Rocky Road Brownies

Hello again my long lost friends and family!

I hope this year has been as good as it could be for each of you- or that you managed to weather any unfortunate moments with those closest to lean on.

'Tis the holiday season for all- and I wish you all an enjoyable one.

Ingredients:

1 (19.9 oz) Box brownie mix

(all ingredients needed per package)

1 Cup Chocolate chunks

1 Cup Almonds (chopped)

1 Cup Butter (softened)

1 (7oz) Jar Marshmallow Fluff

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

½ Cup mini marshmallows

Directions:

1. Prepare brownies per package directions

2. Add ½ cup chocolate chunks and ½ cup almonds

3. Cook in a 9 inch pan for 40 minutes

4. Cool

5. Beat 1 cup butter until fluffy

6. Add marshmallow fluff, beat until blended

7. Gradually beat in powdered sugar

8. Spread over cooled brownies

9. Sprinkle with ½ cup chocolate chunks, ½ cup almonds. and ½ cup mini marshmallows

Print

HAD to forget something, but of course!

Raspberry Brownies

I just spent a long weekend in Maine. Oh how I love it!
It's off season, less people, and still just such a nice time

As an added surprise, my two older cousins came up for a couple of nights too.
As kids, they spent many an hour beating me up and doing everything in their power to exclude me from everything (ewww girl cooties and all that junk)

BUT, when one brother wasn't looking, the remaining one would always hang out with me.

As we have grown up, they have stopped giving me noogies and tossing me onto the bed.
We have such fun being together now.
After the 3 of us, it took 8 years before there was another cousin...so we sort of feel like it's our own "club".

I love knowing I have them in my life.
Hubby loves them too...the three men spent time just sitting around the fire chit chatting.
We all slept in the loft together...it's been many a moon since I have shared a room with them!

Ingredients:

1 Box (1 lb 2.3 oz) Fudge brownie mix

(water, oil, and eggs called for on box)

1 (8oz) Package cream cheese (softened)

½ Cup Powdered sugar

½ Cup Raspberry preserves

1 oz Unsweetened baking chocolate

1 Tbsp butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Bake brownie mix as directed on box (9x13 pan)

3. Cool completely

4. Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and preserves

5. Melt chocolate and butter together

6.Spread raspberry mix over brownies

7. Drizzle chocolate over raspberry mix

8. Before serving, refrigerate 1 hour (or until chocolate is firm)

9. Store in fridge

Print

Adapted from: Betty Crocker

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!

Creamsicle Brownies

I am a sucker for flattery.
Face it, who isn't?

We all blush a little and get uncomfortable when people are giving it to us...but then we go home and bask in the glow of their approval.

We have a set of friends and they are simply in lust with my desserts. I love love love when we are going over there for any reason and I get the call "can you bring eggs and a treat?".

Part of what makes cooking and baking so pleasurable is seeing those around you enjoying every bite. Knowing they are not only looking forward to it, but they are convinced (before they even know what I am bringing) that they will enjoy it.

Not everything is a winner, as is the way baking works, but they still ask...so I still bring.

Ingredients:

1 (19.9 oz) brownie mix

(oil and eggs to make brownie mix)

2 oz white chocolate (chopped)

1 Cup butter (softened)

3 Cup confectioner’s sugar

2 Tbsp milk

1 Tsp orange zest

Orange food coloring

Directions:

1. Prepare brownies per box directions

2. Stir in white chocolate

3. Pour into a prepared 9 inch pan and cook 45 minutes

4. Beat butter until fluffy

5. Gradually beat in 3 cups sugar and milk.

6. Remove half of frosting, dye orange and add zest

7. Frost brownies with white frosting

8. Using orange frosting, drop dallops on top. Use a knife to swirl frostings

Print

Come party with me HERE!

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

Spumoni Swirl Brownies

This recipe also came from a Pampered Chef cookbook, but a quick Google search gave me no web page to link to. Oh well, I tried!

I have never actually had spumoni ice cream....but I am thinking I would love it. All the flavors are ones I like, especially the cherry and pistachio!

Watch your brownies while cooking. The original recipe calls for 18-20 minutes. Mine were still raw and liquid in the middle after 20. I ended up cooking them for about 30-35, and that still left them gooey like I enjoy.
Know thine oven!


Ingredients:
½ Cup plus ¾ Tsp vegetable oil, divided
¼ Cup shelled pistachios
1 Jar (10 oz) marachino cherries (drained)
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
¼ Cup powdered sugar
2 Tsp almond extract
5 drops each green and red food coloring
1 Package fudge brownie mix
3 Eggs
¼ Cup water

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Lightly brush 9 x 13 inch pan with ¾ tsp oil
3. Finely chop pistachios, and also cherries (keep separate)
4. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mix until smooth
5. Place half of the cream cheese mixture into a separate bowl
6. To one half, add pistachios, almond extract, and green food coloring
7. To remaining cream cheese mixture, add half of the cherries and red food coloring
8. Combine brownie mix, egg, remaining oil, remaining cherries, and water. Mix well.
9. Pour batter into pan. Add colored mixtures to the top. Using a knife, swirl red and green for a marbled effect.
10. Bake 18-20 minutes.

Print

Ingredients: Yes, I shelled the pistachios myself

So bright and pretty! Would be cute for Christmas.

This recipe was shared with:
Monday: Jam Hands, A Bright and Beautiful Life, Adventures in Mindful Living, Flour me with Love, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, Pioneer Momma, A Southern Fairytale, New Mama Diaries, Call me PMC, The Chicken Chick, A Peek into my Paradise, Feeding Big, A Pinch of Joy, Uncommon Designs, Craft O Maniac
Tuesday: Pint Sized Baker, Our Table for Seven, Yesterfood , A Peek into my Paradise, Cornerstone Confessions, Chef in Training, Kathe with an E, Inside Bru Crew Life, The Road to 31, Mandy's Recipe Box, My Joy Filled Life, This Ole Mom, Sweet Silly Sara
Wednesday: Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Crafty Allie, From Gate to Plate, Sew Crafty Angel, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lambert's Lately, White Lights on Wednesday, Buns in my Oven, Ginger Snap Crafts, Mostly Homemade Mom, Jam Hands, Mom's Test Kitchen, The Tasty Fork, Lady Behind the Curtain, Lemoine Family Kitchen
Thursday: The Grits Blog, Saving 4 Six, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Embracing Change, Sweet Haute, Sweet Bella Roos, What's Cooking Love
Friday: Endlessly Inspired, Craft Dictator, Play Party Pin, A Conquered Mess, A Little Clarification, The Better Baker, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Thirty Handmade Days
Saturday: Angel's Homestead, Made From Pinterest, Beauty Through Imperfection, The Bitter Side of Sweet, Sewlicious, Cheerios and Lattes, Six Sister's Stuff, Mommy on Demand
Sunday: Denise Designed