces the natural sugar content, yielding 30% fewer calories than most other brands. It is the only three- ingredient (fruit, apple juice, and pectin) fruit spread on the market and is available in a wide range of flavors from classic (including Raspberry, Strawberry, and Wild Blueberry) to exotic (Pink Grapefruit, Black Currant, Seville Orange, and Pomegranate, to name a few). 

The Rigoni's have also perfected a recipe for Nocciolata, a chocolate-hazelnut spread with an undeniably superior flavor and smooth texture. Each batch takes 36 hours of artisanal preparation, which combines top-quality hazelnuts, cocoa and cocoa butter, environmentally-responsible cold-pressed sunflower oil, natural vanilla extract, raw cane sugar, and skimmed milk. Unlike other chocolate-hazelnut spreads, Nocciolata contains no palm oil (which is high in saturated fat and whose cultivation devastates the environment), hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, aromas or additives. Most recently, they have also developed Nocciolata Dairy Free, a certified vegan version of the original perfect for those who follow a vegan lifestyle or are lactose intolerant. This dairy-free version has been an absolutely heavenly gift for me!!! Finally, I can have chocolate hazelnut and indulge without a tummy ache! 

Here are 2 fabulous recipes using Rigoni di Asiago's Raspberry and Dairy-Free Nocciolata spreads to make for the yummiest Valentine's Day treats for you and the people you love!

Raspberry & Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

(Recipe adapted from AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened (or Vegan Butter/oil)

2/3 cup white sugar (I love replacing sugar w/ maple syrup)

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups all-purpose flour (almond flour or oat flour work great too)

1/2 cup Rigoni di Asiago Raspberry Spread

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

3/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon milk (or dairy-free milk of choice)

Prep: 30 m Cook: 18 m Ready In: 1 h 15 m

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.

Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.

In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar, 3/4 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.

Vegan Nocciolata Brownies

(Recipe adapted from AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (almond flour or oat flour work great too)

2 cups white sugar (I love replacing sugar w/ maple syrup)

1 scoop Dairy-Free Nocciolata Spread

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

1 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Prep: 15 m Cook: 25 m Ready In: 50 m

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Pour in water, vegetable oil and vanilla; mix until well blended and add scoop of Nocciolata. Spread evenly in a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is no longer shiny. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Photo Credit: Crier Communications

A Tropical Girls' Night In with Seagram's Escapes Spiked

Ok, I don't know about you guys but I am OVER this cold weather!!! Will I ever shake off this continuously frozen feeling??? It makes me not even want to go out sometimes because of the dreaded chill. Anyone else dreaming to be transported to a tropical destination? Well, the reality is we've still got a few more months ahead before we start to feel some warmth. But that doesn't mean we should sacrifice a good (and much needed) girls' night!

I love a good theme, and I have been majorly swooning over photos of palm trees, the beach, bright colors and sunshine. FOMO! So, I thought it would be the perfect idea to do a little tropical GNI (girls' night in) and play up that summertime feeling! 

But how might you ask? All you need is some beachy decor, your favorite snacks, tropical music, and of course something sweet and island-y to sip on with your girls.  

My go-to drink for a little relaxation with the gals in the (local) tropics? Seagram's Escapes Spiked of course!!! 

I am already such a huge fan of their Jamaican Me Happy and Strawberry Daiquiri flavors, and now they recently came out with a new Seagram's Escapes Spiked flavor to really shake it up: Calypso Colada. They come in 23.5 ounce cans so you'll have more than enough for sharing with friends.

Here's a lil rundown of the flavors. You're going to be CRAVING these:

Jamaican Me Happy

Charged with citrusy lemons, succulent strawberries, juicy watermelon and mouthwatering guava. 

Strawberry Daiquiri

Amped with ripe strawberries.

Calypso Colada

Made with delicious coconut and pineapple flavors.

Can we say ISLAND VIBES??!  

Here's a tip: to really get into the island-y mood, I recommend mixing these babies in the blender and making them frozen. It's so easy and to be honest, just makes the taste even better! 

The frozen drinks are super fun and are packed with even more flavor. Garnish with fruit, with a patterned straw, a mini umbrella, pour 'em in a margarita glass and you're all set.

Put on a little reggae, take a sip of your frozen Seagram's Escapes Spiked, and suddenly you're not in "Kansas" anymore... 

Photography by: Rebecca Gnasso

Breaking Away From the Basic Brunch | At Home with Chambord & Louvelle Luxury Showerwear

Let's face it. Some weekends just aren't for getting dressed up and driving in your car to a restaurant for brunch. After a super long week, sometimes you just want to hang at home! But that doesn't mean you can't still make an amazing brunch and invite some friends over to join in on the fun.

Brunching from home also should never be basic; step aside toast with butter and glass of OJ. We're talking breaking free from the basic brunch with a delicious Champagne and Chambord punch recipe, and looking casually fabulous with Louvelle Luxury Showerwear!

When brunching from home, you're going to want to have food and drink that not only tastes delicious, but is different from the expected and is a conversation starter. For my guests, I wanted to make this extremely yummy (and super boozy) Punch Royale featuring Chambord Liqueur! It comes out in a super bright, festive color. Not to mention, punches are always so perfect for entertaining! I served them in cute punch glasses. Here's how to make it for an incredible #PUNCHANDBRUNCH!

Punch Royale

Ingredients:

8 oz. Chambord Liqueur 

8 oz . Cranberry Juice 

2 Bottles of Champagne of Your Choice (I chose Dom Perignon, but feel Korbel, Chandon, Moët, etc. work just as great!)

California Champagne, chilled

Combine all the ingredients in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Stir and garnish with fresh raspberries or blackberries, then serve immediately. Makes 8-10 servings! (If you're a small group, you'll have plenty left over to last you for a few hours of at home brunching!)

Next: The food set up!

Depending on your group size: If it's a larger group of friends coming over, maybe you want to do make a fancy four course meal. If it's a smaller group like mine, you may just want to keep it simple to whip something up fairly quickly.

I made delicious french toast and waffles drizzled with organic granola, coconut oil and raspberries. I placed them in a dish and then on a fabulous gilded platter that I decorated with faux gold-painted eggs, to make the set up a bit have a little bit more of a regal vibe. I added some pretty Madeline cookies on the side for some more yummy (and carb-y) sweetness!

Fun fact: These eggs had confetti in them, so with my gilded hammer I cracked them and blew confetti all over my table for an added festive touch!

What to Wear

When you brunch from home and are inviting people over, you have the power to make it has causal or dressy as you'd like. I wanted to create a vibe that was low-key, yet still had that fun "Gilded Bellini" spin on it. Meaning... no pajamas allowed! I just told my guests that we should all dress in a very casual glam way to lounge at home. I could not wait to wear my Louvelle Luxury Showercap! 

Okay, you may be thinking, "Why wear a shower cap to brunch?" It's not the kind of shower cap I know you're probably envisioning. It's a chic turban style shower cap!

Before my guests came over, I curled my hair before showering quickly. I wore my Dahlia style turban in Pink Painterly Floral (which is inspired by bohemian glamour) to gather up my luscious locks they wouldn't get ruined in the shower. I am obsessed because it has an amazing stretch fabric that's just as easy to put on as a regular shower cap, and is incredibly comfy and mildew resistant. After showering, I hung it to air dry in a ventilated area for a little while. 

Soon after, I put my Dahlia turban back on over my head while I was getting ready to protect my hairline while applying my makeup.

Once my makeup was done, I was about to take the turban off but then thought... this actually looks so fabulous and completely matches the vibe of a casual luxe look with my outfit for the brunch!

I wore a long maxi skirt, a comfy cropped tank and my shower cap with long gold dangling earrings. It was a totally gorgeous boho vibe that was the perfect fit for the occasion. Seriously, what shower cap do you know that you can wear with an outfit OUT of the shower IN public?! This shower cap is so genius and it was a major conversation starter amongst my guests.

Taking a break from "brunching out" should never mean slacking on brunching fabulously and fashionably. With having so many fun resources from the comfort of your home, the way you can create your brunch for guests is entirely up to you, from the food to the drinks to the theme or the vibe! 

If you decide to create this boozy brunch punch, be sure to tag @ChambordChannel and #PUNCHANDBRUNCH on Instagram! Love Louvelle? Head to their website for tons more shower cap turban designs and tag @LouvelleShower to show off how chic you look in your new shower cap! 

Photography by: Elijah Saldana

DIY Rosé Gummy Bears with Maison Marcel | Skip the Waitlist!

When I first heard rosé-infused gummies were a thing, I could barely contain my excitement. You always hear about vodka-infused candy, but rosé? Why have I never thought of that before?! There has been so much hype surrounding this boozy trend that there actually is now a waitlist to get your hands on a square little box filled with these gummies from Sugarfina! 

I didn't know what was more shocking: the fact that there is now a waitlist for rosé gummy bears or that people would actually WAIT on that waitlist! I'm a little impatient by nature, so I took the task into my own hands and decided to make my own! 

The best part is with DIY'ing your own gummies is that you can choose whichever rosé you want to infuse them with. I was so excited to try Maison Marcel Rosé - This rosé is no stranger to getting a ton of buzz and a lot of love all over social media. It's not only been grabbing the attention of thousands of people by its gorgeous bottle, but by its background story. Marcel was the grandfather of Albert Dahan, founder of Maison Marcel. The rosé is a tribute to him and the time decades ago when he crafted a fruitier and slightly sweeter wine to seduce the woman that he loved! (Ok, so note to my future bf/husband: try to outdo that one!) I appreciate this wine even more because it has such a great story behind it.

Now... onto the gummies! Warning: THIS. IS. SO. SIMPLE. You may even want to leave that waiting list you've been anxiously hoping you get bumped up on for the past 2 months. How does a few hours of waiting time vs. 4 months sound for you rosé lovers?

Here's how to make them:

I started with 2 bags of Haribo Gummy Bears. I picked out all the clear gummies - you'll want to gather these because you'll see that they actually turn that pale pinkish color once they're fully infused.

I put them in a small glass and then poured my Maison Marcel on top. Don't drown the gummies (duh, you're going to want to save some rosé to drink too). Just put enough in so each gummy is fully submerged and hanging out in their tiny pool of rosé. If you've got a serious sweet tooth, go for spiking the mixture with a dash of sugar, but it is totally not necessary!

You can put saran wrap over the glass to lock in the aroma and so the rosé doesn't evaporate too quickly. If you're like me, after about an hour you keep opening up the fridge and lifting off the saran wrap to check and see if the gummies are ready... so at that point it doesn't really matter if it's on or off!

I'd say after about 3 hours, you've got yourself a batch you can start trying. But, if you want to wait until they're really rosé'd up to their fullest potential, wait at least 10 hours.

Once they're done, they become these cute, plump little pink bears! What I loved about these gummies was that they were just the perfect amount of sweetness because Maison Marcel has that naturally sweet flavor, totally fit for infusing candy! 

Now, you can #DrinkMarcel in a whole new way. Grab your gummies, pour yourself a glass of that leftover rosé and enjoy - now, the wait is officially over!

And, you can totally rub this in the faces of all the people that are still complaining that they haven't received their rosé gummies yet... :)

Cheers!