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‘Neiman Marcus’ Brownies

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I cant tell you why these are called Neiman Marcus brownies, but.. What I can tell you is that they are super sweet, delicious, gooey and semi-homemade. I am not a huge fan of semi-homemade because I don’t feel like its my creation but it sure does make it simple to make.

INGREDIENTS

For the first layer….OH YES ITS LAYERED

I package of german chocolate cake mix

2 eggs

1 stick melted butter

mix the above ingredients together and press into a greased 9×13 pan.

For the second layer…The delicious sweet gooey part!!!

1 lb. box of confectionery sugar

2 eggs

1 8oz package of cream cheese, Softened

1 tsp of vanilla

mix the above ingredients together and spread on top of brownie mixture. Bake for 55 minutes at 300 degress. Let dish chill / sit for 1-2 hours to set.

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My pictures aren’t the greatest but you get the point of they layers …

My Thoughts . . .

I received this recipe from my future mother in law , of course we have had It before. It was definitely being made in our house

I made this for Super bowl Sunday to take to the neighbors house. Everyone liked it. I came home with little less than half.

We drizzled homemade caramel on top every now and then. My figure doesn’t appreciate any of this but my mouth sure does.

I made a mistake and did the ole tooth pick test since it was my first time make it. Apparently I missed the part where it said let it set for 1-2 hours.

Simple. Easy. and Delicious.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Salted Caramel Cupcakes

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Sweet. Salty. Delicious.

Birthdays are a great reason to bake and I always use these times to try new things. The GREAT thing about this is, my neighbors know that I love to bake so I use them as my ‘guinea pigs’ so instead of buying gifts for birthdays, I send a sweet treat their way. . . BUT I want the criticism in return.

This birthday I made Salted Caramel Cupcakes.  YUMMY ! The best thing about these cupcakes is that they are semi-home made :)

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Cupcake Ingredients

1 box of yellow golden butter cake mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup of butter – melted

1 cup of caramel machiatto creamer

Icing Ingredients

1 8oz box of cream cheese – softened

1/2 cup of butter – softened

1 cup of caramel

7-8 cups of sifted powdered sugar

Additions:

Caramel

Sea Salt – course

Chopped Walnuts

Directions for cupcakes:

–Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

–In a large bowl, using a mixer, combine cake mix, eggs, butter and creamer for 1 minute. Scrap the side of bowls and continue to mix on medium for 1 minute.

– Scoop even amounts of batter into lined muffin tin and bake 18-20 minutes.

–Let cupcakes cool on baking rack.

Directions for Icing:

–Place the softened butter in bowl and blend softly. Add cream cheese and mix until smooth.

–Add caramel until fully incorporated.

–Slowly add in the powdered sugar until thickened. Turn mixer on medium and beat for 1-2 minutes until icing becomes fluffy.

–Pipe icing onto cooled cupcakes, drizzle caramel, sprinkle a little salt and add chopped walnuts.

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My Thoughts

I used homemade caramel ( Will post recipe another time), but store bought will be just as delicious !

My cupcakes baked for 19 minutes exact and were perfect.

I didn’t have the patience to sift all 7 cups of sugar.

I added the chopped walnuts. They work !

Definitely on the ‘make again’  list !

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Bake Away !!!

Cranberry Oatmeal Walnut Muffins

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I have had a stash of oatmeal in the cupboard for sometime now. I have been trying to think of many ways to get rid of it without wasting it. A friend of mine gave me a great and healthy apple and walnut oatmeal recipe ( which i will share) but if your like me, I need a change … I can’t eat the same thing every day. I get bored and then I find myself splurging on high calorie fast-food breakfast. I found a recipe to make cranberry oatmeal walnut muffins. Conveniently I had all the ingredients in the house so I made them :0)

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled-oats
  • 5 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray 12 standard muffin pan cups with cooking spray or line with paper liners.

2. Combine the oats and the milk in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture just to a boil, remove from the heat and stir in the butter until melted. Set aside to cool.

3. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and whisk to blend.

4. Add the eggs to the cooled oat mixture, stirring until blended. Add the oat mixture to the flour mixture, and stir just until blended. Stir in the cranberries and nuts. Do not over mix.

5. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan cups. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in to the center comes out clean. Set pan on a wire rack and let cool 5 minutes. Remove muffins from the pan and set on rack to cool.

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MY THOUGHTS

Any kind of berries would work. I almost used blueberries but my taste buds were definitely calling the fruity zing from the cranberry.

The muffin was not bland line a bran muffin, you can definitely taste the oatmeal and the cranberries but still has a ‘healthy’ taste to it.

Changes for my next batch: Less walnuts, More Cranberries, Maybe add cinnamon OR orange zest.

ENJOY ! I would love to know YOUR opinion if you make them…

Recipe adapted from here

New Year, New Toys

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I finally got it. It’s been along wait but it was worth it. The ultimate big kid toy. It is a must have for every cook and baker ( even a novice like me )! It was a little intimidating at first but I jumped right in a took the reigns ! I will say in the year of 2013 and on, there will be a lot of mixing going on !!! Many recipes to be shared !!

I love kitchen aid !

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Such a sweet FAILURE

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What would a blog be without the good, the BAD and the UGLY… So for the past couple post I have been giving you  these new recipes that we have tried in our house. Tonight we decided to grab a quick and very early dinner since I get off work earlier on Tuesdays. Eating dinner to early can result in a little hunger before bed time. I knew it was going to happen. We both were craving something sweet and we did not have much around the house to snack healthy. Of course, Pinterest to the rescue (maybe) again ! I remembered awhile back that I pinned a recipe for only TWO cupcakes instead of 2 dozen :) I figured I would have all the ingredients, especially for only two cupcakes.

;

You can get to the recipe by click here !

The cupcakes came out looking really good. They were peaked and felt good to the touch. As far as the icing goes, I didn’t really have all the stuff to make it. I just through some cream cheese, peanut butter, confectioners sugar and some milk together until I got the right consistency. I love cream cheese and peanut butter so I was satisfied.

 

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I was really excited that we were going to be able to satisfy our sweet tooth with out having to bake a bajillion cupcakes or having to leave the house. The look of the cupcakes were VERY deceiving. They were H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E. The look and sound that came from Don I knew they were not edible. I tore the bottom off of my cupcake to taste it without icing and I could not even chew it before it came out of my mouth. Something was wrong. Don said it was very eggy. It even smelled eggy. I followed the recipe exactly . Oh well, calories well saved here. Atleast the icing tasted good :0)

 

CUPCAKE FAILURE! I will stick to baking 2 dozen instead of 2 !

Choc-Oreo-Nies

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I am sure you are wondering what in the world are chocoreonies ? Okay okay so I sort of made that name up however I can not claim I came up with this super sweet dessert !

Chocoreonies : (n) a combination of CHOCOlate chip cookie dough, oREOs, and browNIES!

See below for this yummy recipe I found on pinterest !

Source: kevinandamanda.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

INGREDIENTS:

I used the pre-made cookie dough, but if you would like to make your own go right ahead.

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips
1 pkg Double Stuffed Oreos
1 Family Size (9×13) Brownie mix
1/4 cup hot fudge topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For homemade cookie dough:

Cream the butter and both sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well to thoroughly combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt, then slowly incorporate into the mixer until the flour is just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread the cookie dough in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish that’s been lined with wax paper and sprayed with cooking spray.

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Top with a layer of Oreos.

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Mix together brownie mix, adding an optional 1/4 cup of hot fudge topping to the mix. Pour the brownie batter over the cookie dough and Oreos.

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Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15-25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting — brownies may still be gooey in the middle when still warm, but will set up perfectly once cooled.

Enjoy!!

BEWARE…. this is a REAL SWEET TREAT.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch CUPCAKES…

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Oh yes I did…. I pulled out the inner fat kid and made some delicious cupcakes. Of course this recipe was hidden among my other 174 pinterest food pins. What can I say, I truly love to cook and bake anything. It was my neighbors birthday this week, since she has been on vacation we have not been able to celebrate. When she gets home she will have some fun, crunchy, sweet cupcakes waiting on her !

Source: bsinthekitchen.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

I really did not stick with the recipe connected to the pinned photo above. Here is the {Semi-Homemade} recipe I used. They cupcakes came out so moist and PERFECT

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes. . .

Cinnamon Cupcake :

3 Eggs
1/3 Cup oil ( I used canola oil )
3/4 Cup Buttermilk
1Teasoon Vanilla Extract
3/4 Cup Sour Cream
Vanilla Cake Mix
1 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
 

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Buttercream Icing:

8 oz cream cheese, Softened
1/2 Cup butter, Softened ( I used salted )
1 Teaspoon vanilla
3 Cups powdered sugar
2/3 Cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch Powder
    - crush cinnamon toast crunch cereal in a bag or food processor. Sift out 2/3 cup )
 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, line muffin pans with cupcake liners.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. Mix in sour cream.

Add cake mix and cinnamon into the wet ingredients, mix until smooth.

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 15-18 minutes. I baked at 17 minutes and they came out perfect after they cooled.

For the icing: beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Adding powdered cereal. Add vanilla and powederd sugar. If your consistency becomes to thick, use milk to thin out to your liking.

Pipe onto cupcakes as desired. Top with cereal square.

ENJOY !!!!

 
 


 

Peanut Butter Pie … OH MY!

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I made this tonight and it was DELICIOUS! I have never been in love with peanut butter until recently !!! I eat it almost every week day ! This is very easy to make! You even learn how to make homemade whipped cream ! Recipe below ;)

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Ingredients :
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter – I added MORE !!!
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
One 9-inch graham cracker crust
1/4 cup salted peanuts, roughly chopped
Directions
Heat the milk in a small pot over low heat until warm. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly; mixture should be thick but have a pourable consistency.
In a large bowl using an electric mixer on high, beat together the cream cheese with the peanut butter and powdered sugar. In a separate bowl, beat together the heavy cream with the vanilla until doubled in volume and soft peaks form.
Stir one-third of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture to lighten it. Fold in the remaining whipped cream until combined.
Spread into the graham cracker crust. Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the pie and sprinkle with the chopped peanuts. Place the pie in the freezer to set up, about 1 hour.

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Recipe via Sandra Lee ( Food Network )

Chewy MnM Cookies !

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Thanks Six Sisters for posting the recipe for homemade Chewy M&M Cookies. Although I did not NEED to be making any cookies to keep around the house, I had all the ingredients in the house and I was in a baking kind of mood… Why not?

Click photo or above link for recipe.

It only took my a few minutes to pull out my mixer and whip up these puppies. I gave don the job of placing the M&Ms on the dough balls before putting them in the oven. When I turned around he  selectively paired blues/oranges and reds/yellows together. We are a house divided ..Seminoles and Gators of course (at least he thought of me.. I am the NOLE )

Anyways back to cookies… I decided to make slightly larger cookies then the recipe called for. I used a scoop. If i had to guess maybe equivalent to a  TBSP. Of course I had to bake them longer also ( 15 +\- min.) As they came out of the oven I let them cool a minute or two before transferring to a wire rack… I tried hard to keep my salivary glands under control. I made a glass of milk and grabbed a cookie!!

I followed the recipe to a T, maybe not using as many M&Ms as called for but all the other ingredients were exact. I kind of thought they were a little salty.. Don even made a comment about the salt. Maybe that was the idea for this recipe..sweet AND savory ? I think the next time I try this recipe..yes there will be other batches …I will use 1/2 teaspoon of salt rather than a whole teaspoon…

Till then… Go make these cookies !! Yay tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!

Sweet Sweeeeeet Birthdays

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Today is Don’s 27th birthday! He isn’t crazy about throwing birthday parties or going all out, however, we went to purchase bikes for his birthday present and rode them home. I was pretty excited about that. It something we have been talking about the day we moved into our new house. We have this long trail we can ride less than half a mile away from our home. YIPEE!!! ( more exercise )

For his birthday, I tried to make cup cakes that involve his two favorite sweets: Chocolate and Peanut Butter! I swear every time I turn around the kid is dipping dove choclate into peanut butter. I always think to myself why doesn’t he save the time and the mess by purchasing REESES CUPS..duh right?

I found the PERFECT recipe: Peanut Butter Brownie Buckeye Cupcakes !!!

They are easy..semi-homemade and DELICIOUS :) I did not use the ganache. Honestly, I think the peanut butter icing and the chocolate cake would have over powered it any ways . They were fine for our palate :0)

YUMMMMMMMMY ! Its a MUST TRY recipe ! Image