I couldn't stay away. I know, right? Two posts, in less than two weeks. I'd better pace myself. It's just that our good friends Chris and Jodi were having soiree to say goodbye to the summer and give Chris a nice send-off before he joins me in the black hole of law school. So, you know, I had to make some sweets to mark the occasion.

find out what happens yonder.

I'm pretty much a sucker for any treat that involves the words "caramel" or "caramelized." I can't help myself. Whether it's chocolate with caramel, or caramelized onions, or coconut with caramel, or anything topped with caramel sauce, I'm pretty much on board. So when I was sifting through the annals of Lottie and Doof and came across this favorite cake of his, my culinary interest was immediately piqued.

get piqued, over yonder.

It's been quite a couple of weeks, friends: I went on vacation; I've been studying for the LSATs like mad; I've ridden on trains; I've caught up with old friends; and I've started to get to know some new ones. And this past weekend, Kenan (who just moved into some schmancy new digs) and I visited our friend Alli at her apartment in Boerum Hill to say our goodbyes before she flitted off to South Africa for a few months. As I'd just received a request for advice** on oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, I thought I'd prepare a batch to take with me to the shindig.

more batches of oatmeal cookies than you'll know what to do with, in the oven