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Thursday, October 3, 2013

Brownies In Minutes, Turtle Styled with Marshmallow Creme

Brownies In Minutes, Turtle Styled with Marshmallow Creme


Hi everybody :)
I know it's been a while since my last post. I've been kind of busy around the house lately. But I do have a nice treat to share with you all today. My daughter and I were having some fun tweaking this recipe. This brownie was prepared in a microwave in less than 2 minutes. If you follow my blog, you'll know that I normally shy away from "microwave cooking," but today I'm taking the plunge. Seeing that the recipe didn't required eggs makes it so much easier for me to accept the challenge. (Cooking eggs, meats, or fish in the microwave is still taking me some time getting accustomed to.)   

Want a deliciously moist fudge brownie in less than 2 minutes? Well, let's get it started...   

Brownie In Minutes 


Modified from: Brownie In A Cup 

3 Tablespoons hot water
1/4 teaspoon instant coffee  (optional)
2 Tablespoons oil
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (I used 1 Tbsp. Special Dark & 1 Tbsp. Regular)
2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon Jif Mocha Cappuccino Spread or chocolate chips (optional)
1 - 2 Tablespoon chopped pecans, toasted  (optional)
4 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour (I used 2 Tbsp. all-purpose & 2 Tbsp. White Lily Self-Rising, to give it a little lift.) 

Topping  (optional)
Marshmallow Creme
Smucker's Caramel Ice Cream Topping or Homemade Caramel
Smucker's Fudge Ice Cream Topping  (I used Jif Mocha Cappuccino Spread) 
Toasted Pecans, chopped
 
Whisk together water, coffee, oil, and vanilla in a medium bowl. (You can use the microwaveable mug or dish you're cooking it in.  If you want to turn it out onto a dish after cooking, mix in a bowl and spray the mug or dish nonstick cooking spray before pouring in the mixture.)


Add the cocoa powder, sugars, mocha spread, and flour; stir until smooth. 


Place in a microwaveable mug or dish. Cook in microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. (It took me 1 minute and 15 seconds) Check after the 1 minute mark. Center should still be soft. (The picture below is how it looked when finished cooking.)


 Top with marshmallow creme, drizzle with caramel and fudge and sprinkle with nuts.

The Taste: AMAZING! REPEAT, if you dare!! :)
ENJOY! Come again...
Linked to: 
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage  

Friday, September 6, 2013

Mini Cherry Crisp Pies: Farewell Summer

Mini Cherry Crisp Pies 

Hi everybody :)
Summer is almost over and Fall is very near, YES :) This recipe is my celebration to the end of the sunny days, until we meet again Summer... Farewell. 
Since I had so many views on the Mini Peach Cobblers ,  I decided to make another mini dessert, Mini Cherry Crisp Pies. These little pies have a flaky buttery bottom crust, a crunchy topping, with a sweet and tart goodness in the middle. 

I wanted the taste of a crispy crunchy topping like in the Cinnamon Apple Crisp but with a buttery flaky crust like in the Praline Liqueur Pecan Pie, so I came up with a combination of both. Let's get it started... 

What I did...
 
Mini Cherry Crisp Pies 

Filling:
 4  cups sweet cherries, pitted 
1/2 cup Cherry Berry Blend (a mixture of dried cherries, blueberries, and cranberries)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray

Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 ounces)
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1/3 cup sliced almonds or pecans

Pastry:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening, chilled
1/3 cup unsalted butter, chilled; cut into small pieces
5 to 7 tablespoons cold water  

To Prepare the Pastry:
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening and butter until crumbly. Gradually add cold water, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Divide pastry in thirds. On a lightly floured surface, roll out ball to fit three 8 - 9 oz ceramic ramekins baking dishes. Transfer pastry to baking dishes; trim even the edges. 

Add filling. Roll out remaining pastry;
Preheat oven to 375°.

To Prepare the Filling: 
Combine cherries, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch, juice, almond extract, and salt in a large bowl; toss gently. Spoon cherry mixture into  pastry shells.
To Prepare Topping: 
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in chilled butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in sliced almonds. 

Sprinkle oat mixture evenly over cherry mixture.

Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until filling is bubbly and topping is crisp. Let stand 5 minutes; serve warm.
What I Think:
The Taste:
I love the sweet/tart balance of the cherry filling. The dried sour cherries and the cranberries help offset the sweetness of the others cherries just right. The dried blueberries added a  nice touch too.  Like I mention before the topping and the crust were AMAZING!!! REPEAT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE!
ENJOY! Come again...
 
Linked to: 
From the Farm Blog Hop
The Better Baker Weekend Potluck


Marvelous Mondays @ This Gal Cooks 
Mop Up Mondays - I Should be Mopping the Floor
The Chicken Chick: Clever Chicks Blog Hop
Flour Me With Love: Mix it up Monday! 
Melt In Your Mouth Monday @ Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms  
Titus 2 Tuesday 
Two Cup Tuesday No. 36 
Time to Sparkle!  
Tuesday-Talent-Show:  Chef In Training
Zentmrs: Tuesday Table
Wednesday Whatsits 
Wake-Up Wednesday 

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hi everybody :)
My daughter, Patrina, is stepping in once again to for me, since she had so much fun sharing the Oatmeal Scotchies  with you. This time she made these deliciously chewy oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips sprinkled about. The perfect after school snack with a glass of milk on the side. Once again, Patrina...

Hi, everyone.  I found the recipe for these cookies on the back of a bag of flour; the recipe is also available here.  I made the cookie dough one night around midnight and decided to bake the first batch the next morning, because the heat of the kitchen was too much, even at midnight.  I refrigerated the dough until morning.
Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups quick-cooking oats

1 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose or unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
1
cup chopped nuts, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until blended. Stir in vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in oats, flour, baking soda and salt; stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Onto ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart. 

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack

Tip: Cookie dough can be covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. If it becomes too firm, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.
Cookie dough can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 9 months. Thaw just until soft enough to handle.
  
What I Did and/or Think: I didn't add any chopped nuts.  I really wanted to add pecans, but looking through the freezer for them made my hands numb.  

Like before (I know my mom hates this), I did not measure the baking soda, salt, or vanilla.  I was beginning to feel tired at this point, and did not want to bother with the teaspoons.

I used margarine.  I also combined quick-cooking oats with old fashioned (about half quick and half old-fashioned).  Finally, I added extra chocolate chips to the dough, since the bag was nearly empty after I added the cup.
These cookies were very tasty!  I would love to make them again (but with pecans next time).  

ENJOY! Come again... 
Linked to :  
From the Farm Blog Hop
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage 
Show Case Your Talent  @What's Cooking Love 
Food-Tastic Fridays @ Not Your Ordinary Recipes  
Foodie Fridays @ Designs By Gollum  
Foodie Friday @ Simple Living   
The Country Cook:: Weekend Potluck
Melt In Your Mouth Monday @ Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms
Flour Me With Love: Mix it up Monday!
 
The Chicken Chick: Clever Chicks Blog Hop
Marvelous Mondays #62
Skip To My Lou: Made by you Monday
Tuesday Talent Show #99
Tuesday’s Table
Wake Up Wednesdays

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