Fudge Brownies

I love brownies! I want my brownies to be more fudgy and gooey than cakey. I figured if I want something cakey than I would just make chocolate cupcakes. These brownies are really good. My husband agrees with my assessment that these are some good brownies. I always elect not to add espresso to my ingredients since I appreciate my children sleeping at night. If they don't sleep, then I don't sleep. If I don't sleep, then no one gets any dessert the next day. It is better to skip the espresso.

Fudge Brownies 
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups dark cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup unsatled butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, add the eggs, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and vanilla. Mix until well incorporated.  Set aside.
4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
5. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. 
6. Add the butter mixture to the egg mixture. Stir until smooth.
7. Add the flour and chocolate chips. Stir until smooth. 
8. Evenly spread the batter into the prepared baking pan.
9. Bake the brownies for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle has no raw batter with moist crumbs.

Recipe adapted from King Arthur.

One year ago.............................I made Peanut Butter Pie.
Two years ago...........................I made Snickerdoodle Cookies.
Three years ago.........................I made Victoria Sandwich Cake.

Did you already know.........................
-Coffee is the seconded traded commodity after oil.
-Espresso is made in a specific preparation of the coffee bean. 
-In Italian, espresso means pressed out. 

PB Candy Bar Brownies

I saw recently a sign that said.........Naughty or Nice Naughty or Nice Decisions, Decisions. Well, I felt very naughty making these cookies but very nice since my husband requested them. Why naughty? Because normally I am happy with sampling my baking and then sharing but I didn't want to share these brownies. They are so good. The brownies crust is made from cookies and it contains candy bars. Now, you know why I didn't want to be nice and share.

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies
1 (16 oz) package of Nutter Butter Cookies, crushed
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
10 Peanut Butter Cups, coarsely chopped
2 Butterfingers, coarsely chopped
1 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. 
   
3. In a medium bowl, combine the crushed cookies and butter.
4. Press the cookie mixture into a bottom of a greased parchment lined 13x9 pan.
5. Bake the cookie mixture for about 6 minutes.
6. In a medium bowl, combine the condensed milk, peanut butter, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
7. Remove the cookie mixture from the oven. Sprinkle the peanut butter cups, the Butterfingers, and chocolate chips over the warm crust. 
8. Pore the condensed milk mixture over the cookie and chocolate mixture. 
9. Bake the brownies for about 27 minutes or until lightly browned.
10. Remove the brownies from the oven and allow to cool completely before slicing.

Recipe adapted from My recipes website.

One year ago................................I made Flour Tortillas.

Did you already know..................
-The Be A Good Cookie Spatula is made from the OXO company. 
-The OXO company donates half of all proceeds from the sale of the spatula to pediatric cancer research.
-The spatula is the most popular item on the OXO website.

PB Brownies

When I am really tired, I have a bad habit of calling people by the wrong name. Normally, it is no big deal. I have on occasion called all of my children by their sibling's name. The children just answer me. They do not even correct me. I have even introduced myself by the wrong name once. I don't even realize I did it. The problem comes when I call my husband by the wrong name. Well, the other night I happen to call my husband by my brother in laws name. Without correcting me, he just answered, "Sweetie, you can call me by any name you want as long as you continue to cook this good!"

One of the recipes my husband was referring to are these brownies. They are dense and chocolatey with the added bonus of peanut butter. These brownies have been requested again. They were gone fast. My oldest daughter ate one and she was in heaven even if I recently called her by my sister's name.

Peanut Butter Marbled Brownies
Peanut Butter Layer:
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
Chocolate Layer:
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 Tbsp milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
3. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, and 2 Tbsp milk until smooth. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, 2 cups sugar, and vanilla. 
5. To the melted butter mixture, add the eggs one at a time. Beat well after each egg. 
6. In another medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. 
7. Combine the flour mixture to the melted butter mixture.
8. Remove 1/2 cup of the chocolate batter.
9. Stir 1 Tbsp milk to the 1/2 cup of the chocolate batter. Set aside.
10. To the remaining chocolate batter, fold in the chocolate chips.
11. Spread the chocolate chip batter into the greased baking pan.
12. Spread the peanut butter filling over the top.
13. Drop the reserved chocolate batter by spoonful over the peanut butter filling.
14. Using a knife, gently swirl the topping layer for a marbled effect.
15. Bake the brownies for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out almost clean.
16. Allow the brownies to cool completely before slicing into bars.

Recipe adapted from Lick the Bowl Good.

1 year ago post...Snow White Vanilla Birthday Cake

Did you already know...
-About 540 peanuts were used to make a 12 oz. jar of peanut butter.
-60% of consumers prefer creamy peanut butter or chunky.
-In the U.S., peanut butter is the leading use for peanuts.

Leprechauns

My youngest daughter set up traps to catch a leprechaun. She said she wanted his gold or to make him a servant. I said to her I thought your younger brother was your servant. "Yep, he is," she replied. I just don't think he received the memo or he is going to be fired soon.

Since my daughter is setting up traps, I figured I could set up my own trap. I made Pioneer Woman's Knock You Naked Brownies. This way I can catch someone with no green, right? Clever, huh. My husband tried this dessert and he said they are really good even with the nuts since he doesn't eat nuts.

 Knock You Naked Brownies
1 box German Chocolate Mix
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
60 whole caramels, unwrapped
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a 9 x9 or 7.5 x 11 inch baking pan.
3. In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, pecans, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, and the melted butter. Combine well.
4. Take half of the batter and press into the baking pan.
5. Bake about 8 to 10 minutes.
6. Remove and set aside.
7. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the caramels with the remaining evaporated milk for about 2 minutes. Stir and microwave for another 20 seconds if needed until all of the caramels are melted.
8. Pour the caramel milk into the baking pan evenly over the pressed brownie base.
9. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the caramel.
10. With the remaining batter in the large bowl, roll out onto a floured surface.
11. Place the rolled batter dough on top of the chocolate chips and caramel.
12. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
13. Remove from pan and allow to cool.
14. Once the brownies have cooled to room temperature, cover and refrigerate for several hours.
15. Before serving, dust with the powdered sugar. 

Recipe adapted from Pioneer Woman. 

Maybe next year

 Did you already know....
-Leprechauns originally wore red.
-You can try to find one by listening to the sound of their hammer while they make shoes.
-Here is a webcam in Ireland to spot a leprechaun. 
Good Luck!