Cranberry Blondie Bars AND a Girly Giveaway!!

Good Mondy morning, my groovy foodie friends!  We are all officially on Spring Break as of today, and we are celebrating by having a Staycation.  I love staycations - we get to experience all the cool things that our hometown has to offer, we get to do the things we don't normally take the time to do and best of all - we get to come home and sleep in our own beds!!  (little known fact about me: I love, love, love my super comfy bed and I look forward to climbing in it every night!).

A couple of things on the docket: attend a basketball game, have a slumber party, go to a Diners, Drive Ins and Dives local restaurant with the kids. 

On to my GIVE-AWAY!!!  I would love to start giving away a few of my favorite things throughout the year - for no other reason but it being pure bliss for me to share what my favorite things are!  They may have to do with cooking, or not. 

A couple of weeks ago, I hosted a Stella and Dot party in my home by my very dear friend, Jennifer Allen.  Have you heard of Stella and Dot?  If you have, then you know how fantastic this company is and how beautiful their jewelry is!  If you haven't - then I urge you to hang on to your seat and read on!

First of all, Jennifer is one of the grooviest women I know.  She is utterly passionate about seeing women succeed.  She has always been this way, which is one of the reasons why I love her so much.  Not only is she passionate about seeing women succeed, but she is passionate about everything she does - she is an amazing mama to her sweet 4 year old, Audrey, she is a Life Coach who loves to coach women to succeed in their own lives, she volunteers with me on our church leadership in a ministry that oversees moms of young children, and now she has added this super fun role onto her already stellar resume!  I am absolutely excited for her! 

What does this have to do with my blog?  Well, I have seriously fallen in love with this jewelry line - one of my favorite things - and I am giving away this beautiful "On The Fringe" Necklace!

Isn't she pretty?  This piece is delicate and lovely - you can wear it every day whether you are on the baseball field, or going to work.  I love how Stella and Dot has jewelry that applies to all ages, styles and personalities - it's truly trendy and relevant for all!  You know you want it!!  Check out the Stella and Dot website - their jewels are worthy of adorning yourself with!

How can you receive this amazing necklace??!!  I'm going to make this VERY easy for you!  Why work hard when you don't have to??  :-)

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** US entries only please - sorry to my international foodie friends!

You will recieve one entry for each that you do - the more you do, the more likely you will win! 

The winner will be announced one week from today - Monday, April 11th!! 

Oh - how about a recipe?  I served these blondie bars at my party, and they were a sensation.  Remember those Starbucks Cranberry Bliss bars they sell over the holidays?  These remind me of those, and I'm really excited that I don't have to spend $3 every time for them!  I found this recipe from a local grocery store but I've tweaked it a little bit to make them my own :-)

Cranberry Blondie Bars
Original recipe by Byerly's
Adapted recipe by Kitchen Groovy

- parchment paper
3/4 C melted butter
2 eggs
4 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 C light brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C white chocolate chips
1/2 C craisins
1/2 C chopped pecans
- Cream Cheese Frosting (below)
1/2 C craisins, chopped

Line 13x9 baking pan with parchment paper, extending up over ends of pan.  In large bowl, stir by hand butter, eggs and vanilla until thoroughly combined.  In small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture until thoroughly combined.  Add chips and pecans, stirring to combine.  Spread evenly into prepared pan; bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until top is shiny, cracked and light golden brown (25-30 minutes).  Cool in pan; lift bars out of pan with ends of parchment paper.  Frost with cream cheese frosting; garnish with cranberries.  Cut into bars.

Cream Cheese Frosting
In a medium bowl, beat 3oz. softened cream cheese, 2 T softened butter, 1 tsp. milk and 1/2 tsp. vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until creamy.  Gradually beat in 2 C powdered sugar on low speed until smooth and spreadable.

Chef Note: I think I will replace the pecans with sliced or chopped almonds next time.  Feel free to play with this a bit to make it your own!

They were sensationally sinful and delicious!

Please click here for a printable version of this recipe - Kitchen Groovy

Enjoy, live with gusto - and enter to win!!
Carina