Brownies

Some of my friends and I had a Pinterest party.  We made a wreath we saw and brought something to eat.  I made these brownies from The Key Ingredient.

1 cup butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
2 cups chocolate chips

In small saucepan over low heat, melt butter completely. Stir in sugar and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not allow sugar mixture to boil. Pour butter mixture into a large bowl or stand mixer, beat in cocoa powder, eggs, salt, baking powder, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Stir in the flour and chocolate chips until well combined. Spread into prepared pan in a buttered pan (batter will be very thick and sticky) and bake for about 30 minutes at 350, until a tester comes out mostly clean. The edges should be set and the center should still look slightly moist, but not uncooked. Cool on a wire rack.

Itailan Nachos

Matt and I love the Italian Nachos at our little restaurant in town.  I thought I would give it a try.  I'm glad I did they turned out really good.

1 bag of Thin Tortilla Chips
Jar of Alfredo Sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Sliced olives
Banana Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers
Fresh diced Tomatoes
Cooked, Shredded Chicken

Layer it all.  I did the whole bag of chips, some cheese then the Alfredo sauce, chicken then the rest.  topped with more cheese.  I baked it at 300 for about 20 minutes or until it is all melty and gooey.

Taco Seasoning

Matt loves tacos.  I am not such a huge fan but I have started taking a little more care in how I make them. 

I get the same size jars of each:
chili powder
ground cumin
garlic powder
onion powder

Dumb all jars into a zip lock bag and mix.  I usually taste it and then add salt.  You can also add red pepper flakes if it isn't spicy enough for your family.  It is good enough for us without it.  This lasts for a long time and I use it in chili also and what ever else sounds good.

Easy Angel Food Cake

Take a box of Angel Food Cake mix , and combine it with a 20 ounce can of Blueberry pie filling.  The mixture starts to froth and it turns airy and fluffy right before your eyes. Once it's all mixed up, simply pour it into a 9 x 13 baking dish and bake it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

Super easy right?  You can use any type of pie filling or even crushed pineapple with the juice.

Skillet Spaghetti

7 oz. pkg. thin spaghetti noodles
1 ground beef or Sausage
salt and pepper
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/4 c. sour cream
8 oz. cottage cheese
1 jar spaghetti sauce

Cook spaghetti noodles and drain.  Cook meat.  I cooked the meat in my big cast iron skillet.  Drain the meat then add the cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese until all is melted and well mixed together.  Then add sauce.  Start with half a jar and see how much more you want.  Add the spaghetti mix well all together and top with cheese.  Bake at 325 for 30 minutes.

Crocpot Creamy Tortillini

1 bag of frozen tortellini
Couple Handfulls of fresh spinach
2 cans of Italian style diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
4 cups or chicken broth
1 block of cream cheese (8 oz), cut into cubes
1 lb. sausage

Brown the sausage and put all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low for 3-4 hrs. If you don't add the spinach at the beginning, add it ~1 hour before serving. If the 'sauce' is too thin, leave the lid off during the last 1/2 hour of cooking and it will thicken slightly. I topped mine with some grated Parmesan cheese.

Sugar Cookies and Cream Cheese Frosting

These cookies are so soft and delicious.  I have said I am for sure not a cookie maker but these are super easy I didn't even mess them up.  I made them the first time for Kyle's Valentine's Day Party then I made them again with Lego candies on them for his birthday.

 



Cream together:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Add:
5 cups flour
1 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Mix all ingredients well. Roll into golf size balls and roll in some granulated sugar. Flatten with your fingers just until there is some resistance.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Bake until just starting to crack. Don't let them get brown. Cool and frost with frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 block cream cheese
1 stick butter
lots of powdered sugar
vanilla flavoring


Cream together the cream cheese and butter. Whip it for a little while. Add powdered sugar and some vanilla flavoring until it tastes the way you like it. I usually do about 2 tsp vanilla and half a bag of powdered sugar.