Dark Chocolate Espresso Cookies

Today is the 10th anniversary of my father in law's passing.

My mother in law decided to celebrate his life this past weekend with a big reunion.

Friends and family near and far gathered in her backyard for food, friends, and memories. She was so very happy having everyone so near.

Laughter was had, reminiscing was done, toasts were made, and everyone just, well, celebrated life!

It's a nice reminder to everyone that life is just entirely too short and we should always tell those around us how much they mean to us.

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp Hot water

2 Tbsp Instant espresso coffee powder

1 Box Dark chocolate brownie mix

1 Egg

3 Tbsp Vegetable oil

¼ Tsp Cinnamon

1 ⅓ Cups dark chocolate pieces

Optional: chocolate kisses or caramel candy kisses for topping

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Prepare a baking sheet

3. In small bowl, combine water and espresso powder

4. In large bowl, combine brownie mix, egg, oil, cinnamon, and espresso mixture

5. Stir in chocolate pieces

6. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet

7. Bake 10-12 minutes

8. Add optional topping as cookies come out of the oven

Print

Adapted from: Duncan Hines

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Coke Pork Chops

Mr Lennon the cat ran out of water while we were sleeping.
I feel horrible!

He woke up with me this AM, came into my room, climbed on the bed, and it was normal kitty routine. Scritch me here, scratch me there...oh, black pants, let me lie down on them for awhile.
BUT when I started heading for the kitchen, all bets were off.

My normally quiet kitty was meowling all pitiful like. Then the unthinkable happened...he climbed up on the counter and headed for the sink.
He knows he is not allowed up there!

Message received sir! Checked out his bowl, and there is some water left, but it's grody, He put food and hair in it.
Once he got his fresh water, he drank so fast he started gagging.
Poor man.
I feel like the worst kitty mama ever!

The problem has been fixed, and he is now purring away.

Ingredients:

8 Medium sized pork chops

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 Cup ketchup

1 Cup Coke

Brown sugar for topping

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Place pork in a baking pan, salt and pepper to taste

3. In medium bowl, mix ketchup and Coke.

4. Pour ketchup mixture over pork chops

5. Sprinkle tops with brown sugar

6. Bake uncovered for 1 hour or until chops are tender

Print

Adapted from Moms who Think

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Pineapple Cookies

The best laid plans.

Remember I took a break because things were nuts?
Silly, silly me for putting a timeline on "normal".

Sigh.

So, I will get back to regular blogging, as well as bringing back Smell Good Sunday
BUT

In the meantime, my work staff was reduced by half...it just worked out that way. We are scrambling to find new people while trying to train newer staff. My position is on hold in order to help where needed..and it's just a lot at once.

While we were on vacation over the 4th, my parents received a phone call stating a pipe broke in their house and water was pouring from the front, back, and garage doors.
At the time, they were 9 states away!
Not much to be done but to shut off the water, call the insurance, and wait until they can get home.
Reader's Digest:
LOSS:
Pretty much whole downstairs
Master bedroom
All Carpeting
3 bathrooms

GAIN:
All the irreplaceable stuff was out of water's reach!

They have a long road ahead, but the insurance company is really doing well walking them through it.

I will get back on track, please be patient with me!

I am thinking I should bake up some of these yummies and send them to my parents!








Ingredients:

¾ Cup Shortening

1 Cup Sugar

2 Large Eggs

1 ½ Cup Crushed pineapple

3 Cups Flour

1 Tsp Salt

½ Tsp Baking soda

Cinnamon and Sugar for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Prepare baking sheet

3. Cream shortening and sugar until smooth

4. Add one egg at a time until well combined

5. Add pineapple

6. In separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking soda

7. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet

8. Scoop rounded tablespoons onto prepared sheet

9. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar

10. Bake 10-15 minutes

Print

Adapted from: With Style and Grace Blog

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National Ice Cream Day 2017

Did you know that the third Sunday in July is "National Ice Cream Day"?!

I feel so...in-touch right now!

I can't keep up with days for everything, but it's fun every now and again to play along with one that feeds your need for a sweet treat

Now, my big question for the day is...

It seems to be a New England, PA sort of "thing" to call them jimmies. To me, sprinkles are the candy sugar I use to decorate cookies!

When we moved down south (oh so many years ago) my 3 year old sister ordered ice cream with jimmies. Everyone in the store looked at her like she was nuts. Not sure where my 11 year old brain came up with it, but I said "oh! she means sprinkles".

Problem averted.

It wasn't until a couple of years later that I learned that particular group of southerners used the term jimmies for condoms! (gasp!) I can only imagine what they were thinking when this peanut kid asked for them!

So...

What do YOU call them?

My vote will always be for:

Slutty Brownies

I'm BAAAACK!

Had such a great trip!

I somehow managed to go to the beach for a week...and only made it on the sand ONCE. Never did I step foot in water...
um, it was odd!

We did a lot though, and a lot of nothing as well.
My parents enjoyed the down time with family, and that's important.

Board games were played, drinks were had, and more seafood than I care to admit to.
Oh, and of course, fireworks...french fries...fried dough...pizza...all that yummy beach food!

I did very little cooking, hubby dearest handled most on the grill.
We did have one melted butter incident where my dad ended up burned, but after some quality ice pack time, he was right as rain.

Highlights for me included reading 8 books!
Ahhhhh it was such a guilty pleasure! I never have that much down time to just indulge my "need to read".

Back to work today...but, I am sure I will be so far behind, the day will fly.

I hope you all enjoyed your 4th of July and celebrated as you enjoy!







Ingredients:

Brownie Layer

10 Tbsp butter

1 ¼ Cups sugar

¾ Cup cocoa powder

½ Tsp Salt

2 Tsp Vanilla extract

2 Large eggs

½ Cup flour

Oreo Layer:

1 Package of chocolate sandwich cookies

Cookie Dough Layer:

½ Cup butter (softened)

¼ Cup Brown sugar

¾ Cup Sugar

1 Egg

1 ¼ Tsp vanilla extract

1 ¼ Cup Flour

½ Tsp salt

½ Tsp Baking soda

⅓ Tsp Baking powder

1 Cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. (Brownie layer) In a medium sauce pan, melt butter over medium high heat.

2. Add sugar and cocoa powder, combine, remove from heat

3. Add salt, vanilla, and eggs.

4. Whisk until the eggs are combined

5. Add flour and continue to mix. Set batter aside.

6. (Cookie dough layer) Cream together butter and sugars

7. Add eggs and vanilla

8. Add flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

9. Fold in chocolate chips. Set dough aside.

10. Prepare a 8x11 pan: Layer with tin foil and spray with cooking spray

11. Preheat oven to 350

12. Layer the cookie dough on the bottom of pan, pressing into place

13. Layer chocolate creme cookies (as many as will fit, do not overlap)

14. Pour brownie batter on top and spread evenly

15. Bake for 50 minutes. Check for doneness.

Print

Cookie Dough Layer

Oreo Layer

Brownie Layer

Cookie Dough Layer

Add the Oreos

Top with the brownie mixture

Finished

Decadent!

Adapted from: What's Gaby Cooking

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