Strawberry Brownies

We are brownie lovers because, well, who doesn't love a good brownie? This strawberry version was a fun twist on a favorite treat.

Strawberry Brownies
1 box strawberry cake mix
1/3 c. oil
2 eggs

Beat ingredients together in a medium bowl and press into a greased 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until the edges are set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

frosting:
1/2 c. butter
4 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/3 c. milk
3 c. powdered sugar

Melt the butter over medium-low heat in a saucepan on the stove. Add the cocoa powder and milk; stir until the mixture begins to boil. Continue mixing until it thickens. Remove it from the heat and add the powdered sugar. Pour the frosting over the bars and smooth out to the edges. Allow to set as it cools.

Magic Cookie Bars

These are always kind of fun to make. Magic is taking it a little too far, but it is cool to see the butter melt, sprinkle graham crumbs over it, and then have it all turn into delicious bars. 

 

Magic Cookie Bars

1/2 c. butter

1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1 c. chocolate chips

3 1/2 oz. coconut

1 c. chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put butter in a 9x13 pan and put it in the oven, allowing the butter to melt. Once the butter is melted, remove from the oven and sprinkle the graham crumbs over the melted butter. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crumbs. Top with coconut, chocolate chips, and nuts. I don't use the nuts because I don't like them and we have allergies. Pres down slightly on the toppings. Return pan to oven and bake 25-30 minutes or until the coconut is golden brown. Cool.

Crock Pot Blueberry Breakfast Casserole

Waking up to breakfast that is hot and done is always nice. I like to sleep in on my days off work but the boys still like to have a nice, hot breakfast. This works for all of us! I put the stuff in the crock pot before I go to bed, turn it on low, and breakfast is done when we wake up! And if I still don't want to get up, the boys can serve themselves! This is kind of French Toast, kind of not. Whatever, It tastes good and they like it. And there is syrup if you feel really adventurous and want to make the syrup as well. Or buy it at the store. You can actually use any berry for this. I used blueberries for this one, but sliced strawberries or raspberries work just as well.

 

Crock Pot Blueberry Breakfast Casserole

1 loaf Italian or French bread

1 c. blueberries

8 oz. cream cheese

12 eggs

2 c. milk

Spray your crock pot with non-cook spray. Cut about 3/4 of your loaf of bread into cubes. I cut it into thick slices and cubed those. Put 1/2 the bread cubes in the crock pot.Sprinkle the blueberries over the bread. Cut the cream cheese into cubes and sprinkle those over the bread. Cover with the remaining 1/2 of the bread cubes. In a medium bowl, whisk the milk and eggs together. Pour that evenly over the bread cubes. You can top that with a little maple syrup, cinnamon, etc, if desired. Turn crock pot on to low and allow to cook overnight.

If you want to make your own syrup for this:

1 c. sugar

1 c. water

2 Tbsp. corn starch

1 c. blueberries

In a medium sized saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the water, sugar, and cornstarch until it is thickened. Add the blueberries and simmer about 10 minutes. Serve over the breakfast casserole.

Swiss Cheese Bacon Dip

Another of our dip recipes for dip night. Another great recipe we love!

 

Swiss Cheese Bacon Dip

8 oz. cream cheese

1 c. mayonnaise

1 1/2 c. Swiss cheese, grated

5-6 green onions, sliced thin

1 pkg. real bacon bits

6-7 Ritz cracker, crumbled

Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Swiss cheese, and onions in a medium bowl and stir until well combined.  Spread in an 8 inch round pan. Sprinkle with bacon bits, then the crumbled crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the crackers are browned and cheese is bubbly. Serve with tortilla chips, vegetables, Wheat Thins, etc.

Fudge Filled Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is more a process than a recipe. You can find my chocolate chip cookie recipe here and you will need the recipe for these cookies. I like "surprise" cookies - stuffing something in the center that is not expected. Like caramel, etc. These have hot fudge ice cream topping in the center and are SO GOOD! MY husband declared he has a new favorite cookie!

 

Fudge Filled Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 recipe chocolate chip cookie dough

1 jar hot fudge ice cream topping

Using a little cookie scoop, scoop the hot fudge topping and drop teaspoonfuls onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Freeze this for a couple of hours until the hot fudge topping is firm. Make the cookie dough. Wrap the cookie dough around each of the hot fudge topping scoops, covering each scoop completely. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies begin to turn golden brown around the edges. Allow to cool slightly before eating.