Happy happy weekend to you!!

I am incredibly thrilled to have reached the end of this seemingly never-ending week 🫠

I hope that you all had a wonderful week and that you get to do some relaxing this weekend. Are you baking? Looking at Christmas lights? Shopping? I’d love to know your plans!

On Brown Eyed Baker This Week

11 Essential Cookie Baking Tools & Equipment – I shared what I consider my essential tools for cookie baking. Whether you need to update your kitchen tools, are looking for a gift, or starting a registry, this is a wonderful list of basics to get you started!

Photo collage of baking tools with text in center surrounded by pink frame "Essential Tools for Cookie Baking".

Christmas Reindeer Chow – This reindeer chow is a must-make Christmas treat! The mixture of Rice Chex, Cheerios, pretzels, peanuts, and M&Ms is coated in white chocolate and chilled to set. Set out bowls as holiday snacks or package up individual bags for a special homemade gift. It takes only 15 minutes to prepare!

White rectangular tray with Reindeer Chow on it, on top of a red kitchen linen cloth.

Friday Things #502 – Pink eye, ear infection, flu, strep, oh my! Also, finishing projects, humidifiers, Ina Garten recipes, cookie personalities, holiday season fun, and more…

Girl sitting on fireplace hearth with Golden Retriever dog sitting in front of her facing her.

1. Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

2. Classic Beef Chili

3. Grandma’s Banana Nut Bread

4. Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

5. Buffalo Chicken Dip

1. Mini Whisks (Set of 2) – a great stocking stuffer!

2. Oven Thermometer

3. Chip Clips (Pack of 16)

4. LCD Drawing Tablet for Kids – The most-purchased kids gift so far this year and currently 28% off!

5. Large Silicone Dough Mat – Currently has a 15% off coupon.

This Time in Years Past…

These recipes hit the site during this same week in previous years…

2021: Monkey Bread (From Scratch!)

2020: Oreo Truffles / Moussaka

2019: Chocolate Babka

2018: Peanut Butter Buckeyes / Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

2017: Snickerdoodle Fudge

2016: Peppermint Bark Hot Chocolate

2015: Cinnamon-Sugar Candied Chex Mix / Dark Chocolate Coconut Cups

2014: Hazel’s Easy Chocolate Fudge

2013: Baked Brie with Blackberry Compote / Soft and Chewy Gingersnap Cookies

2012: Almond Lace Cookies / Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows / Pistachio Brittle

2011: Nutter Butter Snowmen

2010: Pistachio & Cranberry White Chocolate Bark / Fig and Walnut Biscotti

2009: Chewy Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies / Nut Crescents

What I Bookmarked This Week

White Chocolate Mocha Cake would make a phenomenal holiday dessert.

Love that this is easy enough for a weeknight meal yet fancy enough for a special occasion >> Garlic Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

I made this slow cooker Texas style chili a few days ago and all of the non-picky / non-flu and strep-ridden members of our household loved it 🙃

These creamy white wine mushroom stuffed shells look AMAZING.

I want an enormous pizza salad now!

Have a delicious weekend!