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This is a riff on my basic blondie recipe, with a few minor changes. 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 3 large eggs 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 cup white chocolate chips 1 cup mini-semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9x13" cake pan.  In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars until pale and fluffy. Add cinnamon. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and mix on low until combined. (You may need to add 1-2 tablespoons of water if the batter is too thick.) With a wooden spoon, mix in the chocolate chips. Spread batter into baking dish. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in dish 40 minutes. Slice into squares...

It's been quite a tumultuous couple of weeks -- what with a Federal Judge striking down Proposition 8 in a damning legal opinion and then refusing to stay the order on appeal (at least after 8/19)... and while we don't quite know where and when it will all end, if marriage is opened up for same-sex couples, the consequences seemed pretty clear to everyone: None of which, of course, did anything to stop this summer's madcap NOM mystery tour -- or hate-fest 2010... the final "they shoot horses" leg of which limped into Washington, D.C. this past weekend.  By all accounts, the final stop lived up to the stellar failure of the rest of the bus ride.  Pro-equality folks outnumbered the "Slaggies" --  with words of hope, love and acceptance rising above the din of bigotry and hate. To quote our young hero, Will Phillips, "My generation will be the change you fear most in the world.” NOM Tour Tracker NY Times Recap of Proposition 8

I've been taking it easy on the blogging side of things over the past few months, but am starting to get back into the swing of things... For one thing, the recipes will resume in two weeks -- I've been trying out several new ones and experimenting with various dishes that I think most folks will like.  (For example, I found a new place to get spices that carries quality ground peppers -- from jalepeno powder to New Mexico ancho chili and chipoltle powder which I'm looking forward to using.) I'm also toying with doing a weekly recap from my FaceBook filings -- just to see what the world looked like Twitter-style. But since it's so hot outside, I invite you to enjoy some old favorites from the refrigerated / frozen dessert files: No-Bake Banana Split Cheesecake Chocolate Mousse Pie Double Chocolate Ice Cream Mud Pie Frozen Lemonade Pie Cherry Cheese Pie Strawberry Crunch Strawberry & Lemon Trifle Oreo Cookies & Cream Freeze

In more ways than one... Yesterday, in addition to beating the Saint Louis Cardinals, it was "Pride in the Park" day at Minute Maid -- celebrating Houston's rich diversity and the LGBT community.  This is the first year that such an event has been planned and held in conjunction with a pro sports team in Houston -- the now defunct Houston Comets being the exception. Ticket sales through the Houston Astros "Pride" web page benefitted local LGBT organizations.  At last count, more than 1200 tickets were sold through that site, making the event one of the largest events of its type in the country. Mayor Annise Parker threw out the opening pitch and the Bayou City Chorale sang the national anthem. All in all, a great day... and another example of why Houston is a great place to call home.

1 lb cooked white meat chicken (16 oz can) 1 cup cooked white or brown rice 1 egg, beaten 1 ear fresh corn (or 1 cup frozen kernel corn) 1 cup black beans, cooked & rinsed 1 cup shredded monterrey jack or pepper jack cheese 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper 1 poblano pepper, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon taco seasoning 1/2 tablespoon tomato powder 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cups crushed kettle-cooked jalepeno potato chips 2 tablespoons melted butter Cut corn kernels from the cob. In a skillet, heat olive oil. Add onions, garlic, bell & poblano pepper. Stir in black beans and corn. Heat through until onions are translucent. Remove from heat and set aside. In a food processor, add cheese, egg, cilantro, chicken, rice, taco seasoning & tomato powder. Lightly pulse to shred the chicken and mix other ingredients. Transfer chicken mixture to a large mixing bowl. Fold in vegetable mixture. Mix well. Sha...

For the salad: 3 cups fresh baby spinach 4 cups strawberrys, sliced 1/4 cup toasted almond slivers For the dressing: 1/3 cup white vinegar 3/4 cups sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 small onion 1 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds In a food processor, combine vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard and onion. After the ingredients are well blended, slowly add in oil. Add poppy seeds and mix well. Toss the spinach and dressing in a chilled salad bowl.  Add strawberrys and toss lightly.  Top with almond slivers and serve.