Hey everybody, it's National Chocolate Chip Day! Did you even know that was an important holiday? The more you know. No one gets this day off work or school (why?!?), but I think some celebrating is in order anyway. Here's an idea -- think beyond the chocolate chip cookie. Those little chocolate bits are about so much more than that. Here are 11 excellent ideas for chocolate chip treats.

No need to add mint, or something marshmallowy, or anything fruity -- the simple deliciousness that is a chocolate pie should not be messed with. This recipe takes 15 minutes from start to finish so that in no time, you can sit back, relax, and eat yourself into a chocolate coma.

Calling Oreo lovers -- don't devour all the cookies in that package just yet. I've got a luscious dessert recipe that's cookie deliciousness time a hundred. This Oreo cake bars recipe from Grandbaby Cakes is made with gooey chocolate caked topped with a whipped cream cheese frosting mixed with cookies. Oh yeah, and topped with an Oreo. Surely you did many things this week to deserve this dessert, moms? I thought so. And they're a snap to make. 

The making of the cover of my new book, Love Is in the Mix, was quite an experience! I always get really nervous about photo shoots because I know that it takes a lot of energy and preparation. It's also always a long day for everyone involved in the planning and organization -- and there is that hope that we can manage to pull off ONE magical picture, and if we are lucky, a bunch more that capture the day exactly right -- so we have more than just the "cover shot" image. For this shoot I had a vision of what I wanted for the cover of my long dreamed of cookbook, but I knew carrying it out would take a lot MORE effort than what I saw in my mind's eye.

Hey, wake up!! Good news for sleepyheads: Now you don't even have to hassle with the inconvenience of a grande latte to get your morning (or afternoon, or evening) buzz, thanks to Alert Energy Gum, Wrigley's soon-to-be-on-the-shelves new chew. Available in fruit AND mint flavors (why not mocha?), the gum is intended for consumers ages 25 and up who, I assume, are either incredibly tired or impatient or both.

Caffeinated gum isn't an entirely new concept, to be fair, but now that Wrigley's is in the game somehow the whole idea seems more legit. Or if not legit, at least more readily available. But ... really?! Do we really need caffeine in our chewing gum? Look, I'm not judging -- this is coming from someone who would probably just cease to function entirely without the aid of coffee -- but I just don't know if I can get behind the idea of caffeinated gum anymore than I can get behind the idea of any of these caffeinated snacks.

Delicious news everyone: Oreo turns 101 today! In honor of America's favorite chocolate sandwich cookie, we're bringing out some of our favorite recipes using Oreo cookies. And there's been a LOT of those recipes. I think maybe people like the cookies or something? Haha, obviously. Anyway, we narrowed it down to six amazing, scrumptious classics. Even if you can't whip one of these up tonight, I think you'll love gawking at the yummy photos. Enjoy!

You've heard of cake pops before, but there's something inside you that thinks they're too difficult to make, isn't there? Well, put a muzzle on that little voice because this amazing and simple cake pop recipe couldn't be easier. There's everything to love about candy-coated cake pops, so please, do yourself and your kids a favor and give this recipe a try. It's worth it, swear.

Have you ever had a black and white cookie? They're a big, round, cakey sugar cookie half frosted in vanilla frosting and the other half with chocolate frosting. They're for those of us who, when asked, "Which flavor?" always want to answer, "Both!"

Well, here's the same idea in a cupcake. Blogger Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes made these fluffy, flavorful Black and White Cupcakes from a recipe from Sarah Levy's cookbook, Sweetness: Delicious Baked Treats for Every Occasion. You may need an extra set of hands to make that swirling cake batter, but it looks amazing! Here's to having your vanilla cake and eating your chocolate cake, too.