Brownies with Brownie Chunk Frosting

This is not your ordinary brownie.  Well, actually the brownie is pretty ordinary, BUT the frosting is anything but and coupled with the chewy brownies you've got a touchdown (it is football season after all!).  The frosting is rich and chocolaty, but here's the kicker (football season again:))...it is also infused with brownie chunks & pieces!  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it!

You can use any brownie recipe that you prefer.  A few of my favorites are here, here, and here.  Hahaha...seriously that last one is the bomb...especially when you're feeling lazy!:)

Just whip up a batch of this brownie infused frosting & slather a nice thick layer on a nice big piece of brownie & you may just put yourself into a brownie coma...but it'll be worth it!

Brownies with Brownie Chunk Frosting

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Brownies (9 x 13 inch pan) already cooked and cooled
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
6 small sized brownies (about 1/4th of the 9 x 13 inch sized pan of brownies)

Beat the butter with the vanilla for about a minute.  Add the cocoa and powdered sugar and beat until incorporated.  Crumble up the brownies into small pieces and beat into the frosting.

Frost the remaining brownies.

Eat. You deserve it!:)

Cereal Candy

I seem to be craving any kind of goodie made with cereal lately.  I've made S'mores snack mix (a few times!) & the delicious spin on Muddy Buddies...the Biscoff Muddy Buddies!

And this one is just like all the others.  You just cannot stop eating it!

I first tried this a couple of summers ago when my sister-in-law took it to a family retreat.  I was hooked, but have just now gotten around to getting the recipe & making it myself. 

At first I thought the butterscotch/peanut butter combo would not be so great, but boy was I mistaken!  That combo is KILLER...especially when you add chocolate in the mix!

This would make a wonderful Halloween goodie bag to hand out at school parties or any other party, really. That is if you don't eat yourself sick and don't have much left for anyone else.:)

Cereal Candy
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15 cups Crispix Cereal (about 1 1/2 boxes)

1 1/2 cups light corn syrup

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

1 bag (11.5 oz.) chocolate chips

1 bag (11.5 oz.) butterscotch chips

Measure cereal into a large bowl; set aside.

Melt the sugar & corn syrup in a saucepan over medium heat.  Bring to a boil & let boil for 1 minute.  Take off the heat and stir in the peanut butter.

Keep stirring until it is mixed well and is smooth.

Pour over the cereal and mix well.  Place large sections of wax paper on counter.  Pour cereal mixture onto the wax paper, spreading so it is in an even single layer.

Put butterscotch chips into a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between until smooth.  Drizzle over the cereal mixture.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave just like the butterscotch chips and then drizzle over the cereal too. 

Let the chocolate and butterscotch cool and harden, then break into pieces and place in bags or a large bowl that is air tight to store.

NOTE:  There is another variation instead of melting and drizzling the butterscotch and chocolate chips.  After you mix the peanut butter/sugar mixture with the cereal just add the whole chocolate and butterscotch chips and stir them in.  Then lay it out on the wax paper to cool.  I've had it both ways & love it either way!  Just sometimes it's easier (or I'm just lazy!) to add the chips instead of doing all that melting!:)

Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread (Guest Post at Or So She Says)

With all the soups we've been making lately, I wanted to try out a new recipe for a yummy bread to go with it.  And I found the perfect one that the family scarfed down in no time flat!

Serve it with one of our 6 favorite soups or any of these other soups from our index!

You can find the recipe over at Or So She Says today.  Stop by and give us some love!:)

Halloween Popcorn Mix (Monster Munch)

I can't believe how fast this month is going! I got out a couple of pumpkins for decoration a couple of weeks ago & have yet to get out the rest of my fall/Halloween decorations! And here it is more than half way through the month.  I just have totally lost track of time. Guess that's something we'll have to do this weekend! 

This is THE popcorn mix I make every Halloween. I usually make a huge batch for my elementary school kids to take to their class parties & everyone loves it (even the teachers...I get requests for the recipe from them). You can just serve it in a big bowl or you can put it in plastic bags tied with a ribbon for each student (and don't forget the teacher!). Either way, it'll be a hit! 

 Halloween Popcorn Mix (Monster Munch)

Recipe from Our Best Bites

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1 package Almond Bark (1 lb) 

1/2 cup popcorn kernals, popped

1 cup candy corn 

1 cup dry roasted, salted peanuts 

1/2 cup Reeces Pieces 

Pop the popcorn and place in a large bowl.  Add the peanuts, candy corn and Reeces pieces on top.  I only got a picture of the peanuts on the popcorn...don't know what I was thinking!!

Break the almond bark up into chunks and melt in the microwave it for 30 second intervals, stirring in between until smooth and melted.

Pour over the popcorn mixture.

Use a wooden spoon to stir mixture all together.  Keep stirring until all the popcorn mixture is evenly coated with almond bark.

Spread out on wax paper to dry. 

When it is completely dry, break into pieces and place in a large bowl or individual bags.  Sneak a few pieces in the process.  That's a must!

Cream of Broccoli Soup

As everyone knows, it's the season for soup....and I've got one of my favorite cream soup recipes to share with you today.  It is absolutely wonderful.  Especially if you serve it in a bread bowl...that's a perfect fall dinner right there!

I got this recipe from my best friend & neighbors Mom years ago.  It's a true test of a fabulous recipe if it gets made year after year after year.  And this is one of those!

There are just so many things to love about this recipe!  I love that it is so easy to make.  That it is super inexpensive (but doesn't taste like it!).  And that you can keep it in the crock pot until ready to serve!  The only thing that would make it better is if I had a maid to clean up after dinner for me!

Cream of Broccoli Soup

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2-3 heads and stalks of broccoli, cut up

1 cup grated carrots

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 can (14.5 oz.) chicken broth

1 can water

3 teaspoons instant chicken bouillon granules

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup margarine or butter

1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk

Bring water, broth, and bouillon to a boil. Add vegetables and simmer until tender.

 Melt butter/margarine in the microwave.  Add the flour and whisk until smooth.  Slowly add the evaporated milk while whisking until smooth & combined.  Stir mixture into the vegetables and broth.

Simmer on low 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, being careful not to scorch.

Or you can warm in crock pot on LOW after you have combined all ingredients.

Serve in bowls or bread bowls (my personal preference).  Take a serrated knife and cut a "lid" off of the bread bowl (or large roll).  Scoop out the "guts" of the bread bowl and place them to the side.

Use the "lid" and "guts" of the bread bowl to dunk into soup.  Yummmmmmy!

  Serves approximately 8.

Beef & Broccoli for the Crockpot

My Crockpot has become my best friend lately.  It's so dang nice to already have dinner ready when it's dinner time...just throw everything on the table & it's ready to go!

And this recipe was really really good!  The beef was so tender it was falling apart on me.  When I stirred in the broccoli the meat just started shredding, so just be careful when stirring.

You can serve this over a pile of white rice or you can serve it with some Fried Rice.  Either way it is delicious!

Enjoy!

Beef & Broccoli for the Crockpot

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1 pound thin beef (whatever kind you'd like)
1/4 plus 2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons oil (you can use whatever flavor...if you like sesame oil that would work great, but I don't really like the taste so I always just use Olive oil.)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppers
1 bag (10 oz.) thawed broccoli florets

Add the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic and crushed red peppers to your crockpot; stir to combine.

Slice meat into thin pieces (if not already) and place in crockpot.  Toss the meat with the liquid to coat.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

An hour before serving add the thawed broccoli.  Cover and cook for another hour.

Stir together (remember to stir carefully or you'll have shredded beef & broccoli!)

S'mores Snack Mix

My stomach is seriously making some weird noises right now.  Maybe it has something to with the fact that this snack mix is the only thing I ate for lunch today.....hmmmm.

It combines my favorite cereal with chocolate & marshmallows, and it's crunchy & chewy & delicious!  It was just calling my name & I was too lazy to make myself something healthy & with substance.

And honestly, I'd rather have this stuff than the real S'mores.  I love the whole campfire thing, but have never been the biggest fan of S'mores...I usually just toast the marshmallow and eat it.

S'mores Snack Mix

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9 cups Golden Grahams cereal (store brands work too)
3 Tablespoons butter
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 bag (11.5 oz.) milk chocolate chips
1 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups mini marshmallows

Measure cereal into a large mixing bowl.

In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup until smooth.  Remove from heat and add the vanilla.  Immediately pour over the cereal.  Stir until well coated.  Add the marshmallows and stir to combine.

Lay wax paper on the bottom of a cookie sheet.  Pour the s'mores mix on top of the wax paper and spread out.  Let cool, then serve!

It's Soup Season! (Our Favorite Soups)

It's officially Soup Season!  Yea for October!

As I have mentioned many, MANY times before...

I LOVE SOUP!  

So I thought I'd share my favorites with you today.  Lucky you!:)

Our Favorite Soups

(Just click the link and you'll be taken to the recipe & will be able to print)

Bean with Bacon Soup
This soup has such a smoky flavor to it that I absolutely love & ummmm...BACON!:)

Black Bean Soup
This hearty soup I could eat every day for the rest of my life.  It's good with tortillas chips too!

Black Eyed Pea Soup

This is the most looked at & pinned soup here, and for good reason! Yummy!

Taco Soup

This is probably the most MADE soup at our house.  The family just loves this one!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

The chicken in this soup....I can't even tell you how delicious it is!! 

Chicken Enchilada Chili

Our newest soup recipe here.  And definitely a keeper!

Hope you enjoy these soup recipes as much as me and my family!  We may just have soup everyday of the week from now until Thanksgiving!:)

Chocolate Melt Cookies

What do you do when you miss an appointment (I mean just totally spaced it!) with one of your child's teachers?

Bake an "I'm so sorry" goodie!

My hubby Tony brought home a couple of bags of these new Hershey's baking melts.  He was supposed to get just regular old chocolate chips, but all he saw was the "Milk chocolate" and so he grabbed and went.  He's not a big semi-sweet lover!  So I figured I'd use these to help smooth over my goof!

I whipped up these cookies to take to our rescheduled meeting and put them in a cute bag with a cute tag.  For me, baked goods can fix anything, so that's what I was hoping!:)

(stay tuned at the end of the post if you'd like to see what I got to watch while making these cookies...it's so creepy & cool all at the same time!)

Chocolate Melt Cookies
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1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

2 tablespoons corn starch

2 1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 package (9.5 oz.) Hershey's Milk Chocolate Baking Melts

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla until well blended.  Add the egg and beat well.  Add the corn starch, flour, baking soda and salt.  Mix until combined.  Stir in chocolate melts. 

Scoop cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 11-13 minutes.  Cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

For those of you who like the "creepy but cool", here's what I got to watch out my dining room window as I was preparing these cookies.

These spiders (we called them cat face spiders growing up...not sure if that's right or not) spin the most beautiful webs, but boy are they UG-LY!!  There are 3 webs in a row between these 2 lilac bushes.  If you look at the top picture you can see one spider on the 1st web and one on the last web.

Super gross...but interesting to watch, especially when I've got 10 feet and a glass window between us!!:)