Crescent Layer Bars

I happened to have all these ingredients on hand, so I decided to whip these up as a treat for some of my co-workers.

They all asked for the recipe (which is adapted from Pillsbury).

J: She told me her hubby fell in love with them and demanded that she make these for him. She ended up making two...and they disappeared quickly.

D: Emailed me the next day telling me she ran right out and got all the ingredients. She is a self proclaimed anti-baker. She was cute "OMG you weren't kidding about how easy these are!! I am SO baking up a whole bunch for the next function so I can impress people"!

All I can do is giggle at my friends.

It's so rewarding when you can show someone how easy something delicious can be.

Ingredients:

1 Can Crescent rolls

1 Cup white chocolate chips

1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 Cup Slivered almonds

1 Cup cashew halves and pieces

1 (14 oz) can Sweetened condensed milk

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Grease bottom and sides of 9 x 13 pan

3. Unroll dough and place along bottom of pan. Press over bottom and ½ inch up sides.

4. Bake dough 5 minutes

5. Sprinkle partially baked dough with white chocolate, chocolate chips, almonds, and cashews.

7. Pour condensed milk evenly over top

8. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Cool.

9. Refrigerate 30 minutes until chocolate is set.

Print

Lucky Charms Treats

A week ago Sunday, I had the day off.
I went to bed excited to sleep in, and to get some stuff done around the house.

hahahahahahaha
Nature fooled me for sure!

I spent Sunday hanging out in the Emergency Dept with my very first kidney stone.
This was not the awesome Sunday I had planned!

It kinda winded me for sure, I spent the rest of Sunday and all of Monday sleeping. Needless to say, I avoided doing much of anything. Tues-Fri were nuts at work, which made time fly, but I still was not eating much. Saturday I finally flipped the switch. Felt fine like nothing happened, and the appetite is back.
Planning on making some meals and treats this week, thankful to be back to normal!

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp Butter

2 ½ Cups Mini marshmallows

5 Cups Lucky Charms cereal

Directions:

1. Grease 9x9x2 inch pan

2. Melt butter and marshmallows until smooth

3. Stir in cereal until well coated

4. Press in pan with buttered hands

5. Cool completely, cut into squares

Print

Key Lime Pie Squares

One would be hard pressed not to understand the magnitude of the terrible situation due to Hurricane Irma.
This is unreal.
My hubby is glued to the TV. The weather junkie that he is keeps him going for marathon viewing sessions.
It's so hard to wrap one's mind around what is happening.
Such destruction.
Mass evacuations.

I applaud all the first responders and volunteers who are heading into the disaster instead of fleeing from it. There was just a snippet on the news about how so many states are sending out electrical workers etc to help the local companies get things done when it is safe to do so.

Everyone knows someone affected by Irma.
Keeping everyone in my thoughts.

Ingredients:

Crust

2 Cups Gingersnap cookies (finely crushed)

3 Tbsp butter (melted)

Filling

4 oz Cream cheese (softened)

4 Egg yolks

14 oz Sweetened condensed milk

½ Cup Key lime juice

2 Tsp lime zest

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Line 9x9 baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray

3. Mix cookie crumbs with butter

4. Press crumbs into bottom of pan

5. Bake crust for 10 minutes

6. Beat cream cheese until smooth

7. Beat in egg yolks

8. Beat in sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, and zest

9. Pour into crust

10. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until sides start to brown

11. Cool to room temperature

12. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours

Print

Adapted from: Sally's Baking Addiction

Crust Ingredients

Filling Ingredients

Come party with me HERE!

Cookies and Cream Brownies

Some of the friends I have made over the years are due to my child's choice in friends.
Isn't that nice when it works out that way? The kids hang out, the moms (and sometimes dads) hang out too.

This one in particular, the girls were friends almost from birth to age 6. We moved away from them, but the girls (and moms) kept in touch via letters, presents, and Christmas cards.
Later on, the girls got back in touch via Facebook.

Mom and I though, we just stopped talking one day. Nothing happened, that I could think of at least, we just lost touch.

Last night I had a bad dream about her. It woke me up in a sweat. As I fell back asleep, I ended up slipping into another bad dream about her. This happened about 5 times total. It left me with an uncomfortable feeling.

I looked through my email and found a work email for her. I didn't even know if it still was the right one, but I had to give it a try.

To my relief, she answered it! We talked for a bit, and then promised we will have a phone marathon very soon.

I decided to celebrate by making some brownies!
I had seen a recipe on Inspired by Charm and just had to try it.

Oh. My. Word.

Now I am not sure what is more exciting, yummy brownies, or reconnecting with an old friend!

Ingredients:

2 Boxes brownie mix

(plus ingredients specified on box)

4 Cookies and Cream candy bars

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Prepare brownie mix according to the directions on the package

3. Spray 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray

4. Spread half of the brownie mixture into the cake pan

5. Place candy bars on the brownie layer

6. Cover with remaining brownie batter

7. Cook for 35-45 minutes until toothpick comes out clean

Print

Come party with me HERE!

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

Come party with me HERE!

Chocolate Layer Crumb Bars

Every week I try to have a sweet made for the house. Something portable for hubby and the girl to take to work/school so we don't have to purchase store bought, mass produced goodies.

Last night we were at the grocery store and hubby stopped to grab a pack of Chips Ahoy cookies.
Really?

But, as he says, "yours may be better...but there is something nostalgic about Chips Ahoy. Dunk them, you know exactly how they will react."

Apparently the dunking factor is a big one.
OK.
I let him get his cookies.

Sometimes we try and try...and it's just not the "same". Whateves.
It's a little silly to be jealous over a pack of cookies, huh?
So....let's make dunkable bars!
If he's lucky, I might even share one with him. (insert evil laugh here)

I had happened to cut this recipe off the back of a bag of chocolate chunks, but found it online for your ease.

Ingredients:

1 ½ Sticks butter (softened)

1 ¾ Cup all purpose flour

⅓ Cup granulated sugar

¼ Tsp salt

11.5 oz package semi sweet chocolate chunks

14 oz sweetened condensed milk

1 Tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Grease 9 x 13 inch baking pan

3. Beat butter in a large mixer bowl until creamy

4. Beat in flour, sugar, and salt until crumbly

5. Press 2 cups of crumb mixture into bottom of prepared baking pan (reserve remaining mix)

6. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown

7. Combine 1 cup chunks and sweetened condensed milk in small, heavy duty saucepan

8. Warm over low heat, stirring until smooth.

9. Stir in vanilla extract

10. Spread over hot crust

11. Stir remaining chunks into reserved crumb mixture

12. Sprinkle over chocolate filling

13. Bake 25-30 minutes or until center is set

14. Cool and cut into bars

Print

Come party with me HERE!

Chocolate Chip Pecan Blondies

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....

OK, maybe I might have borrowed that line, but boy does it fit!

Sunday was my one and only's high school graduation.
Name an emotion. I felt it. Seriously.

Happy for her spreading her wings
Pride for all she has accomplished
Sad for mommy as my baby is leaving the nest
Angry that 12 years ended so quickly
Excited to see this next chapter in her life
Nostalgic as I watched the same pride on my parents face as they had during my own ceremony
Overwhelmed by her astounding classmates and the bond they forged

She is part of a graduating class of approx 130, with 100% graduation!
There is 1 child taking a year off before university, but will still be taking some classes at the community college. Impressive stats!

Part of me wants to tie her to her bed and not let her go
(but, we all know that can't happen)
She is headed off to a great school where she will hone the skills she has decided to focus on.

I am beyond beaming when I think of the girl child. She is an amazing human being and I am so fortunate to know her.

To my child: I hope I gave you strong enough wings. Now is the time for me to hope for you to FLY!


Adapted from Real Simple

Ingredients:

1 ½ Cups All purpose flour

1 Tsp Baking powder

¼ Tsp Salt

½ Cup Unsalted butter (melted)

¾ Cup Granulated Sugar

½ Cup Brown sugar

2 Eggs

1 Tsp Vanilla extract

¾ Cup chopped pecans

¾ Cup Semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350

2. Spray 8 inch square baking pan with cooking spray

3. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt

4. In a large bowl, whisk together the butter and sugars

5. Add eggs and vanilla to the sugar mixture

6. Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture

7. Add pecans and chocolate chips

8. Spread batter into prepared pan

9. Bake 35-40 minutes

Print

Come join me at these great parties!

Strawberry Cream Cheese Brownies

These brownies were a visual disaster for me!

Well, let's start with the fact that I couldn't find any strawberry extract. I used a tablespoon of strawberry preserves, and that seemed to work out aright.

Cooked my first layer of brownies...and went to add the second, strawberry layer.
Gah!
Instead of drizzing nicely and covering the top as a second layer, it all glumped to the middle and sunk!

I could have cried.
I sat there with a spoon and a butter knife scooping out strawberry mixture and trying to spread it to other parts of the brownie.
Eventually I gave in and cooked it.

But now, the middle had so much cheesecake mixture it wouldn't cook! The outside edges were cripsy, but the inside was gloopy.
I put tin foil around the edges and kept on cooking.

Sad to say, this batch was going to an aunt of mine.
I, tearfully, explained my failure.

Cousin, taking one for the team, cut into it and tried it.
I took a bite of his.

OK. It may have been a disaster cooking, it might not have been pretty, but it was delicious cooked!
I am SO making this again to get a better picture.

Ingredients:

1 (19.9 oz) Fudge family style boxed brownie mix

8 oz Cream cheese (softened)

1 Egg

2 Tbsp all purpose flour

½ Tsp strawberry extract

Red food coloring

Optional:

Fudge sauce

Whipped topping

Strawberries

NOTE: You will also need eggs and oil to make brownie mix

Directions:

1. Make brownie mix according to box directions

2. Bake for 20 minutes

3. Beat all other ingredients until well blended

4. Pour strawberry batter over basic brownie mixture

5. Cook for an additional 25 minutes

6. Optional: Cool topped brownies with drizzled fudge sauce. Dallop whipped topping and place strawberries for garnish.

Print

This recipe was shared with:
Monday: Flour me with Love, Pioneer Momma, Homemaking with Style, The Chicken Chick  , Kitchen Table Art, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , A Pinch of Joy, The Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, Uncommon Designs , Jambellish, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, Boogieboard Cottage , I Should be Mopping the Floor, Mom Favorites, Skip to my Lou, Mom's the Word, A Southern Fairytale, 21st Century Housewife  , Sew Can Do      
Tuesday: Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos, Pint Sized Baker , The New Mrs Adventures, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Cornerstone Confessions , Inside Bru Crew Life , Kathe with an E, Lou Lou Girls , Memories by the Mile , Our Table for Seven , Time Warp Wife , Mandy's Recipe Box , Mini Van Dreams , Hope Studios, Hope in Every Season , Stone Gable Blog, Sweet Silly Sara  
Wednesday: Recipes for our Daily Bread, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Crafty Allie, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Buns in my Oven, Milk and Cuddles, Raising Homemakers, Gingersnap Crafts, A Peek into my Paradise, Mom's Test Kitchen, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Mostly Homemade Mom
Thursday: Play Party Pin, Sweet Haute, Sweet Bella Roos, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Lambert's Lately, Embracing Change, Katherine's Corner, The Nourishing Gourmet
Friday: O Taste and See, Craft Dictator, Coffee with us 3, The Grits Blog, Daily Dish, The Better Baker, Endlessly Inspired, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams, The Diary of a Real Housewife, Lady Behind the Curtain, The Girl Creative, Morsels of Life, Beauty Through Imperfection
Saturday: Six Sister's Stuff, What's Cooking with Ruthie, Simply Gloria, Weary Chef, Raising Memories, Sewlicious Home Decor
Sunday: Three Mango Seeds