Recently, I’ve been going through lots of old posts and putting a decent amount of them on “private” for the time being. There’s nothing inappropriate or endangering written in them; I’ve just realized lately how much information about me is so easily available on the internet, and it’s a little weird. I love my readers and the support everyone has given me over the years, but I also know from numbers that there are hundreds more lurkers than the few dozen I’m familiar with- lurkers that are undoubtedly mostly awesome, but could include future employers and scary internet trollers.
So, I’m keeping the blog mystery, so to speak: leaving the posts that are relevant, interesting, fun and have a point- and hibernating those random rambles whose silly information mounts up to a lot. Quality over quantity, right?
While doing my blorginization, I stumbled across this recipe that I posted a few months ago in the middle of a dinner post. Homemade peanut butter cups are incredibly easy to make and a total crowd pleaser- they obviously deserve their own post! There are tons of recipes for them out there, but here’s my take on them.
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Peanut Butter Cups
Yields about 24 mini cups or 12 large ones
Ingredients
- 12 oz bag good-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup natural chunky peanut butter, refrigerated
- 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar.
- roasted salted peanuts, for garnish
- Line 24 mini muffin tins or 12 regular muffin tins with paper liners.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips by microwaving at 50% power for about 2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Add the sea salt to the melted chocolate and stir very well. Use two spoons to pour a thin layer of chocolate into the bottom of each muffin mold, then place in the freezer for a few minutes to solidify.
- In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter and confectioner’s sugar. Use a teaspoon to scoop the mixture onto the hardened chocolate.
- Working quickly, spoon the remaining chocolate over the peanut butter. Top with a few salted peanuts and immediately refrigerate or freeze until solid.
Just made your PB cups! sooooo yummy!! Thanks!
two things i heart, chocolate & pb.
i could seriously eat them all!! i definitely think that negative thoughts will snowball. to change a bad mood sometimes you just have to let all the emotions out. a good cry, vent to a friend.
I do get the whole internet protection thing- it is kind of scary to think about all of the lurkers out there that aren’t to do good or just catch a delicious recipe or be a sounding board for people that are similar. I go back and edit things all the time— this has got me thinking about editing my own blog. Probably should do that come to think of it! …..These look delicious! Mmmm! I’d risk it give you my address and whole name over the internet if you’d send them to me
Ha, I’ve actually thought about how funny it is that I’m so careful about giving out my last name, but I give my address to bloggers all the time. I guess I trust people more if they have a blog of their own, but it wouldn’t be that hard for someone to make up a fake one if they really wanted to get info about people!
I definitely don’t share things about location/etc, and I would never share anything that would jeopardize my job. I do think though that sharing some of my experiences right now are absolutely mandatory for my emotional well being - sort of like free therapy in a way!
PS - these look amazing.
I agree about not sharing too much info on your blog. Personal info belongs in a diary…offline. I want my blog to be informational and interesting, not a soap opera of my life.
But back to what’s important…I LOVE dark chocolate and I can’t wait to try these
“Not a soap opera of my life” = bingo.
I think this was one of the reasons why I hesistated so long to start a blog. Still not sure about how to go about it in detail. Interesting topic for sure
I just ask myself if I’d be comfortable with EVERYONE IN THE WORLD- family, friends, enemies, employers- to read it. If it’s something I’m worried about because of people’s opinions on my personality, I usually post it, because if you don’t like my blog, then you probably won’t like my in person. But if it’s something I’m worried about because of oversharing, then I immediately know not to.
These look great!!! I’ve never really edited down my blog but I have put my Facebook on private. Just about every job recruiter who I’ve had come to my classes has said that they 100% check your Facebook to make sure you’re the type of person they’d want representing their company.
i definitely keep my FB and my Twitter in check. I don’t want anything bad or degrading on my personal site, nothing that would make my mom embarrassed, you know? Especially since my employers or future employers can see everything and anything!
Totally understandable to keep this private. I’m actually surprised by some people and how much they share. Maybe I’m a overprotective, but it is so easy to find informtation about people on the internet.
I try not to share too much personal info.
Wow, this recipe looks so delicious!
“Have you ever edited down your blog or social media profiles?”-
Yes. I have deleted maybe 10 posts of mine that had nothing to do with nothing. Just a bunch of ramblings. Not bad but they did not enlighten the world and served zero purpose from 3 years ago…so delete key. And my social profiles…yes, I have cleaned those out, too, reducing info. The things you learn as a blogger, a mother, and just in general as life passes and the online world becomes bigger and broader and so I’m more cautious now than I was years ago with how much I share.
Exactly. When I started blogging I never realized how big of an online footprint I was creating for myself. I’m definitely way more cautious of anything I post, whether it’s on a blog, social media site or even a comment on a news article.
YUM! I’ve never tried sea salt with chocolate (what’s wrong with me?).
I totally understand.. I always try to remember that ANYONE can read what I write. ANYONE. And it’s slightly scary.
these look delicious! i love sea salt and chocolate together.
Love the idea of using chunky pb!
I think it’s VERY smart of you to do that with old posts. A lot of healthy living bloggers seem to be younger women who post a lot about themselves without thinking it through 100%… i understand that we all feel like friends in this online community, but the fact remains that we aren’t the only ones with access to the posts.
Also, LOCATION services FREAK me out. I pretty much never use them.
Yes. I love reading really genuine, open posts, but sometimes I cringe a little when I think about the people who can use that information in a bad way. It’s hard to realize just how many people are reading besides the supportive commenters that genuinely care.
I’m very new to blogging so take my opinion for what it is.
I’ll stay Mum about the town I live in and where I work. I’m a laweyer so there are client-privilege issues and since I work for 10 plus hours a day it’s the last thing I want to blog about. I’ll go out on a limb and say that I don’t think future employers will be deterred by anything on your blog, especially since your in the PR industry and it’s a beautiful well-written blog. In my case, I am not very concerned either. Employees are allowed to have hobbies and (gasp!) feelings, I just keep it pg and don’t write anything i wouldn’t want a client to know about me. I definitely feel an inclination to overshare since my audience for the most part it’s face-less, but I resist.
True story is that I’ve defended a disability insured claim denial based on not-so-limited activities the insured reported to have engaged in on his blog.