donut brownies

i was craving chocolate so bad last night, so i whipped up some brownies real quick. they were so easy and SO yummy. i literally cannot stop eating them.

this is the "best brownies" recipe from Hershey's

1/2 cup butter melted
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

heat oven to 350, and grease desired pan. (i used 7''x11'' glass dish)
stir together the butter, sugar and vanilla. add eggs and beat well with a spoon. add flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. stir until well blended, and spread evenly into pan.

bake for 20-25 minutes, or until brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.

*this is my own addition, i didn't feel like making the frosting that goes along with these, so i did this instead*

chocolate glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 1/2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

stir all ingredients together with a fork until well blended.

when the brownies are done, poke them with a fork a few times

pour the glaze over the hot brownies and tilt pan until the glaze is all even. i poured out the extra glaze so it wouldn't puddle in the middle.

DONE!

these are seriously so yummy and gooey and delicious. they would go great with a bowl of ice cream, but are just as good all by themselves. they remind me of a chocolate cake donut!

mexican crepes

well thats what i keep calling them anyway...

first cook a tortilla in some butter

sprinkle with sugar

and a little cinnamon

add some sliced strawberries

roll it up

and enjoy!

we use the Tortilla Land uncooked tortillas (find them at costco) but you could probably used a cooked one too, it would just have to get warm instead of cook! i bet all sorts of fresh fruit would be good in this... just use whatever you have in the fridge!

Cookie Dough Pops

I wanted to eat cookie dough today and not cookies, so I found this recipe. Perfect. In the end I felt just as sick as I thought I would be. Gross. Never again. In case anybody else wants to never eat cookie dough again make these. They are so good, you will eat way to many - making yourself sick, and never wanting cookie dough again. Problem solved, or something like that.

- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini would have worked better, but who has those hanging around)
- Melting chocolate. I used the kind from Michaels.
- Lollipop sticks

1. In a medium bowl combine the flour, and salt.

2. In a second larger bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy.

3. Slowly beat in the flour mixture until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips.

4. Roll the mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet lined with wax paper (Should make approximately 20).

5. Put the sticks in the dough. To make sure the lollipop stick stays in place, I melt a handful of chocolate chips and dip the stick in them then press it into the cookie dough.

6.  Chill for several hours or freeze for 15-20 minutes until firm

7. Melt chocolate and dip! I dipped just once and the dribbled some melted butterscotch chips on top.

I am really embarrassed of my after picture, for one they look horrible. Two, I grabbed the camera and snapped  in  a rush, hoping I got a picture and this is the best I got. Opps.

Cap'n Crunch Berries Treats

+

+ a stick of butter = 

so good.

christmas treats

I made a couple things for Scarlett's preschool class and they were a hit. First I made this oreo snowmen........
This is how I did it:

- 1 pack double stuffed oreos
- white chocolate to melt. I used the big bricks from Ralphs and it worked perfect and was SO yummy
- mini chocolate chips
- candy corn

1. Dip the oreos in the white chocolate and sit on wax paper to dry
2. Before they get too hard, make the face on the snowman.
3. After they were hard I put them in these cute little bags from Michael's that already had ribbon attached to them so it was super easy. I'm all about super easy, which is why I didn't put them on sticks. (and maybe a little lazy, but whatever.) I also added an address label on the back that said Merry Christmas Love, Scarlett. She was so excited to hand them out to her friends.

We also made these cute little peanut butter sandwiches, which are pretty self explanatory. I used cranberries for the nose because I forgot to get M&Ms. I also used honey to put the eyes and nose on to make sure they stayed in place.

sorry for the fuzziness...I was in a rush

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies

I googled a recipe for chocolate chip cookies that only used 1 stick of butter (because that's all I had) and this is one of them that popped up. They turned out SO yummy!! I didn't use espresso powder like the recipe HERE calls for, I think i'll try it next time.

•1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
•1 cup light brown sugar
•3 tablespoons granulated sugar
•1 large egg
•2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
•1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

4th of July Treats

I made some fun 4th of July desserts for our bbq and they were a hit. The first one was a layered jello. I did it the day before and it turned out great. It takes awhile to make, but not hard and was totally worth it. The kids loved it, but im pretty sure some of the dads loved it more. I got the recipe HERE.

Ingredients:
- Two 3 ounce boxes red jello
- Two 3 ounce boxes blue jello (I could only find 6 oz boxes so I just split them in half)
- 4 envelopes Knox unflavored gelatin
- One 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- Boiling water & cold water

1. In a medium bowl, mix one box of red jello with 1/2 envelope of unflavored gelatin. Add 1 cup of boiling water and stir to dissolve. Cool to room temperature and pour into a 9×13-inch glass pan. Refrigerate for 15 minutes (make sure that your refrigerator is level, or your jello will come out uneven-looking).

2. While first layer is setting, prepare white layer. In another bowl, mix sweetened condensed milk with 1 cup of boiling water. In a separate small bowl, sprinkle 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin over ½ cup of cold water. Let stand a few minutes and then add ½ cup of boiling water to dissolve the gelatin. Add to the milk mixture and stir to combine. Cool to room temperature. Pour 1 cup of this milk mixture over the first layer of red jello. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

3. While white layer is setting, prepare blue layer. In a medium bowl, mix one box of blue jello with ½ envelope of unflavored gelatin. Add 1 cup of boiling water and stir to dissolve. Cool to room temperature and pour on top of white layer. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

4. Repeat with red layer, another cup of of the white layer and then finishing with a blue layer on top. Refrigerate for 15 minutes after adding each layer.

5. Let jello set before cutting. I cut it the next day. Use a sharp knife to cut, and then use a metal spatula to slide underneath the jello and scoop out jello squares. (If you don't do the last part the red wont attach one. Get the skinniest metal spatula and rub it hard along the bottom)


Yield: About 40 pieces



The second thing I made was a Trifle Cake and it was SOOOOO good! I got the recipe HERE. It looked really pretty on their website, but mine definitly didn't turn out like that. haha Once you start scooping it ruins it anyway, but this whole thing got eaten down to the bottom. If I could have figured out a way to put the whip cream in better It would have been prettier. Maybe next time. Here is the recipe.

I didn't have one of the fancy trifle bowls, so I just found something simliar in my mother in laws decoration closet.

Ingredients:

- 1 box red velvet cake mix, about 18 ounces (if you can't find red velvet cake use 1 box chocolate cake plus a bottle of red food coloring)
- 1 (16-ounce) tub whipped topping
- 2 pints blueberries
- 1 pint strawberries, tops removed I also cut mine in half for more bite size pieces

Bake the red velvet cake mix according to package directions and allow to cool.

Using a serrated knife cut the red velvet cake into 1 inch square pieces and line the bottom of the trifle bowl with half of the cake squares.

Using a spatula, spread about a 2-inch layer of whipped topping on top of the cake squares. I think using a zip lock back of cake decorating bags to pipe the whipped topping in would have made it prettier.
Layer about 1 1/2 pints of the blueberries on top of whipped topping.

Layer the remaining cake pieces on top of the blueberries forming a second layer of cake.

Using a spatula, spread remaining whipped topping over the cakes pieces.

Decorate the perimeter with the strawberries; placing the strawberries cut side down. Sprinkle the remaining blueberries on top of the trifle inside the strawberry perimeter.

Chocolate Sheet Cake

Don't make this. You will just eat the whole thing. But oh my gosh... it is seriously delicious. I found the recipe from The Pioneer Woman, The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever. I left out the nuts, but only because I didn't have any. I wish I had went and got some, but it was still so sooo good.

{via}

I think I'm going to go eat some now.

90 minute cinnamon rolls

These were really easy, and fast! Oh and yummy!!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup margarine, softened
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 egg
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in margarine; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.
3. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, softened margarine.
4. Roll out dough into a 12x9 inch rectangle. Spread dough with margarine/sugar mixture. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Roll up dough and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal size rolls and place cut side up in 12 lightly greased muffin cups. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until browned. Remove from muffin cups to cool. Serve warm

Add some frosting, because everything is better with frosting.

Apple Pie Muffins

OH MY GOSH. These are so good. I almost died.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 cups diced apples
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin tin or line with paper muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, stir together 2 1/4 cups flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate smaller bowl, mix together the egg, buttermilk, 1/2 cup melted butter, vanilla and 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar until sugar has dissolved. Pour into the flour mixture and sprinkle the diced apple into the bowl as well. Stir just until everything is blended. Spoon into the prepared muffin tin, filling the cups to the top.
3. In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour and cinnamon. Drizzle in 2 tablespoons of melted butter while tossing with a fork until well blended. Sprinkle this over the tops of the muffins.
4. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly pressed.

(I ate 6. don't judge me. please.)

Birthday Dinner

Salad, steak, green beans, twice baked potatoes and..

Homemade Razzleberry Pie!

It was fun to get out our china and have good food to put on it. I kind of outdid myself on this dinner, at least on the steak and pie. I marinated the steaks in red wine and balsamic vinegar and black pepper for a few hours, then Garrit grilled them up. They were amazing, we hadn't had steak that good since we went to Rare Steakhouse in Vegas. The pie was surprisingly easy, and delicious. In Garrit's words, "It's like a jam pie!" and just ask Grandma how much Garrit likes jam. He'll eat it with a spoon. Anyway, here's the pie recipe.


Ingredients

1 box of Pillsbury pie crusts

1 bag of frozen raspberries 

1 bag of frozen blackberries

1 cup cut up strawberries

1/3 cup sugar + extra to sprinkle on the crust

2 1/2 Tablespoons flour

Crisco (to grease the pan)

Directions
1. Thaw fruit almost completely and pour in colander to strain juice.
2. In large bowl, mix fruit, sugar and flour together. Line bottom of greased pie plate with crust. Fill with fruit.
3. Before adding top layer cut design into crust as vents, or roll it out a little thinner and cut into strips to make a lattice crust.  Lay over top of crust, moisten edges with water to "glue" the two crusts together, or weave strips in a lattice pattern. With the back side of a fork, pinch edges together, or pinch with fingers.
4. Lightly brush top crust with water.
5. Sprinkle sugar over the top.
6. Cover edges with 1 1/2" strip of aluminum foil.
7. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.
8. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until crust is golden brown.

Good by itself, but EXCELLENT with fresh whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream.

Carmel Popcorn

We had this at Moms house tonight - and I thought I would write it down....mostly so I would have the recipe when I got home :-) This stuff is so yummy and creamy.

Pop 3 bags popcorn put in very big bowl

Mix in pan
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/2 cup Kayro Syrup
* 1 cup brown sugar

Cook to medium boil - stirring frequently (the longer you cook it, the harder it will set up)

then add:

* 1/2 cup condensed milk
*1/2 tsp vanilla (mom said don't put your face over the pan when you pour it in, or it will burn out your eyeballs hehehe)

Cook to soft ball stage
Pour over popcorn

giant hostess cupcake? YES!

Dinner this week has been pretty much amazing. We have a ton of meat in our freezer that needs to get used up before the move, so I've gone crazy cooking. Sunday we had bratwurst with pototoes and carrots, Monday we had Tacos and homemade mango peach salsa, Tuesday we had chicken stir fry and edamame and sweet and sour rice and Wednesday was pork roast, baked poatoes with broccoli and cheese. Last night I wasn't actually hungry but really wanted to make something sweet, so I figured this cake would do! It's devil's food cake with hostess filling between the layers covered with fudge frosting. SO GOOD. I brought it to work today, and we decided that cake like this is the reason that lipo exists! The recipe I found for the filling wasn't as good as Mom's, so I'll post mom's recipe when I get it from her.

CP

Love ya girls!