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

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!

Hershey's Classic Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am a recipe hoarder.
I will try almost anything, but that means saving each and every one I see.

I had made something that included chocolate chips, and this Hershey recipe was on the back of the bag. It's basic chocolate chip cookies...but it's a recipe I didn't have for my blog.

Mission accepted!
(and one more off the top of the recipe mountain!)

Ingredients:

1 Cup Butter (softened)

¾ Cup Sugar

¾ Cup Light brown sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla

2 Eggs

2 ¼ Cup All purpose flour

1 Tsp Baking soda

½ Tsp Salt

2 Cups (11.5 oz package) milk chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375

2. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until creamy

3. Add eggs and beat well

4. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt

5. Slowly add dry mixture to butter mixture

6. Stir in chocolate chips

7. Drop by teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet

8. Bake 8-10 minutes

Print

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Hot Chocolate Cookies

I love a good cookie any time of the year.

These though, due to the inclusion of hot chocolate, make me feel Christmas-ey; or maybe just winter-y.

Either way, while making them, I started thinking about some memorable Christmas/Winter memories.
Like the time we were all sledding at a hospital (they had a huge hill out front. They don't allow it anymore, poo.) and my dad had a friend of my mother's on his lap.
The idea was, you were supposed to roll out of the sled before you hit the bottom of the hill. She panicked. My dad couldn't move because she didn't. One broken leg later (hey, at least we were already at the hospital) and those sledding days were done.

Another year, we were driving from my grandmother's house to my uncle's on Christmas day. A car backed out of their driveway right in front of my hubby. He started yelling at the car about not paying attention.
Then we realized there was no driver in the car. It had slipped into gear and just slid out of the driveway. We stopped at the house and knocked on the door. The guy came running to collect his car from the middle of the road.

Ahh...cold weather memories!

Ingredients:

2 Sticks butter (softened)

1 Cup sugar

⅔ Cup brown sugar

2 Eggs

1 Tsp vanilla

3 ¼ Cups flour

4 Packages hot chocolate mix

1 Tsp salt

1 ¼ Tsp baking soda

1 Cup white chocolate chips

1 Cup milk chocolate chips

1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy

2. In separate bowl, mix dry ingredients

3. Add eggs and vanilla to wet mixture

4. Slowly add in the dry ingredients

5. Add all chocolate chips

6. Chill dough for 1 hour

7. Drop onto parchment lined cookie sheet

8. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes

Print

Adapted from Baked Bree

Toffee

I do a freaking TON of baking.
Like, my family would weigh a million pounds if we really ate everything I make.
More often than not, I will leave a couple pieces of whatever at home, and then bring the rest to work to share.

My friend at work is always so disappointed. He has a wicked sweet tooth, but allergies have snuck up on him over the years. Wheat and almond. Craziness. There is a laundry list a mile long that he cannot eat...which includes most of the goodies I bring in.

Checked the corn syrup, and it is gluten free!
In fact, this whole recipe is!!

I brought him a container of it. Without even opening it, he was like, "thanks,wife and kids will appreciate it". Hello! Open and check it out!
He was sooooo excited!!

It really is the little things in life!

Ingredients:

1 Cup sugar

1 Cup butter

1 Tbsp light corn syrup

¼ Cup water

1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Lightly grease a baking sheet

2. Bring sugar, butter, corn syrup, and water to a boil

3. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is golden brown and the candy thermometer reads 300 or hard crack

4. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet

5. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and let them stand for a minute until they begin to melt

6. Spread melted chips evenly over the top

7. Chill for an hour and break into pieces

Print

Come party with me HERE!

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!

Chocolate Filled Crescents

I forget what I needed multiple packs of crescent rolls for, probably some party type food, but I stocked up at BJ's.

As is the general refrigerator rule, eventually the remaining tubes of rolls found there way to the very back, deepest depths of the fridge.

Washing the shelves, I found them. Hm. What now?
A quick Google search brought me to this Pillsbury recipe.

Everything on hand? Check!

Score!

 Ingredients:

1 Can crescent dinner rolls

½ Cup mini chocolate chips

Powdered Sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350

2. Separate dough into 8 triangles

3. Place tablespoon of chocolate chips on wide end of each triangle

4. Roll up, starting at widest end to smallest point

5. Place on ungreased cookie sheet

6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown

7. Sprinkle with powdered sugar

Print

Come party with me HERE!

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

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!