Brownies

I love chocolate! And love to make brownies. I have a few favorites, but this one I made yesterday (and Belle made them again today for her study group).  They don't last very long in my house.  Because of the soy allergy we stay away from chocolate chips in our brownies. But feel free to add some chips or chopped up caramels. It could only make them better.

These are nice cake like brownies. Great for an afternoon snack or packed in a lunch.  Of course you could always eat these with a little ice cream and some whipped cream for an awesome dessert.

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla

4 eggs

3/4 cup cocoa 

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

(1/2 cup chocolate chips, optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13x9 pan. (I use butter) Place butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave on 50 % power for 2-3 minutes until melted.  Stir in the sugar and vanilla.  Add the eggs one at a time, stirring after each to make sure they are incorporated.  Add the cocoa. Stir. add the baking powder, salt and flour. Carefully stir until everything is combined.  Add chips if using and stir. Pour into prepared pan.  Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool on rack, cut and enjoy.

recipe adapted from Hershey's

Monkey Munch

Monkey Munch!! It is such a sweet and crunchy snack that all of your little monkeys will love.  No matter how old they are.  You may know this snack by some other name, such as muddy buddy or puppy chow. But my family prefers Monkey Munch.

This is straight off of the Chex cereal box, it is not my recipe at all. But I do sometimes substitute store brand cereal or Crispix cereal. My daughter even used Life cereal once. Whatever I have, I will use.  It all tastes good so it really doesn't matter to me.  

9 cups Chex cereal (any crispy waffle type cereal)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Put cereal in a large bowl and put aside.
Place chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter into a quart-sized microwavable bowl. Stir together.
Microwave on "high" for one minute. Stir the mixture again and continue to zap in thirty second intervals until it mixes smoothly.  Add the vanilla and then stir in the cereal. Put the combination into 2 gallon sized zip top bags along with the powdered sugar. (3/4 cups sugar in each bag)  Seal the bag and shake to coat cereal mixture.  Keep in airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

This is the ultimate muffin. It is super chocolates, if that's your thing. And extremely yummy.

1/2 c butter
1/2 c brown sugar
11/2 c mashed ripe bananas
1/4 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream together butter and brown sugar. Then add bananas, vanilla, eggs and milk. Stir together then add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add chocolate chips. Spray muffin tins with nonstick spray and fill with the batter. Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 20-25 minutes.

The Perfect Cookie

Everyone loves cookies, right? Well, I have an awesome chocolate chip cookie recipe. It is my go-to cookie. It is a small recipe, but is easily doubled. This cookie is loaded with chips and nuts.  Make sure that you toast your nuts for extra flavor.  Of course, if you like, you can leave them out. Why not whip up a batch after dinner and treat yourself.

1 1/4 c. Flour 
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. Butter (1 stick) softened
1/2 c. Packed brown sugar
1/4 c. Granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. Semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. Walnuts, lightly toasted

  Preheat oven to 350. On waxed paper combine flour,baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  In a large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and sugars until creamy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Reduce speed to low, beat in flour mixture just until blended.  Stir in chips and walnuts.
  Drop by heaping tablespoon, 2 inches apart on ungreased large cookie sheets.  Bake cookies 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.