Stress Relief in Cookie Form!

This has been a stressful week both personally and professionally and I'm looking forward to tomorrow more than is healthy I'm sure. I'm hoping against hope that next week is leaps and bounds better than the one I'm in the midst of enduring, which can be boiled down to (oh man, I just channeled my dad!) it's not my fault, it's yours; I should matter; and my feelings are valid even if you don't like them. So yeah, this week can suck it! Only time will tell how next week will go but in the mean time, I have my secret stress busting weapon... baking! Well maybe it's not so secret since I might have mentioned once or twice that I REALLY like baking. :)

There will be a marathon baking session in my kitchen, lack of space be damned! I plan on making simple favorites and challenging myself by attempting things I've been crazy intimidated by in the past. If you have requests by all means let me know; Megan's kitchen is open for business and by gosh I'm taking orders!!!  Except for meringues, those are still WAY too scary. The day I attempt a meringue you all better show up with a straight jacket and some serious meds because it will breakdown city over here!

One of the recipes I plan on making is my Grammy Lou's applesauce cake, which I think originated even before her (Mom, help me out with the timeline). I'll post the recipe and some pictures when it's all said and done but I can tell you right now this is something you're going to want to make and soon! Your kitchen will smell AMAZING and you'll be filled with love, joy, happiness and the desire to hug everyone you meet. It's a perfect end to an Easter dinner (or any dinner truth be told) just pair it with a nice cup of decaf!

I know this week has worn hard on lots of those close to me and it's got me wondering how others release stress. Plus it's a great time to introduce my first give away!!! Now I'm not all fancy and hooked up like Ree over at The Pioneer Woman so I won't be giving away any KitchenAid mixers. But the winning entry will get their choice between a $10 dollar Starbucks card or a $10 gift certificate to the Cocoa Bean Cafe with several locations throughout SE Idaho and Utah.

Love their Mexican Chocolate cupcake beyond words!

So how 'bout it lovely readers? What are your surefire stress relievers? I'll choose from the responses from I've received by 6 pm on Sunday!

I know I shouldn't but I can't help myself!!!

Heaven help me, I'm about to be bad; very, very bad. I'm under the influence of Jessica and her awesome blog, "How Sweet It Is" and find myself getting ready to make these...

Yeah, that's right people; take in the awesomeness that is an Oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookie. Now I realize that this is something that could come back to bite me but it's Thursday, my light bulbs keep burning out and I'm too short to change them and I teach 7th grade so I kinda don't care.

I love baking, always have, but I have an INCREDIBLY tiny kitchen and well, I like to spread out when I bake so I don't bake as much as I'd like. For these evil bites of deliciousness I'm willing to make it work (on a totally unrelated note, how fantastic is Tim Gunn?)

Who else is drooling? Please say it's not just me because that would make me sad. Plus it would make me wonder what's wrong with you! Oreo. Stuffed. Chocolate. Chip. Cookies.

I'm not crazy or delusional. These are not healthy in any universe which is why I will keep a few for me and take the rest to school to share with my colleagues, because sharing is caring.

Alright, enough talking; it's time to bake. If you don't hear from me tomorrow I died because these were JUST THAT GOOD!!!

***These images come from the How Sweet It Is site.