If y’all have read my blog long enough, you know that I have professed undying love to my BFF Paula Deene, many times.
There are many reasons why I really appreciate this woman.
It isn’t just because she loves her butter, but it is because she is unashamed about it.
I love how she interacts with her boys. She loves to be with them, loves to love them, and they love her back.
She isn’t afraid to make mistakes. I love it when she messes up and says “Oops” and just giggles.
I love that she isn’t perfect. She says “Spatchular” and “One at the time”.
She isn’t prissy and perfect. She isn’t ashamed to take a bite of what she has made, or admit that she wants another bite.
There isn’t anything fake about Paula Deene, except maybe those eye lashes.
This recipe of Caramel Crunch Bars, that Whitney of What’s left on the table? chose for us today for TWD, would be one that Paula Deene would make and be totally proud to do.
There are 2 sticks of butter in this y’all!
And chocolate.
And cinnamon.
And espresso.
And toffee bits.
Yep. Paula would take 2 bites of this and finish it off during the commercial break.
This recipe is quick to put together.
It is simple, and delicious.
Go check out Whitney’s blog and make this for yourself.
You’ll finish it off during a commercial break.
Just sayin!
.
Chocolatechic 
You are soooooo right on track about Paula Deene…..I really love her too!
Your bars look so scrumptious!! I will have to try me some 🙂
Oh dear! Oh dear! Those look scrumptious. And I have some toffee bits that should not go to waste(waist) but …….
That looks really yummy! I love coffee but haven’t really had “expresso” in baked goods, could you leave it out?
Can you enlighten me on TWD? It sounds a bit like a cooking cult 🙂
You could absolutely leave out the espresso. Just add a bit more cinnamon to it.
TWD is a group that bakes a recipe out of the book ‘Baking: From My Home to Yours’ by Dorie Greenspan. She co-wrote cookbooks with Julia Child.
If you want more info about it, check out http://tuesdayswithdorie.wordpress.com/
PS. We post the recipes every Tuesday, and we are not a cult, we are just happy about baking and….chocolate. 🙂
There is something infectious about anyone who is just honest and real about who they are. They always make me feel comfortable in admitting my own flaws. As always, I love your photos. I wish I could achieve the same quality!
What kind of camera do you have?
Paula Dean is the best. Of course, being southern myself, I don’t notice the way she talks so much since all my friends talk the same way! 🙂 But I love to watch her cook. Your bars look great and great photos as always.
A great blog post! Wonderful pics! Paula rocks the kitchen!
Haha, spatular. Too funny. Those look delicious- I’m sure she (or anyone) would be happy to share a batch of these with you!
Those bars look absolutely DIVINE! Is there a substitute for the espresso powder? I don’t consume coffee-based products anymore.
Anyway, make sure you learn how to spell your BFF’s last name correctly ;). With how laid back she is, I’m sure you wouldn’t get mad at ya, though.
Never mind about my espresso powder question! I see you answered it already. Thanks!
I love Paula Deen!
I wish I lived next door to you. I just know we would be the best of friends. My aunt and uncle live in Beavercreek, OH and if I ever go up to see them again, I want to meet you! You are a doll!
Espresso Powder – I had no idea.
Wooooohooo! AH! Finaly, we’re on MY turf! …of you are chocolate, I’m caramel! LOL
LOL This is toooooo funny! For some reason, I often think of you as I bake the TWD, and last week as I was making those… again I thought of you. I was absolutely sure you’d find a way to add more chocolate… and you have! LOL
They look totaly gooey, I bet the were coming out of the oven… I should have tried them that way!
Mouthwatering!
I love Paula. She knows the truth, that butter is a natural food and margarine is only one molecule away from being PLASTIC!!! True.
Anyway, I think you should save your pin money to go and take cooking lessons at her school. Seriously…I MEAN IT. You need to go. It’s on your Bucket List.
– Suzanne
LOVE Paula, too! ‘Cept it sure sounds like it hurts when she says “boil, oil, foil” those words. My favorite of hers is the “one at the time”. She’s got quite a life story and success to boot!
Loved your write up (always do) about these bars. And goodness, yours look rich and buttery! I only baked mine 18 minutes, but they seem a bit overbaked (Dorie’s recipe says 20-22). These ARE great!
I like to refer to Paula’s recipes as “food porn”. My favorite is her version of Monkey bread where you wrap biscuit dough around cream cheese and roll it in butter and cinnamon and sugar and then pour MORE butter over the top. I want to curl up in the pan and take a nap and wake up and eat and then go back to sleep.
It took me some time to love me some Paula, but I do now – so many great ideas! but, unlike you, “spatchuler” grates my nerves…nails on a chalkboard, ya’ll!
Nice pictures, as per usual!!
Hahaha totally love that Paula reference! And that photo with the ice cream! Yum!
Goodness, it looks absolutely fantastic! Well done 🙂
The bars look wonderful, they definitely belong in a sundae. Nicely done.
O.M.G. those bars with that huge ball of ice cream. I think I just went into sugar overdrive heaven. Wowza!!!
These were so good but so terribly fattenin..just sayin!!
So I might not be a chocolate lover… but seriously nothing beats Chocolate and Toffee! HOLY MOSES that looks awesome!
~Cat
Perhaps not a huge fan of Paula Deen. I am, however, a huge fan of these bars. Yum!
The bars look so good with the big scoop of ice cream! If Paula ever comes to your house, be sure to make these for her!
I love Paula Deen for the same reasons! I hate it when people are all squeamish about food, all “oh, that’s too fattening.” I say live a little!
I love Paula Deen, too. She’d make this and serve it with a dollop of whipped cream on top and some mint sprigs, because ya have to get yer greens!
Beautiful pictures! I have never tried a Paula Deene recipe, I should give her a try.
looks delish with the ice cream!!
You are right about Paula Deen — she is refreshingly genuine. Weren’t these bars great? Yours look unbelievable, especially with that ice cream!!
I loved these, too! They were perfect with ice cream.
These were good and I doubt Paula would have considered the ice cream optional.
Yummmm, Thanks, I did pry apart the bars!
Your bars look fantastic! I just assumed “espresso powder” = “ground espresso” until I saw your jar of KAF espresso powder. I used straight up espresso grounds in my batch. Oops – he he! 🙂
As always lovely pictures. Makes me want to go back and make more and more and more. And eat them with lots of ice cream.
How have I never checked out your blog before? Clearly a mistake!!!! Boy have I missed out! Your blog is fantastic..and those bars? Oh MY!!!!
Consider me a regular stalker now! Yay!
Yummy looking with the ice cream, great job.
Hee hee. These would be Paula-approved. I like how she tastes her food – what kind of cook doesn’t?
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous! And the ice cream shot – takes the cake, so to speak! Yeah good ole Paula…she puts a stick of butter in about everything, doesn’t she? Bless her heart.
hahaha. yeah i thought about how this little dessert had 2 sticks of butter in it! oh well, it was delicious 🙂 love your process photos
YOur bars look amazing. So does the ice cream. What kind is it? I thought these bars, while good, were even better with ice cream.
The ice cream is Blue Bunny fat free caramel, and it was amazing!
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yum, that looks so good! I envy your ability to buy toffee chips!
I always love how whenever you make something chocolate, you do a close up of the chocolate first. Hooks me every time. Your Caramel Crunch Bars look delicious…I can just see Paula now, biting into one…eyes rolling back in her head and talking with her mouth full that she must go to a commercial break. You done Paula proud, girl!!!!
I agree, Paula is the Queen. I’m proud of my Southern roots and I LOVE her use of butter and her accent. One of my favorite Paula sayings is “itn’t it romantical?” I make a Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake every year at Thanksgiving, it’s from her very first Food Network episode. I heart Paula…always have, always will.:)
Oh they look so good with ice cream! That first picture of the chocolate is awesome.
These are going to send you straight to hell…LOL…just kidding around about that part, but they do look very sinful. And delicious. I enjoyed your post about Paula…you are so right on all of that, she is just plain refreshing, isn’t she? I can’t think of a single recipe I use of hers, but I sure like watching her. And you are right: 2 sticks of butter in this…OMW! Love your blog.
I like Paula Deen too. Your bars look fantastic!
Your photography is beautiful. I want to make them again after reading your post!
I know I say this every week, but it’s true every week — your photos are just stunning. It makes me happy just to look at them. Thank you.
I love Paula Deen too! I met her when she came to do a book signing/talk at my local bookstore around the corner from my house. She is just as sweet in person and so funny. She had her (then) new husband with her and he just sort of stood in the back and held her coat lovingly :).
I love your step by step photos! Yummy looking bars.
Oh yeah, totally agree. 1/2 a pound of butter was definitely Paula-style.
As much as I love butter, though, there’s just one of me here and I couldn’t possibly eat 2 sticks of butter in one recipe all by my lonesome.
The chocolate and toffee bits mixed together look so yummy.
Love Paula and loved these bars! Yours look terrific!
oh, yum. that ice cream with the bars–just scrumptious.
i had a chance to eat at paula dean’s restaurant in savannah and we saw her inside while we waited outside in a long line…she looked exactly the same as she does on TV:)
I just loved your post today!! I loved reading it taking in the oh-so-true take on Miss Paula, while I take in amazing photos of your progression on the crunch bars!
yes, love paula. i could listen to that voice all day. i liked these bars, yours look so good. 🙂
two sticks of butter = perfect
I love Paula too. Her German Chocolate Gooey Bars are one of my favorites. These cookies are also mighty good. You can’t go wrong with chocolate and toffee bits.
These look great Tanya. I used to be like Paula Deene with butter etc, then went over to the drak side where I sometimes cringe at how much I use. Paula’s approach is so much more fun!
I adore Paula Deene, she always puts me in a great mood. Adding butter is like adding a little bit of love to the food, I just love it.
Holy Cow! That ice cream looks absolutely, incredibly good! Perfect with the bars. Well done.
Your post gave me a real chuckle. And she totally would polish off the bars during the break. Just sayin’
Nancy
I like the gooey look of your bars. I bet they were fantastic with the ice cream. =)
I’m swooning over those last ice cream/cookie photos!!!!
Your photos are awesome!
I had meant to leave a comment yesterday but somehow I managed to not 😦 Anyway, I am glad that I wasn’t visiting you yesterday or I would have eaten the whole pan by myself – we probably would have been fighting over it when Chef Boy came home. Great job and keep up the great work.
Great post, Tanya. I thought these were delicious and perfect for Paula (or Ina) with their two sticks of butter and just enough flour to hold it together. Great photos, as usual. Can’t help you with Photoshop; I’m barely able to capture a pic that’s in focus!
You’re so right, these are 100% Paula Deen 🙂 Yours look wonderful… especially smothered in the ice cream!
Those photos are making me want a caramel crunch bar and the ones I made are already gone!
BEAUTIFUL. Need I say more? You are so gifted.
I love me some Paula Deen! I could just hear her say “Y’all” as I was reading your post. 🙂
If only I had cable! I would be able to watch Paula Dean. I am gla dyou like the recipe!! 🙂
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous!! And the bars look mighty tasty too.
Gosh those look good. I can almost taste the ice cream through the screen, drool! Fabulous job!
Love the pic with the melted ice cream. Love it! 🙂
I can appreciate Paula’s affinity for “butta” and treat tastin. I love that you a fan and I’m not surprised. Your bars look very tasty. Awesome job
AmyRuth