After a week of mind-losing exercises, I decided to forgo making a cake for something fast and easy, like this no-bake butterscotch bar from Better Homes and Gardens. The original recipe is peanut butter based, but since I have a peanut allergy, I flipped it to cashew butter and added a little bit of cayenne for an added kick to the sweet and salty combo. 
Now that we have the food talk out of the way, let’s talk crazy: taxes, time management and socks. Yeah, what a cluster. Last week started with a panic attack about taxes. Lucky for me my tax guy is kick ass and by the time my begging text for help reached him, and before I could put my phone down, he came back with “I anticipated that you would need an extension”. No joke or exaggeration, I wanted to kiss the man. Instead, I gave my usual texting gratitude of “You are awesome!!!”, followed by a series of smiley hugging emoticons suitable for a fourth grader, not an exchange between two professional adults.
But I digress. 
Time management: yeah, about this. I’m still trying to nail this down in my personal life. Apparently, I can superstar my way through this on the professional end, but when it comes to personal matters – it’s a work in progress (as evident by my tax extension; my pony-tail wearing hair that is begging for a cut, the pile of props needing to be cleaned from past shoots; and on and on the list goes-but then this parenthetical would become more ridiculous than it already is). But hey at least the the pile of socks that has been sitting on my dresser for the last 3 weeks is finally paired and in the drawer.
Baby steps (Yay me—you know—in case you’re thinking “pathetic”. Someone has to pump me up!).
And then this happened at the end of the week (see below). Wow. Just wow. I’m honored any of you come here to read my blog and equally honored to be featured along side these other fantastic blogs as a finalist for Saveur’s 2013 Best Baking and Dessert Blog. Thank you everyone for your continued support and visiting with me over sweet treats and random chats.
Hit the jump here for the recipe for Better Homes and Garden’s blog Delish Dish for the recipe to these no-bake cashew bars.
As always, if I can please ask you guys–if you are going to pin any of the images please do so from Delish Dish and not here, since the recipes reside over there. Thanks!
Welcome to my cozy corner where baking meets random thoughts and musings. I’m a self-taught baker sharing all things sweet (and some savory—okay, and cocktails) with a whisk in one hand and a camera in the other. 
I swear taxes are more confusing the older you get I think. more numbers, more special taxes; I have been driven to edge too. I love the look of these bars, you have manage to make something so easy look elegant.
Congrats again, Naomi! Best of luck, and you got my vote! These bars look so delicious. I love the styling too. I’m always looking forward to seeing what you would come up with next and it’s been really fun following you since I found your blog! xo
Naomi replied: — April 15th, 2013 @ 10:06 am
Nami – You are too sweet! I’m so glad we are friends and stalk each other blogs
These bars look absolutely gorgeous! And huge congrats on the Saveur nomination! Your styling and photography never cease to amaze me!
Naomi replied: — April 15th, 2013 @ 10:04 am
Thanks so much, Ali!
Congratulations on the nomination! I am totally in the same boat with you when it comes to time management. I feel like I spend all my productive energy at work, so when I get home all I want to do is relax or spend time with the man!
Congrats Naomi! Well deserved nomination and hopefully win from Saveur. Your’s is one of the best blogs I’m following, always great photography and well-written easy to follow amazing recipes!
Congratulations Naomi. Well deserved!
These bars look delicious too.
Your bars look gorgeous and congratulations on the nominations – so well deserved!
Congrats on Saveur, my friend! You got my vote 😉
Congratulations on the nomination, but I am not at all surprised. Your jaw dropping photography and creative recipes is enough to have me and many others always coming back for more!
I saw it over the weekend and voted! CONGRATS!!! Naomi you totally deserve it and what an honor, and I was thrilled to see your name there!
And these bars. Butterscotch and nobake, all in one. Sold!
HUGE congrats! I just voted. You deserve it!!
Oh and these bars? AMAZING! Cant wait to make them!
Big congrats on Saveur – most deserved, you have my vote!
Love these bars, the cayenne totally intrigues me… sounds perfect with the cashew butter!
This is perfect, because it resembles a baked good, but I don’t have to turn my oven on and heat my whole house if I make it this summer! Thanks for sharing~
The Occasional Indulgence
Congrats!!!! Taxes freak me out too. Oh and anything no bake, my best friend!
Congratulations Naomi – you really deserve it! Your blog is so inspiring and delicious.
gonna try this – i love butterscotch
Trisha x
Congrats on your nomination!!!!!! Love the addition of the cayenne pepper!
Wow what beautiful photos!!! Congrats on your nomination!!!!!
The link to the recipe doesn’t work.
Jennie H replied: — April 18th, 2013 @ 2:11 am
M – the link to the recipe works fine for me! Try it again.
Congrats on the nominations, Naomi! It would be totally disappointing not to see your name on the list. Sooo well deserved!!! These bars look insane! I love that you turned them into triangles instead of traditional squares. Off to check them out!
Huge Congrats on the the Saveur Nomination! So very well deserved. Should have happened sooner in my humble opinion. Beautiful bars, and thank God for extensions..
congrats and SO well deserved
These are so delicious! I was sceptical at first because of the pretzels but they turned out to be gorgeous and it doesn’ t take much time.
These bars look yummy and delicious too.I am going to try it out