Easy Gourmet!

Well, unless you have missed all my weekend recaps where I talk about eating out you know I LOVE food! During the week I am one that grabs a latte in the morning, has a small lunch of soup and pita chips or crackers and some sort of cheese, then maybe an orange or apple in the afternoon and perhaps a piece of chocolate (or two, or three!) in the evening. I really am not a big dinner eater during the week and unless I am going out tend to not eat after 6pm. If I am hungry or did not have lunch of course I will grab something, but often I like to go home and rest rather than cook. However, this does not mean I do not indulge! I am ALL about great meals when I have the time, but I love delicious and easy just as much.

This will likely not be new to most of you, but I just could not resist sharing some of my favorite, easy gourmet mixes. The Barefoot Contessa threw us for a loop a few years ago when she released her pantry line. The mixes are sold at many grocery stores as I am sure we have all noticed, but they are also a bit pricier than the average mix. Well dear readers, I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and these mixes did not prove me wrong. They are out of this world and as easy as can be! Most require VERY little prep (which can be rare for gourmet) and they yield truly delicious results. I was reminded of this earlier this week. We made the brownies the other night and the only other that compares are the famous Miles of Chocolate brownies out of Austin.

There are two bags in the brownie mix. One of chocolate morsels that you melt with butter in the microwave and another flour mix with mini chocolate chips. These are DIVINE and it literally took a mere ten minutes to mix everything and just 35 to bake it. The result was amazing brownie sundaes not even one on the strictest of diets could resist!

When my cousin came home from Iraq on leave my mother made these cookies for him, only the best for our servicemen is our motto! These too are the best and they are beyond easy as well! However, be careful because the batter is so good you might only end up with three of four cookies on your baking sheet!

These biscuits are perfect for a brunch with friends or a Saturday morning family affair. Bake them the night before and warm them up with butter the next morning to make things easier on yourself.

Okay, I am not sure how I missed this sinful hot chocolate and marshmallow mix before Christmas, but I somehow did. They are the currently the BC products of the month at Stonewall Kitchen and they are on super sale. When something has the word sinful in the title you know it must be good!

Mmm, there is nothing better like dulce de leche on Hagan Daaz vanilla! This product is new to the Barefoot Contessa's pantry, but having tried the hot fudge I know it will be like a miracle in your mouth! Yum!

Whether you want an easy afternoon snack when the loves get home or you need to take someone a treat in the hospital or you simply want to add some more gourmet into your week these items are for you! There is a wonderful selection and even if your grocery store does not carry the line you can stock up online! Once you try a mix you are never going to look back; you will be hooked!!