peppermint kiss brownie bites*

Happy December! I cannot believe it is almost Christmas! This year I think we are going to be scrooge's and not even put up a tree. Not because we don't love our Christmas tree, but because right now our front room is still bare, and it would practically be the only thing in the room. It seems like a lot of work for it to just sit there all by its lonesome, without even any furniture for us to sit in to admire its beauty. We are buying each other couches for Christmas, however, so our room will soon not be so bare and next year I will definitely be more festive!

And I swear this year I am going to buy new tree decorations after Christmas when they are on sale! I have told myself that I was going to do this the last 2 years, but I think the hard part is where you won't even get to use them for almost a year. Doesn't make the shopping as much fun as if it would if you were to buy them right before. But this year is the year.

I am in LOVE with these peppermint kiss brownie bites! Only mine didn't really turn out to be 'bites'. I didn't make mine in a mini muffin tin, but in a regular-sized muffin tin. I made these for dessert for the students, and dessert is a really big treat since they only get dessert about once a week, so I figured they were appreciate a bigger 'bite'. And man, they did not disappoint! I could eat one of these every single day, especially during the Christmas season! You must make these for your next Christmas party or family get-together, or maybe just because it's a Tuesday. Whatever your reason, it's a great one if you have one of these little guys in tow!

Peppermint Kiss Brownie Bites
adapted from Picky Palate

spooky spiders and ghosts*

This time of year marks some very humongous events that have forever changed my life.

*One year ago this week I discovered the enormity of the food blogging world.

*One year ago this week I discovered my now-favorite passion - baking and creating goodies.

*One year ago this week I made the most creative thing that I had ever made in my entire life - these spooky spiders and ghosts.

These were made for our Halloween party at work, as well as for all of the students.These little guys brought a creative side of me that I didn't know existed, and I am literally getting teary-eyed just thinking of just how much they mean to me.

Now, the picture I have is one that I posted to my Facebook a year ago, so it's not the greatest, but these little guys will forever hold a special place in my heart. You can find the recipe of how to make them here from bettycrocker.com. Luckily they have the cutest little picture with the recipe, so that you can see what they look like up close and personal. They will be a huge hit wherever you take them, and they will not fail to bring a smile to everyones face! You just can't help but be happy around these cutest little dudes.

Happy Halloween everyone!

-alyssa*

red velvet brownies*

Tomorrow I am going my first concert in about 6 years! Back in the day, I was a big fan of Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and of course - *NSYNC. Well, I am still a fan of all of them, but I went to Keith twice, Kenny three times, and *NSYNC only once, but that was my first concert and will forever be embedded in my memory. I hate to admit it, but I used to be absolutely obsessed with the teeny bopper boy band. Like - internet stalking, every-TV-show-that-mentions-the-group recording, book collecting, poster hanging, and truly thinking in my young brain that Justin Timberlake would fall in love and marry me one day - kind of obsession. However, I was 12 so I'm OK with it :).

Anyway, on to the concert that I am attending tomorrow. The hubby and I are going to Taylor Swift! Oops, don't tell him I told you. He said that he will go if no one finds out, but we all know I am not going by myself - so sorry honey! You are ratted out! I didn't used to like Taylor. I don't really know why. But then something happened. Now I just cannot get enough! I love that she writes her own music and says it like it is. She doesn't care if she just flat out calls someone out in a song. She just does her thing. LOVE her!

These brownies were another one of the goodies that I made for parent conference. They were a huge hit and I am getting requests for the recipe left and right! So here you are all ya'll!

Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
adapted from Smells Like Home

cookie dough brownies*

I have been contemplating what to make for dessert for our parent conferences that are coming up next week, and DING DING DING - I think we have found a winner! I have seen cookie dough brownies on a few food blogs here and there and have always wanted to try them. However, I don't think I was prepared for the deliciousness that was about to enter my life. The cookie dough is really soft, and then having a fudgy chocolately brownie as the "crust" - BRILLIANT! If any of my readers are going to be around during parent coference - you absolutely must grab one of these!

Cookie Dough Brownies
from The Daily Herald

brooke's best bombshell brownies*

I am having dessert blogging withdrawals. I don't know if I have ever gone this long without posting a dessert, so even though I have a ton of "meals" to put up, I just NEED to put up a dessert :). I mean, who doesn't like dessert?

So, my hubby recently had a breakthrough. It is so great, yet so awful all at the same time. He LIKES dessert as of late. This is my dream come true! But then again, now we are making brownies and big cookies and eating ice cream. If you haven't noticed I have not mentioned my "healthier eating" lately. That's because, even though I try my hardest, I still end up eating something everyday that I really shouldn't. It has always been harder for me to eat good at work because there is everything there! And we are constantly making cupcakes and I'm surrounded by fruit roll-ups (my weakness) and other amazing things, but at home I never have anything around because if there is anything around I will "have" to eat it all by myself - and heaven forbid something sweet go to waste :). Now - not the case. Landon will eat it with me. Which means we have amazing desserts around because that's all I can think about until I make it and then we eat it and....AHHHHH!!!

So - Landon has been liking brownies lately. We have just gotten the boxes of brownies at the store a couple of times because I have been super lazy, but then one day I decided to make my own. I found this recipe on the internet and they looked pretty amazing, so I whipped them right up and topped them with ice cream! They are pretty yummy! They taste just like a box mix to me, which is fine because I think those are pretty good. However, when I ate a piece the next day I wasn't the biggest fan - even after I heated it up in the microwave. They were a little hard and not as gooey and amazing. So my suggestion would be to make sure you are going to finish them when they are fresh that same day. Other than that, I have no complaints. And of course, as you can see, I definitely made these at my house because the pictures are all shadowy and horrible! SORRY! Oh, and I halved this recipe because I did them in a 9x9 pan so that I didn't end up eating a whole cake pan of brownies mostly to myself!!!

Brooke's Best Bombshell Brownies
from Allrecipes.com

1 cup butter, melted
3 cups white sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Combine the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each, until thoroughly blended.

Sift together the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Gradually stir in the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the chocolate morsels. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick come out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove, and cool pan on wire rack before cutting.

Enjoy!*

-alyssa*

dreamy oreo brownies*

With all of this warm weather, I really have neglected my blog! Landon and I have been so busy doing yardwork, painting fences, watching my cute lilies grow, and just enjoying outside. We are also in the process of buying a second house. With the current economy, houses around these parts are pretty affordable and we decided it is our time to become investors! We haven't found one that we want yet, but hopefully soon! However, I may be next to distinct as far as blogging when we actually get a house. We are planning on buying a fixer-upper, and we are the fixers :). But we are super excited and hope that we find one SOON!

We made these brownies today for all of the students. No kidding, once the creamy layer was made I could NOT stop eating it! AMAZING! I wish they used this creamy filling in actual Oreo's! If you do not like Oreo's - first off you are crazy (although I must admit, I don't like the centers - like at all..), and second of all - you will absolutely not like these! These brownies are definitely not lacking in the Oreo department. The Oreo brownie layer, followed by the Oreo cream layer, followed by a chocolate layer and then topped with more crushed Oreo's is absolutely and completely INCREDIBLE! Seriously, a party in your mouth! Make these - like right now!

Dreamy Oreo Brownies
from Cookies and Cups

1 box brownie mix - with ingredients to prepare them according to the package directions

1 (16.6 oz) package Oreo cookies divided equally into 3rds all coarsely chopped

1 (8 oz) tub of Cool Whip thawed in fridge

1 8 oz block of cream cheese softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

Prepare brownie batter according to package directions, folding in 1/3 of the chopped Oreos.

 

 

Bake according to package directions, until a toothpick inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean.

Let brownies cool completely.

Meanwhile in your mixer bowl beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until combined and smooth.

With a spatula fold in the Cool Whip and another 1/3 of the coarsely chopped Oreos.

Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of cooled brownies.

Now in a microwave safe bowl melt the chocolate chips and the vegetable oil on medium power for 1 minute.

Stir and repeat in 30 second increments until melted. When chocolate is melted spread evenly over the cream cheese layer.

Now sprinkle the remaining Oreos on top of melted chocolate.

 

 

Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Cut into squares.

 

 

I am telling you, the cream center is what makes this brownie. Seriously, it is out of this world! You are definitely going to need a glass of cold milk with this decadent and rich dessert! I'm not even the biggest fan of milk and was craving it in a serious way! This brownie is worth every last calorie. Mmmmmmm....

-alyssa*

chocolate mint brownies*

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY TO ALL! One of things I LOVE about my new position is the fact that every holiday big or small are equally exciting! Sarah (my best assistant) and I were talking today about how each holiday gives us an excuse to make AMAZING things, so for that thank you St. Patty's Day for existing! Without you these two desserts may have never come into our lives!

Today we made chocolate mint brownies, as well as some chocolate mint grasshopper cupcakes. And for breakfast, green eggs and ham. Dang, I forgot to take a picture of the eggs! They were as green as a leprechaun for real! I am sure the kids weren't huge fans of them, but they will be something that they hopefully remember for years to come. So let's hop to it (oh wait, Easter isn't for a few weeks...) and I'll show you how to make these incredibly amazingly yummy and EASY chocolate mint brownies!

Chocolate Mint Brownies
from Betty Crocker

Brownie Base 

1

box (1 lb 2.4 oz) Betty Crocker® Original Supreme Premium brownie mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box 

Filling 

2 1/2

  cups powdered sugar

3 

tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

3 

tablespoons whipping cream

2

  oz cream cheese, softened (from 3 oz package)

1/8

  to 1/4 teaspoon mint extract

2

  drops green food color 

Topping 

1/3

 cup whipping cream

1 1/3 

cups (8 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

1/3

  cup butter (do not use margarine) 

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom only of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. (For easier cutting, line pan with foil, then grease foil on bottom only of pan.) Make and bake brownie mix as directed on box. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. 

In large bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until set. 

 

Meanwhile, in 2-quart nonstick saucepan, heat topping ingredients over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. Cool about 10 minutes or until lukewarm. 

Pour topping over filling; spread to cover. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours or until set. 

Before cutting into bars, let stand 10 minutes at room temperature. For bars, cut into 5 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 20 brownies

So cute huh!!!! Now move on to my next post where I will reveal our chocolate mint grasshopper cupcakes!

-alyssa*

better than brownies cookies

Sarah and I made these today for the open house that is going on this week. They are YUMMY! Make sure you don't overbake! Some of ours got a little crispy, so make sure you keep an eye on them. We actually made the dough the day before and then refrigerated it and then made them the next day. Worked out great! We had too much dough so we portioned them out in serving size balls and froze them for when we may need them again! Which may prove to be a mistake, because now I want to do that with all kinds of cookie dough and have it on hand in the freezer. I keep making jobs for myself, the only problem is I don't have time to actually do them all! Oh well, I guess it's always good to have a "to do" list, no matter how many pages it is :).

Better-than-Brownies Chocolate Cookies

from Tracey's Culinary Adventures

2 2/3 cups (about 16 ounces) bittersweet chocolate, chopped

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

4 eggs

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Put the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set it over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until completely melted and smooth.

In the meantime, whisk together the eggs, vanilla and sugar in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a small bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder.

Add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine well. Slowly add the dry ingredients, folding them into the batter. Once all of the flour is incorporated, fold in the chocolate chips.

Scoop about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough (a medium cookie scoop’s worth) onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are firm on the outside. Like brownies, do not overbake! Leave to cool completely on the baking sheets.

Makes about 24 cookies 

-alyssa*