Maxed Out Blondies! A semi homemade recipe

I will be the first to admit that I have a love of a good brownie. (or blondie in this case) Especially the fancy more than the norm brownie.  Here is a recipe that fits the bill! It has a cheesecake layer, a marshmallow layer and chocolate chips! How can one go wrong?? We served these babies at our superbowl party but the would be great for a Valentines Day dinner...who are we kidding they will be awesome for any occassion. RIGHT?? PS don't let the blondie word trick you...there is plenty of chocolate to be had in these wonderful bars!!

Maxed Out Blondies

Blondie base

1 pouch of your favorite chocolate chip cookies mix (approx 17.5 oz)

1/4 cup melted butter

2 tablespoons water

1 egg

Filling

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1 cup milk chocolate chips (6 oz)

2 cups miniature marshmallows 

Chocolate Glaze

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/8 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

2 ½ tablespoons milk

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper or spray with non stick pan spray

2. Mix up your cookie mix according to the directions and smooth dough in bottom of pan. Set aside.

3. In large bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar, 1/4 cup butter, the flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla and the egg with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over cookie dough base. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.

4. Bake 26 to 28 minutes or until filling is set. Sprinkle evenly with marshmallows. Bake 2 minutes longer. Cool for 30 minutes on a cooling rack.

5. In 2-quart saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Stir in cocoa and milk. Heat until starts to thicken. Remove from heat. With wire whisk, gradually stir in powdered sugar until well blended. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Immediately drizzle glaze over brownies.

6. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled before cutting and serving

Peanut blossoms-A Valentines Twist! Quick Easy and Semi-home made!

This is a quick, easy, Semi-homemade Valentines version of the good 'ol peanut butter blossom cookie recipe! 

I love it and since it is the month O' Hearts here we go!!!

You will need a peanut butter cookie mix (See I told you it was semi homemade) 

and the items you need to make said mix like eggs and oil etc Or of course you could make up your favorite peanut butter cookie dough 

AND

Some heart shaped chocolate candies.

AND

 some white sugar used to roll the dough in this is optional.... 

We are using Reese Peanut Butter hearts and a Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix.

Make up the dough exactly as your mix or recipe instructs. Using a TBS shape the dough into balls and roll the dough balls in sugar.  Place the cookie balls on a parchment lined or pan spray sprayed pan. 

 Cook according to your directions directions. We use the time it is cooking to unwrap the chocolates and do our best to save them all for the cookies. LOL!! As soon as they come out of the oven press the chocolate hearts into the hot cookie. 

BE CAREFUL THOSE BABIES ARE HOT! 

Wah la! 

Valentines Day Cookies! 

Quick Easy Fun and Tasty! 

Perfect! 

LOVES 

EMILY

Pantry Bag Meals-A freezer Meal For those who don't have a freezer

I love a good freezer meal. I enjoy the peace of knowing that dinner is planned, prepared, and ready to go! What if one does not have a freezer or freezer space? No worries! There is a solution...

Pantry Bag Meals. 

This method only requires the space for the pre-cooked meat in the freezer and then when its time for dinner the rest of the ingredients are set a side ready to go. Just follow the simple instructions heat and eat. COOL!!  I have 12 recipes developed so far and 2 to share with you today. 

First is 

Taco Soup

Shopping list

1 lb hamburger or turkey burger

 1 onion, chopped

 1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, 

 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans 

 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, 

 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

 1 29oz can peeled and diced tomatoes

 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers

 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

What to do

1. Precook the burger and onion drain and put in a freezer safe container and freeze.

2. Gather the canned goods and put in a bag or a different container of your choice

3. On the outside of the bag/container write or staple a printed sheet with these instructions....

Add 1 lb burger w onion from the freezer in a soup pot

Mix all the ingredients from the bag in with the burger, (do not drain the cans) add 2 cups of water. Heat through and eat!! 

(BTW we love to eat this soup with crushed tortilla chips and a little cheese sprinkled on the top)

The second is 

Hearty Bean Dip

(this recipe makes a great dip for chips or a filling for tortillas. Don't let the word Dip confuse you. It is hearty enough to make a meal. I promise.

Shopping list

1 lb burger

1 jar of your favorite salsa

1 large can of refried beans

1 lb cheese

Corn chips or tortillas or both :) 

PS the cheese, corn chips, and tortillas do not need to be purchased until you are ready to eat the recipe

1. Precook the burger, drain, and put in a freezer safe container and freeze.

2. Gather the canned goods and put in a bag or a different container of your choice

3. On the outside of the bag/container write or staple a printed sheet with these instructions....

Place 1 lb burger from the freezer in a pot, add salsa and beans and cheese from the fridge. Heat through. Serve with extra cheese sprinkled on top and corn chips or tortillas as a filling. 

These babies are going to waiting and ready for my family this coming holiday season! I've got 10 more recipes to get ready for my pantry and for you to see! Be watching!

ENJOY!

Loves,

Emily

Fancy Puff Pastry Deconstructed Chicken Pot Pie-Great for Entertaining!!

This is really a cool concept! The first time I saw this idea was at the Lion House Pantry. Unfortunately I have no idea what their recipe is but I really love how mine turns out! This is just my recipe for chicken pot pie filling and a great puff pastry square! It is great for serving at a party too! So much less complicated! 

Fancy Puff Pastry Deconstructed 

Chicken Pot Pie

Makes enough for 12 squares

2 sheets of puff pastry thawed

2lbs of chicken breast cooked and diced

1 Cup of sliced carrots

1 C peas

1 C sliced celery

2 potatoes peeled and diced

1 onion diced

1/3 C butter

1/3 C flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp thyme

2 C chicken broth

1 C milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a pan with parchment paper. Cut your puff pastry sheets into 12 squares and place on the parchment. Place the carrots celery and potato in a sauce pan and cover just barely with water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for approx 15 min or until the veggies are fork tender.Drain. Meanwhile, melt the butter in another sauce pan and onion and saute until the onion is translucent.  Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and thyme. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat. Mix milk mixture and veggies together.  Add the peas and the chicken. Allow to heat through. Place the puff pastry in the preheated oven and cook until the pastries are golden and puffed. 15-20 min approx. 

 Once the pastry squares have rested about 5 min. place one in an individual serving dish and ladle the chicken pot pie mix over the top with the desired amount of "gravy". Enjoy!! 

PS wouldn't it be cool if we cut the pastries out in fun shapes too!

Loves,

Emily

Bean and cheese Burrito Sour Cream Enchilada Casserole! SO Easy!

This is one easy peasy casserole! It literally took me 11 minutes to get in the pan and cooking! Yes, I time myself. It took longer for the oven to preheat. Serious easiness here! It was actually requested by my now 17 year old son for his birthday dinner if that gives you any indication as to if it is as yummy as it sounds. Also for my gluten free friends and family I You can make it with corn chicken taquitos (please read the label to be sure if your brand is gluten free) and it is just as good if not better. I literally decided to try it while shopping for the ingredients for the bean burrito style and it was amazing! I think I like the taquito version better!!

Bean and Cheese Burrito Sour Cream enchilada Casserole

14 bean and cheese frozen burritos thawed (enough to cover the bottom of your pan)

1 family size cream of mushroom soup

16 oz sour cream

7oz green chilies

12.5 oz canned chicken un-drained(optional)

2 cups of cheese

Line the pan edge to edge with your burritos

Mix remaining ingredients except cheese together and pour over the burritos. Top with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour in 350 degree oven. 

For the taquito version you will want to add a little sauce to the bottom of your pan first.

Free First Day of School Printable!!

Friends!! Where is the summer going?? I had to have that talk with my girly's about getting our sleep schedules back in order. (It takes 30 days to adjust your bodies sleep patterns they say.) Woah! Its flying by...Are you freaking out? Would a free printable help you feel better? :) Here is a darling sign you can have your cute kidlets hold in the "first day of school" photos. Free for the taking from the ever adorable Miss Lily. (Gabby)

You can print it any size you'd like up to 11x14.

Download the Printable!!

Also, somethings to think about...

1.  Now is a great time to buy/stock up on art supplies for Christmas presents for all the artists on your gift lists while prices are lowest. 

2. if you are planning on giving gifts in a jar now is a good time to buy the jars while they are readily available. 

Check out some ideas from Tidy Mom here...

Gift in a jar

AND

3. If any of you want to make homemade vanilla extract to give for Christmas, you should start that soon. It takes a few months to brew.

 Here's a link for the how to/recipe... 

Homemade Vanilla Extract

(I haven't made any before but I sure want to!!) 
PS be sure to read the reviews!! 
There's some great advice and tips! 

Salted Marshmallow Fudge cookies-An easy semi-homemade idea!!

Looking for a quick easy party food? Need something fast to take to a friend in need? Bridal or baby shower coming up? Bake sale? Why not Salted Marshmallow Fudge Cookies? 

 This is a super quick way to fancify your fudge marshmallow cookies and it super duper easy!!  You will need a package of the marshmallow fudge cookies (ya know....like the ones that rhyme with twinwheels?? OR Great Value makes a great (haha get it?? GREAT) version too and they are less than half the price and neither is free from the cracks on the surface of the fudge so go for the cheap I say) You will also need a torch and a sprinkle of kosher salt

BTW this little torch was found at Harbor Freight for $9 full of fuel AND he is refillable.

 Pretty great deal!! (if you are in the market for a torch) :) 

All you do is wave the torch over the top of the cookie until the chocolate gets shiny and sprinkle a little bit of kosher salt over it. Let it set (re-harden) and serve. YUMMY!!

 NOTE-keep in mind that the end of the torch stays hot for a while after the flame is off so be careful with it until you know it is cool.

 ENJOY MY FRIENDS!!