Things got a bit heavy in here yesterday. I think its time to lighten up the mood a bit. Put a smile on and talk about something that gets you all warm and gooey inside. Maybe do a little What I Ate Wednesday action.

Maybe deliver on that brownie recipe I promised you way back when on Monday before things got all dramatic.

On Monday I promised you a brownie recipe to make your heart melt. So you shall get a brownie recipe to make your heart melt, my friend. Just make sure you don’t spend too much time swooning because then your heart won’t be the only thing melting. Your brownies will, too. And we don’t want that now. That would be wasteful. I don’t know what would happen to our relationship if you wasted brownies, coffee, and ice cream all in one fell swoop. I prefer not to find out either. So just make these and eat them all promptly. Which, I don’t think that will be too much of a challenge because…hello?!?! They’re brownies, coffee, and ice cream all in one!

Are you confused yet? Ice cream? Where’s the ice cream?! Don’t worry. I shall help you. It’s what friends do. You see that fudgy layer?

That…my friends…is magic in the form of . I received some coupons to try two pints of Starbucks ice cream free for review. Coffee and I are *likethis* so, of course, I chose two coffee based flavors – Java Chocolate Chip and Mocha Frappuccino.

No doubt, my first taste test came in the unadulterated state of a small bowl.

Good. No…not just good. Impressive. Striking. Bold. Magnificent. Both flavors packed a definitive coffee punch in the form of one of my favorite foods. I could have just eaten my way through both pints with Peter. Not a bad idea…but then they would disappear too quickly. I needed to up the ante. I needed to allow my coffee and ice cream love to mingle with yet another beloved of mine – brownies. And so was born Easy Coffee Toffee Ice Cream Brownies. The title may be a mouthful, but it’s a mouthful you want to take.

Easy Coffee Toffee Ice Cream Brownies

• your favorite brownie recipe
• 2 TBSP instant coffee
• 1 cup (I chose the Mocha Frappuccino flavor)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 TBSP cold milk
• small box instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 cup crushed toffee pieces

I find that everyone has a favorite brownie recipe or a boxed mix they love. Let’s not mess with your tried and true preference. Just add in the 2 tablespoons instant coffee powder to your brownie batter and bake as normal. Cool brownies completely.

Add the , milk, and box of chocolate pudding mix to a bowl. Stir until evenly combined. Spoon mixture over the brownies.

Sprinkle toffee bits evenly over the top and gently press into the ice cream / pudding mixture. Place back in the freezer for at least 2 hours to harden.

Cut into large brownies because no puny portions will do with these bad boys. Admit it…we’re all drawn to the bad boy from time to time. You’ll be drawn to these too. Dark. Mysterious. Bold. Smooth. Knock you off your feet and keep you up all night.

From the sugar and caffeine, people! I was still talking about brownies! Where are your minds going? Sheesh. I gotta keep a close eye on you.

And not only for still daydreaming about Ryan Reynolds a week later. I have to make sure you don’t steal any of my brownies. Make your own. I promise they’re easy. I promise they’re worth it. And I always keep my promises.

• Favorite thing to order from Starbucks? I want to get my hands on a Coconut Mocha Frappuccino after Julie mentioned it a couple nights ago!
• Brownies – fudgy, cakey, or not at all? Must. Be. FUDGY!!!

Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Starbucks and received coupons and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. All my opinions, as always, are 100% honest.

Earlier this week a certain someone (cough Katy cough cough) divulged that you can now find fall candy in stores. That means candy corn, people. I’m not a huge candy eater. I will occasionally nab a box of Hot Tamales when going to a movie in the theater. And I won’t turn down a good piece of chocolate if its around. Nevertheless, I will still choose a mountain of ice cream, a hunk of frosting, or a slab of brownie over candy. Except for candy corn. It does something to me. It triggers this monster of a sweet tooth and I can visualize my hand trying to grasp as many of those smooth little triangles as possible to nibble away on until I reach the oblivion of sugar ecstasy. Yea, Katy. Look what you did. 😉

Despite my appreciation love preference full-blown-obsession with the stuff, I know I can’t gobble candy corn to my heart’s content and honor my health in the process. So instead of hunting down a bag in early August (stores just turn stuff out earlier and earlier, huh?!), I decided to ease my candy woes with healthier choices to dull the longing. Who says healthy eating can’t be fun and taste like candy? Okay, the tasting like candy thing may be a bit of a stretch…but healthy food sure can taste amazing and satisfy just as much as candy in its own right. I present you with  my healthy “candy” filled day!

Breakfast: Mounds / Raisinets / Reese’s Oatmeal

Or, more simply, chocolate oats with some coconut, raisins, and peanut butter tossed on top. 😉 I don’t care what you say, though. This bowl was epic! And I would probably choose it over the above in candy form.

To make the oats chocolate, I used unsweetened chocolate almond milk instead of vanilla and added a spoonful of cocoa powder to the oats. Other than that, I prepared them as normal and piled on the coconut, raisin, peanut butter goodness when done. It’s a new obsession.

Lunch: Starbursts

Fruit = nature’s candy. Perfect mango chunks and grapes = better than any Starburst I’ve ever tasted candy. Each bite bursts with such juicy, fresh flavor. Y-U-M. Oh – there was a sandwich and some carrots there too. They were good…but they weren’t starbursts.

Snack: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Would you believe me if I told you that the above chocolate pudding look-alike actually contains spinach? That it’s actually a green smoothie masquerading as pure decadence? Well, it is. Trust me. This Chocolate Covered Strawberry green smoothie started as a bunch of things thrown in a blender -

• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond breeze
• 2 handfuls spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• a few large frozen strawberries
• a spoonful of cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp xanthan gum

Then, it became the best green smoothie I have ever tasted. I discovered the one and only downfall to smoothies in a wine glass with this blend – you can’t lick a wine glass clean.

Dinner: Errrm…Green M&Ms???

Alright…dinner doesn’t really have anything I can call candy. But I do love me some Brussels sprouts (favorite veggie besides spinach in smoothie form) and so I shall call them Green M & Ms. Work with me. We can’t allow an entire post’s theme to fall in a shambles now ,can we?

Dinner brought back one of my favorites – BBQ Tofu Wraps! These make healthy eating fun and irresistible…like Ryan Reynolds. Hey, what do you know? I did find a way to tie in the candy theme. Eye candy at its best!

Oops. How did that get in there? So – dinner. BBQ Tofu Wraps with a side of Brussels sprouts. There’s your description of dinner. I’m currently mildly distracted and have no more words. Plus, I don’t want to short circuit my keyboard with my drool. Purely from my candy delicious eats today. Purely. Happy What I Ate Wednesday, friends!

• Are you a candy fan? Any healthier options you use to satisfy cravings?
• Who would be your eye candy?