I have a confession… I have felt extremely guilty for not updating my blog in a week. My girlfriend, Susan, who I work with cannot believe I was not raised Catholic. I’m often plagued with guilt and rarely feel like I’m doing enough at my job, as a mom, as a friend, as a daughter, and now as a food blogger. My mom was raised Catholic, so maybe it’s in the DNA; I’m not sure. The past few months I’ve been in an ongoing struggle trying to find balance in my life. My work has been busier this year than in the previous few years and I’ve taken on too many baking orders. I have a difficult time saying the word “no”, especially when it comes to doing something that I love.  I welcome any advice from those of you who have mastered the art of saying “no”.

The past few weeks, I have been baking cookies and cupcakes for orders, but haven’t had the luxury of free time to experiment in my kitchen, or just bake on a whim. I said no to my first order last night, and though I do feel a bit guilty, I’m starting to realize I can only do so much.

As we head into the holiday season, I know it’s only going to get busier. Even when short on time, there are ways to create a great dessert. No matter how busy I get, I will not give up dessert. One of the easiest ways to create a quick dessert is by starting with a basic brownie and dressing it up a bit.

If you follow my blog, you know that I have a thing for s’mores. I’m sure it’s deeply rooted in my childhood (all of those nights gathered around a bonfire at the beach with friends). I’ve made s’mores cupcakes, a fabulous s’mores martini, and s’mores party favors. When I needed a quick dessert recently, s’mores brownies was my solution. It was quick. It was simple, and it got rave reviews. This is how easy it was. I used a brownie mix and topped it with graham cracker pieces, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Voila… simple & delicious!

Other Ideas for Dressing up Brownies

• mint frosting
• peanut butter frosting
• chopped candy bars
• nuts
• caramel sauce
• cream cheese swirled into the batter

S’mores Brownies

1 box of brownie mix with required ingredients

1 1/2 cups marshmallows

6 whole graham crackers

1 cup chocolate chips

Make up brownie batter according to the directions on the box. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Take out of the oven and sprinkle with graham cracker pieces, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Bake for approximately 15 more minutes. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted. Cool completely before cutting.

What’s your favorite way to dress-up brownies? I’d love to hear!