Brown Butter Cinnamon Coconut Cookies

Wanna know what I'm doing right now? Entertaining.
Michael's best friend/our high school junior English teacher (yes...his best friend is his former teacher), Scholl (or David...but I still can't call him by his first name :P) is visiting for a long weekend, and Michael is SO happy and excited! I'm pretty pleased too, Scholl is a really fun, super cool guy (and omg he has the cutest/smartest twin almost-4-year-old daughters)--apparently he is going to be cooking some Indian food for him and Michael while he's here, Michael is so spoiled!

Anyway, I made these cookies about a week ago, but we used our self control to make sure to keep some of these leftover long enough for Scholl to have some (he likes cinnamon and coconut in cookies so...you know...obviously).

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Kayle...there's no chocolate in these cookies"
I know.

But these cookies totally are amazing, even without chocolate! I was incredibly intrigued when I saw the recipe on Carla's, Chocolate Moosey, blog. She promised "These coconut cookies are crispy on the edges and chewy in the middle. The coconut flavor is subtle with a burst of cinnamon goodness. I couldn’t stop eating them...They are sturdy enough to handle the trip plus they stay moist even after a few days. I know a couple of chocolate haters that would flip over a box of these. Even chocoholics like myself can’t say no."

So I said to myself, "Alright...I believe you. Let's do this."

But you know...I had to mess with them just a little.

You've noticed I have an obsession with browned butter, and I recently realized (by reading Sally's Baking Addiction) that you can still use browned butter even if the recipe doesn't call for the butter to be melted. It seems to obvious, once you realize it: you can totally just chill the browned butter until it's solid or softened. Ha!

And then I was like...might as well toast up that coconut too, ya know? (Although I'm unsure if that really added anything to the flavor, you may just skip that step if you want).

The end result were thick, chewy yet crisp cookies that have all the complexity of browned butter and the warm comforting flavors of brown sugar and a healthy dose of cinnamon. And the ever so subtle, ever so lovely coconut. These cookies have it all: amazing texture AND amazing flavor! Michael took a bite and said "Ew. These are bad. You should give me all the cookies so you don't have to be subjected to their grossness"

I'm on to you boy.

Make em. For serious.

Roasted Garlic Macaroni and Cheese-Guest Post at A Zesty Bite

Hello you all! Today I wanna talk a little bit about Meagan, from A Zesty Bite. Meagan is SUCH a sweetheart, and she keeps tempting me with offers of moving to Texas and being best friends and baking and letting me pinch her adorable little baby girl, Olivia's, cute chubby baby cheeks! Not to mention, she makes super delicious food and has a super fun, super gorgeous blog. Today I have the amazing honor of guest posting for her while she spends some very needed, very important family time. My heart goes out to her and I am so happy to help out in this way.

Roasted Garlic Macaroni and Cheese-there's nothing not awesome about this dish. You have an amazing roasted garlic, cheesy sauce mixed with the pasta and topped with a toasty breadcrumb and scallion topping. Super flavorful, super delicious. And you can get the recipe by heading on over to A Zesty Bite!

Parmesan Breadsticks (Pizza Hut Copy Cat)

So...I hate Pizza Hut.

I do. I used to go there often when I was young (as a part of some sort of reading reward program), and I was never a huge fan. Now that I understand myself and my relationship with pizza a little better, I know why I don't like Pizza Hut: I don't like how thick their pizza is (I prefer thinner crusts) + it's greasy and cheap tasting (even Michael doesn't like it...and this is the boy who gets excited about Easy Mac). But-my one exception to the Pizza Hut hatred is their breadsticks. Ohhhh those breadsticks are DELICIOUS! Absolutely horrid for you, I'm sure, but sooo yummy!

Enter these breadsticks, which taste close enough that I think I need never go to Pizza Hut again (not that I went very often to begin with).

Now, truth time: I prefer the herbed oatmeal bread that I've made before to these, it has similiar flavors but is way easier to make and has a much better texture.

BUT, if breadsticks are what your heart is set on, definitely go for these! I made a few mistakes whilst making them, but I've changed up some of the instructions to help keep you from doing the same (I foolishly followed the directions to cover the dough with plastic wrap...and then it got stuck...*sigh*). They're actually not too bad for you (no butter, just some olive oil) and they are super flavorful and addictive!