Mint Brownies

Here's a *green* recipe to help you with your

St. Patrick's Day celebrations!

Mint Brownies

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 c. buttermilk***

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup margarine

5 tbsp. cocoa

1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350*

***if you do not have buttermilk, NEVER FEAR! I have a shortcut for that!

***To make buttermilk, measure 1 tbsp lemon juice, and then add enough milk

to make 1 cup total liquid. Let sit for 5 minutes.

This recipe calls for 1/2 cup buttermilk, so I assume you could do 1/2 tbsp lemon juice

and then finish with enough milk to make 1/2 cup liquid.***

(I say assume, because I didn't actually do it. I made the 1 cup total mixture)

In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar.

In a seperate bowl, combine buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla.

Combine and set aside.

In a small sauce pan, melt margarine and add cocoa and water.

Bring all ingredients to boil.

Once boiling, remove from heat. Set aside.

Combine the buttermilk mixture with the flour and sugar.

SLOWLY add the chocolate mixture...we don't want to cook the eggs!

Pour into a greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes.

Until the center is done.

Allow to cool completely!

Mint Frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar plus extra if needed.

1/2 cup margarine, softened

2 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

2-3 drops of green food coloring

In a seperate bowl, combine all ingredients and mix with beater until

ingredients are smooth.

Add extra powdered sugar if needed to get the consistancy desired.

Spread on top of COOLED cake.

For chocolate topping:

Melt 6 tbsp margarine and 1 cup milk chocolate chips.

Drizzle across brownies.

Yeah, I got distracted and my chocolate cooled a bit too much...

so it didn't exactly DRIZZLE...but that's ok...right?

"Layers of Love" chocolate brownies

This recipe is from the Nestle brand cook book.

They looked intriguing...so I thought I'd take a shot at them!

They were really pretty good...

and all the goodness stuffed in the middle was excellent!

The name could stand to be changed...just a tad bit!

Oh well.

Layers of Love Chocolate Brownies

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

3/4 cup white chips

1/2 cup caramel topping

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350*

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy.

Add 2 eggs, one at a time until mixed well.

Add vanilla.

Gradually mix in dry ingredients.

Reserve 3/4 cup batter.

Spread remaining batter into greased 8 x 8 pan.

Sprinkle with the pecans and white chips.

Drizzle caramel topping over nuts and chips.

Beat the other remaining egg into reserved batter.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Spread evenly over the caramel goodness!

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Cool completely before serving.

Toffee Chip Cookies

I can't believe how many different cookie recipes there really are out there.
This one is from my sister....
and it has almost everything from your pantry in it!
It's a fun little cookie with a different kind of taste!
Give it a try and let me know what you think.
TOFFEE CHIP COOKIES
1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cream of tartar
3 cups rice crispy cereal
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup toffee chips
Preheat oven to 350*

In a BIG bowl,
cream together butter, oil, both sugars and vanilla.
Add eggs, flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar.
Next, add all the lovely *adds* to your cookies.

Using your desired size *scoop* place dough on parchment paper covered cookie sheet
and bake for 10-12 minutes.
Allow to cool.

Also, just an FYI..

I got 120 small cookies out of this batch.

I'll leave it up to you if you want to half it or brave it!

Chocolate Marshmallow Brownies

Another tried and true recipe from my Grandma Travis.
There was a time that we would request these for EVERY family party.
Our family LOVES these marshmallow-y goodness!
And it is oh.so.easy to make also!
Chocolate Marshmallow Brownies
2 cubes margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups nuts (optional)

bag of mini marshmallows
Preheat oven to 350*

Mix sugar and margarine until smooth, then add cocoa and vanilla.
Once combined, add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg is added.
Add flour and nuts.
Spread batter on a large greased cookie sheet.
The batter will be kinda stiff....that's a good thing!

Bake for 25 minutes.
Remove from oven and immediately cover with a 10.5 oz bag
of mini marshmallows.

Bake for an additional 3 minutes.
Remove from oven.

The marshmallows are just fluffy and big now!

Allow them to cool completely.

Make the frosting while the brownies are cooling.

FROSTING:

1/2 cup butter

1/4 c cocoa

1/3 cup canned milk

Powdered Sugar (approximately 2 cups)

In a small bowl combine all the ingredients and add the

powdered sugar until the frosting is to the desired consistency.

If you serve them the day you make them...

you will have the sticky marshmallow goodness.

If you wait a day, the marshmallows won't be as sticky.

Either way.....DELICIOUS!

Applesauce Cookies

I have been taking a lot of these treats that i've been making into my work.
A bunch of people at work have been asking me to make some treats
that are lower in fat....or maybe even more healthy for you.
I say there is no such thing...
and if there is, it probably doesn't taste that good.
However, to try and make them happy,
I looked through my recipes, and this is what I came up with.
Applesauce Cookies
right?
It has applesauce in it...that counts as a fruit!
So, go ahead and make this recipe...
and make one mark in your
"Daily serving of Fruits and Vegetables"
column.
Applesauce Cookies
2 cups applesauce
2 tsp. soda
2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
4 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
4 cups flour
1 pkg chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 400*

First of all, just to let you know....I made these cookies
with my small scoop.
It made 120 cookies.
You MIGHT want to half this recipe,
or make bigger cookies.
In a small bowl, combine applesauce and soda.
Combine well and set aside.

Make sure there is room in the bowl, because the applesauce will EXPAND.
In a seperate bowl, combine sugar, shortening and eggs.
Mix until smooth and creamy.
Add applesauce mixture and combine.
Then add remaining dry ingredients.
Add chocolate chips...
(Might I suggest the "mini" chips if you are making the small cookies)
Place onto parchment paper covered cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

S'mores Lava Cake

I ripped this recipe out of a Rachael Ray magazine.

I think I have had it over a year.

When I saw it I thought it looked absolutely heavenly!

I decided to finally just do it!

Make the cake!

So I did.

I haven't had such a good string of luck lately with recipes I clipped out of magazines.

So...I was a little nervous it wouldn't turn out.

Oh, don't you worry!

It TOTALLY did!

and I personally thought it was SO GOOD!

So, if you gals want to impress your guys for Valentines Day,

just go ahead a cook them a nice steak dinner and serve this little puppy for dessert.

I think it will be a hit!

S'mores Lava Cake

1 stick unsalted butter,

plus a little more for greasing

1/4 cup sugar,

plus a little more for coating

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped

2 large eggs plus 2 large yolks

1 tbsp flour

3 tbsp heavy cream (I used half and half)

2/3 cup marshmallow cream

1 graham cracker sheet, finely chopped.

Preheat oven to 425*

Grease the 4 6 oz custard cups with the butter.

I got mine at walmart...

(My Grandpa thinks that Walmart should sponsor this blog!)

Once greased, coat with the sugar.

In a bowl, combine the butter and chocolate.
Heat on medium power for 2 minutes.
Stir until smooth.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks and sugar until foamy.
(I didn't really know what this mean...and I used a hand whisk.
So, pretty much I whisked until I couldn't whisk any more..
and then whisked some more.
Probably use an electric beater to save your arm.)

Whisk in the chocolate mixture, then the flour.
Fill the custard cups 2/3 full with batter.

Bake until the edges are puffy, 13 to 15 minutes.

(I was nervous about mine not being done at all...

so I baked mine a full 15 minutes....

a little TOO long. You are wanting the center to be runny!)

While the cakes are baking,

and in a seperate bowl,

microwave the cream for 30 seconds on high power.

Stir in the marshmallow cream until smooth.

Invert the cakes onto the plates you will serve them on.

Drizzle the marshmallow sauce on the side.

Top with the graham cracker crumbs.

I thought it was really good!

I knew Rachael wouldn't let me down!

Oreo Delight

This year, after looking back at my pathetic -non- scrapbooks
that I accomplished over the last year, I decided to set a new goal.
I need to take more family pictures...
So, I decided to do Project Life from Becky Higgins.
I'm really excited about it and we are already in February
and I am proud to say, I'm still going strong!
I have loved Becky ever since she was with Creating Keepsakes
and so I have become a blog stalker of hers.
She has a recipe tab on her blog.
I was checking it out the other day and saw her recipe for
Oreo Delight.
I noticed it was REMARKABLY close to my Chocolate Dessert recipe.
So, I thought i'd give it a shot...test it out...see which one I like better!
Oreo Delight
35 Oreo cookies (1 whole pkg.)
6 Tbsp. margarine, melted
1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1 (12 oz.) tub Cool Whip, thawed
3 1/4 c. cold milk
2 pkg. instant Jell-O pudding
(she wasn't specific on this one, so I just did one vanilla and one chocolate)

Crush the entire package of oreo cookies.
(It seems like such a waste...so if you must, go ahead and eat a cookie or two!)
Make sure there aren't a bunch of big pieces.
Next time I do it, I will probably use a food processor.
In a bowl, combine the oreo and the margarine.
Stir until coated.
Press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
Does not need to be greased.
Place in the fridge for 15 minutes.
In a seperate bowl, combine the cream cheese, milk and sugar.
Once combined, fold in 1 1/4 cup cool whip.
(this is where my recipe is different)
Spread carefully over the oreo crust.
(I like my cream cheese mixture better)

In another seperate bowl, combine the pudding and milk
(my recipe is also different from this one, but I like hers better..it's thicker!)
(Maybe that's why my sister was giving me the eye!)
Spread over cream cheese mixture.

Place in the fridge until you are ready to serve and
top with remaining cool whip.

I took both of these desserts to work and let people try each of them

to let me know which one they liked better.

It honestly was a tie between the two.

Personally, I like my crust and cream cheese better and her pudding!

I think that's the way i'll make it in the future!

Thanks Becky, for Project Life and the recipe!

Chocolate Dessert

I'm BACK!

I hope you like my new design.

I was to thank the girls at

www.smittenblogdesigns.blogspot.com

I think they did a great job!

I also have a new button...

feel free to grab it!
To celebrate, i'm back with
MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DESSERT.
It's the one I request on my birthday...

I know that there are several different versions of

"better than sex" cake,

THIS IS MINE!

I have made this recipe enough, that I have managed to perfect the crust

beyond what the original recipe was.

So, this is my version.

Chocolate Dessert

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1 1/2 squares margarine, softened.

8 oz cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

16 oz cool whip

1 small box instant chocolate pudding

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

3 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350*

In a small bowl, cut together flour and margarine and pecans.

(I used to make this with walnuts...however, walnuts, to me, leave a weird

film-texture in my mouth...so I have switched to pecans....MMMMM!)

Once all the ingredients are combined, pour into an ungreased 9 x 13 pan.

Will be crumbly.

Press crust into pan...all the way to the edges.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Allow crust to cool before spreading next layer on top,

as it will not be nice to the crust!

In a seperate bowl, combined softened cream cheese,

8 oz cool whip and powdered sugar.

Spread oven cooled crust.

In another seperate bowl, combined both puddings and milk.

(my original recipe called for 4 cups milk. My sister gave me the WEIRDEST look

when I told her I added 4 cups of milk. I have since been told it's not that much...only 3.)

Make to directions on the box...i.e. mix until combined!

Pour over cream cheese mixture.

Place in the fridge to allow the pudding to set up.

Top with the remaining 8 oz cool whip just before serving.

Make sure you do as I do and SAVOR each and every bite of this dessert!

Oh.My.Gosh.

It really is my favorite!

CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Cream Cheese Brownies

My Grandma Travis makes THE BEST desserts.
I don't know where she gets her recipes.
She's magic...just like most Grandma's!
I know that I don't ask questions,
i'm usually too busy savoring the delicious-ness of her cooking!
This recipe is a good one, and very high in her rotation!
Serving size is usually EXTRA LARGE!
Cream Cheese Brownies
1 box german chocolate cake mix
(cake mix made as directed on box)
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 bag chocolate chips...(use the Ghiradelli brand)
Preheat oven to 325*

Make cake mix as directed on package...you know,
eggs, oil and water.
Pour into greased jelly roll pan.
Next, combine cream cheese, egg and sugar.
Mix until smooth.
Place by small spoonfuls throughout cake mix.

Run a knife through the cake mix to make a swirl pattern.

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.

When they come out, sprinkle 1/2 bag of chocolate chips on top of warm cake.

FROSTING

1 tbsp butter

3 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

powdered sugar.

In a bowl, combine the milk and butter, and melt in the microwave.

Combine with vanilla and add powdered sugar.

Mix until it can drip off the spoon as a thick mixture.

(Don't you love Grandma's and their ability to just MAKE frosting...without a recipe?)

Drizzle white frosting over cake.

(My cake was a little too warm still, and it melted my frosting...

oh well!)

O'Henry Bars

This is another good one that I have made recently.

Very, very good...although, I can't tell you the last time I actually

had an O'Henry Bar...so I don't know if it is like that or not.

I know that this recipe is DELICIOUS, and that's all that matters!

O'Henry Bars

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup sugar

1 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

4 cups rice crispies

1/2 bag butterscotch chips

1/2 bag chocolate chips

9x13 pan covered with foil, lightly sprayed with pam

In a large sauce pan, combine sugar and corn syrup and combine until sugar is dissolved.

Bring mixture to a boil.

Once boiling, remove from heat and add peanut butter.

Once peanut butter is combined, add cereal.

Spread mixture in prepared 9x13 pan.

(I took some saran wrap and covered my hand and pressed it into the pan.)

In a small bowl, combine the butterscotch and chocolate chips

and melt on low power in the microwave until melted.

Pour over cereal mixture.

Wait until set to cut.

ALSO... a little birdie told me to make sure you don't put it in the fridge.

Something about it going hard because of the cooked syrup mixture...

I'm not sure...because it didn't happen to me, but a friend of mine!

But, she did say it was still delicious!