Year One - Giving Thanks

I thought about writing a long post about everything I have learned in my first year of blogging, the bumps I've come across, and what I plan on achieving in the upcoming year. I know I have so much more to learn, the bumps will only help me become a better and more creative blogger, and my goals are endless at this point. Instead, I just want to use this little sunny corner of the web I call my own to thank all the people that have supported me this year:

My family - For inspiring creativity and passing on a lot of their knowledge of cooking and baking. Also for helping the Lil Ms. Sueshine fund to get my laptop when I first started blogging!

My friends - For being my guinea pigs when I have to test out a new recipe or I need someone to eat my treats before I eat them and go into a sugar coma.

Ms. Ashley Barnett - For creating my awesome logo and being a partner in foodie crime during local food events.

The San Diego Food Bloggers - For inviting me into this wonderful group and sharing their experiences as bloggers. I'm proud to be part of this community and I can only hope to be half as good as many of them.

My puppy, Eponine - For being so ever dutifully by keeping watch over the kitchen as I bake. No crumb will go uneaten :)

My Husband, Scott - For being my biggest supporter and being patient while I raged at failed recipes in the kitchen. He always knows when to give me space by walking away and when to come back so he can steal a cakepop. When I've hit those bumps this past year, he always said it best by quoting the oh so wise Yoda: "Do or do not....there is no try." He pushed me to just keep on turning on my oven and tapping away at my keyboard.  

And....

My Readers - For being so supportive and coming back time and time again just to see what this lil SoCal girl is up to in her lil red kitchen. Endless thanks to you!

Sueshine Note: Read my first post here! The cakepop pictured above is a representation of my original logo when I started blogging which was a little piece of clipart.

Snickers Blondie for My Favorite Blondie

I'm painfully shy but she's manages to bring out "chatty Suzy" with her outgoing personality. I'm the designated eye roller when she comes up with a smart ass comment. Where she dresses in casual calming blues, I dress in work clothes of dark reds. She rocks out to classic rock while I listen to pop & R&B. I have the large crazy Filipino family where she has the all-American, "Leave it to Beaver" family. I'm the brunette and she's the blondie.

My friend Allison and I met in high school when I was a sophomore and she was a junior. Out of our group of friends, although we were all dressed alike in our uniforms, anyone could tell we were the most opposite from each other. We didn't really become close until she came back to San Diego from college. Suddenly we became partners in crime going out almost 3-4 times a week, acting like little kids at Disneyland, playing dress up every Halloween, and partying it up in Las Vegas. Even as our partying years died down, new relationships started, and we had to start acting like adults, we were still around each other a lot. We ended up working together for several years and became the unofficial office bakers.

So, why am I bringing up my friend Allison? Because I'm dedicating this post to her as she makes a big change by moving north to Washington state. Our longstanding friendship will keep us in touch and we'll see each other during holidays but I'll still miss her. When I decided to write this post, I texted her to make a decision for me, as I have asked her to do so many times before:

"What's your favorite candy? I'm trying a new recipe and can't decide what to put in it."

"M&Ms or Snickers. Don't worry, I'll eat whatever leftovers you have."

Snickers Blondie

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 regular size Snickers bars

1) Preheat oven to #50 degrees. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt on a piece of parchment paper. Set aside.
2) In a separate bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together with a mixer. Incorporate the egg and vanilla. Once blended, gradually mix in the flour in thirds. Crumble the Snickers bars and fold into the batter.
3) Line an 8-in baking pan with parchment paper with about a 2-in overhand. Spread batter into a pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Check center with a toothpick. If toothpick does not come out clean, add an additional 5 minutes.
4) Pull the parchment from the pan and transfer onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

When I decided on Snickers, I second guessed myself. Maybe I should have picked M&Ms for her colorful personality. But then I thought, Snickers was the perfect choice. Like us, Snickers combines the opposites (salty and sweet) but work great together. It also made me think of all the laughs we've had with our private jokes and snickers brought on a whole new meaning. Although I'll miss one of my bestest friends, I know she's only a text message away to help me make those tough decisions. I want nothing but happiness and luck for Allison as she goes on her new adventure. Washington better be prepared!