Full Of Crepe

Crepes might be sold everywhere in Paris, but they are pretty hard to find in Bethlehem. This is why I was delighted to hear about Full Of Crepe—a tiny little creperie that is just a stone’s throw away from Lehigh’s campus. 

Although I was a little disappointed that an attractive Parisian man wasn’t making my crepe, the woman that did make it did a phenomenal job. The batter was light and airy, and she put just the right amount of toppings.

Naturally I chose a sweet crepe called “Nuts and Berries,” which is Nutella and fresh strawberries (they offer raspberries if you prefer), but I was leaning towards getting a savory one after reading their extensive list of options. The girl in front of me ordered the “Turkey Lurkee,” which is turkey, mozzarella, spinach, tomato, and pesto mayo drizzled with balsamic reduction. The ingredients looked so fresh and it was all folded into the perfectly golden crepe so nicely that my mouth was watering.

Standing in Full Of Crepe’s tiny doorway made me think to myself that the best part about it is how undiscovered it is. People say it’s one of Bethlehem’s best-kept secrets, and I would have to agree. Little did I know at the time that I was standing behind Full of Crepe’s best customer—a 5 year old girl who makes her mother get her a crepe for lunch every single day and even decided to spend her birthday there as well. 

Now that I know how amazing these crepes are, this little girl is going to have some competition to keep her title as best costumer.To visit the Full of Crepe Facebook page for a better look, click here

Mint Chocolate Combo

Around Christmas time I was searching for something to make that would be fast and easy, yet still look festive and (obviously) be deliciously sweet. I sat at my kitchen table eating boatloads of Ghirardelli’s limited edition peppermint bark and finally decided to make something that incorporates the decadent duo of chocolate and mint.

I settled on making these two simple cookies that are crunchy, sweet, minty and chocolaty all at the same time.

Simply dip Nilla Wafers into melted peppermint bark until they are completely covered, then take crushed candy cane bits and sprinkle them on top. The subtle vanilla flavor compliments the chocolaty bark that is dotted with peppermint candy pieces. The minty bark also gives the bland wafer a little bit of an extra kick that I found really refreshing.   

The second cookie uses mint Oreos dipped in white chocolate with candy cane bits sprinkled on top. There is already a hint of mint in the Oreo filling and it mixes so well with the two different kinds of chocolate (both the white chocolate coating and the chocolate cookies). After eating this cookie I really became convinced that mint and chocolate is the ultimate combo. 

The swirling red and white stripes from the candy canes make these treats look fun and festive. These cookies are also so easy to make that you can bring them to a holiday cookie exchange party and look like you made something extravagant with out spending hours baking and stressing.  

Bethlehem Bars

The Granola Factory is a quaint little bakery located in the town of Bethlehem, PA. You can smell their heavenly baked goods from down the street and it will be sure to lure you in.  

Not only does this charming artisan bakery hand make fresh granola, but they also offer other baked goods like these Bethlehem Bars pictured down below and other prepared foods. Pictured up top is their organic grains and honey flavored granola, along with honey pecan and quinoa fruit’n’nut (they offer many more flavors as well).

Bethlehem Bars are one of the best things I have eaten while I’ve been in the Lehigh Valley. They have an oatmeal crust, topped with caramel, pecans, and chocolate, followed by another layer of oatmeal on top (like a streusel). They offer these bars in half size, but trust me you will want to go for the full.

The only downside to the Granola Factory is their limited availability—they are only open on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays—so get in there whenever you can!

Slutty Brownies

After seeing countless pictures of Slutty Brownies on Instagram and Pinterest, I had to try them out for myself. Even though there are 3 components to this sinfully delicious treat (cookies, Oreos, and brownies), they are one of the easiest things I’ve ever baked.

When my mother asked me what I was baking and I replied slutty brownies, she looked at me like I had six heads—why did I just refer to my brownies as being ‘slutty’? I figure the reason is because sometimes you are just not perfectly content with one of these goodies like Oreos, and need at least two more things like brownies and cookies to fully satisfy your sweet tooth. 

While some people might think the combination of these three things will be overwhelmingly sweet and taste gross, it does not. Who ever thought of this idea was a genius because I could not stop eating them.

To make this trendy treat you will need a 9 x 9 inch baking pan lined with foil. Then get two packages of Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie dough and cover the bottom of the pan with it to make the first layer (you can make your own cookie dough if you’d like, but buying it pre-made makes it go a lot faster). For the second layer, place Oreo’s side-by-side covering the cookie dough. Then make brownies from whatever mix you like and pour it on top of the Oreos and cookie dough for the third layer. Bake this in a 350-degree oven for about 40 minutes and your done! Enjoy! 

Chocolate Fix

If you are ever in desperate need of a chocolate fix, go straight to Tallarico’s Chocolates in Bethlehem. Their variety of chocolates is so large that I stood at the display mesmerized for several minutes. I also felt really indecisive because I desperately wanted to try every single one.

Tallarico’s website says their flavors and textures range from smooth to buttery to even explosive, and they are not kidding. The explosive flavored chocolates they are referring to are their cayenne meltaways. When I was first told to try one I was extremely skeptical, but it only took one bite to win me over. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the combination of dark chocolate and spices worked together.

The best part about Tallarico’s is that there is something for everyone. Sea salted caramels are my personal favorite (pictured up top), but if you like fruity, nutty, crunchy or spicy chocolate, you can find it there as well. 

Lemon Poppy Please

As April begins and it’s finally starting to feel like spring outside, I found that these Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are the perfect refreshing treat to accompany this revitalizing change in weather.  

These muffins from the Food Network website found here, are light, airy, and extremely tangy from the fresh lemon zest used. The poppy seeds give them a little bit of a crunch, and the glaze on top provides the super lemony kick. They’re a great quick and easy breakfast but also make a nice mid-day snack as well.

I am not usually one that likes a really strong lemon flavor that makes your lips pucker, but the glaze is so addicting that I found myself drizzling the icing over the tops of the muffins entirely and then licking the extra that dripped off the sides on to the plate. The glaze is also incredibly easy to make, and only requires 1 ½ cups of confectioners’ sugar, ¼ teaspoon of lemon zest, and 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice.

Although these bite size muffins might be deliciously refreshing, be warned not to walk away from the table with poppy seeds stuck in your teeth! 

I Need S’more

If you can't find a conveniently located open flame to roast some marshmallows on, or some golden graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate to sandwich them between, these brownies will do the trick instead.

On top of being sinfully good and extremely addictive, these S'mores Brownies have a magical way of making you feel like you've gone back in time to revisit your childhood memories of making s'mores by the campfire or the fireplace at Christmas time. The top layer of ooey gooey, smoky marshmallows melts perfectly into the middle layer of brownie and is completed by a crunchy graham cracker crust bottom.

Although these special brownies will leave your fingers a little sticky and messy, they do wonders for healing any ailments caused by the stress of school or everyday life. I made them for a friend who had recently pulled two all-nighters in a row, and she said they definitely helped her recovery. Whether you’re making them for a friend in need or for just plain fun, they will definitely leave you wanting s’more.

I used the simple recipe from the Food Network website, which you can find by clicking here, but instead of using large marshmallow’s I used mini ones instead.