The Ultimate Brownies

Many years ago I discovered the Ultimate Brownies. It was a creation from a company called Moose Munch. We carried the product at Macy's when I was working there. It was a simple recipe. Buy a box of your favorite brownie mix, bake it according to the instructions on the box and as soon as you took it out of the oven, you gently pressed and entire box of Moose Munch into the warm Brownie base. It made an amazing recipe and consequently, the Ultimate Brownies were born. If you're not familiar with Moose Munch it's sort of like Cracker Jack coated in either Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate or White Chocolate. The recipe became a favorite at our house.
I have since discovered many other ways to create amazing Brownies and here's my latest!

I added this picture if you decide
to make Moose Munch Brownies.

The Ultimate Brownies

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" Glass Casserole Pan brushed well with Pan Release Mix. (Equal parts of Crisco, Vegetable Oil and Flour) I start with 1 C of each mixed well and refrigerated in a jar. I always have it available for all of my baking needs. If you need something to come out of a pan without sticking...... this is foolproof. I highly recommend it for the most detailed designed Bundt Pans.

Brownie batter:

16 TBS Butter, melted
2 C Granulated Sugar
3/4 C Cocoa Powder (I use Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa)
4 Eggs
2 tsp Vanilla
1 C Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Medaglia d'Oro Espresso Coffee Powder
1 C  Chocolate Chips (regular size) I use Hershey's Special Dark or Ghirardelli.
1 1/2 C Chopped Pecans, divided
3/4 C Caramel Sauce, divided (The kind you buy in a jar for Hot Fudge Sundaes)
1/2 C Mini Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Icing:

6 TBS Butter, room temperature
1/4 C + 2 TBS Cocoa Powder (I use Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa)
2 TBS Lyle's Golden Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla
1 1/2 C Confectioner's Sugar, sifted.
2 - 3 TBS Whole Milk

Brownie batter instructions:

In a Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment:
Butter
Sugar
Cocoa Powder
Mix for 3 minutes.

Add:
Eggs
Vanilla
Mix until incorporated.

In a medium mixing bowl:
Flour
Baking Powder
Salt
Cinnamon
Espresso
Whisk well.
Gradually add this to the mixer.
Mix just to combine well.

Add:
1 C Chocolate Chips
1 C Pecans
Mix just to combine.
Spoon batter into the pan.
Bake 30 - 35 minutes.

Remove the pan to a rack to cool for 5 minutes.

Use the handle of a Wooden Spoon and polk holes evenly throughout the Brownies.
Evenly spread 1/2 C of the Caramel over the entire surface and force some of the Caramel into the holes using a Silicone Spatula.
Cover with Plastic Wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Make the Icing.

In a medium mixing bowl with a hand mixer:
Butter
Cocoa Powder
Golden Syrup
Vanilla
Beat until creamy smooth.

Add:
Confectioner's Sugar
2 TBS Milk
Mix until completely incorporated.

Add:
Additional Milk (1 TBS) if it needs it to be a spreadable consistency)

Remove the pan from the refrigerator.
Evenly spread on the Icing.
Sprinkle it with remaining Pecans and the Mini Chocolate Chips.
Drizzle evenly with remaining Caramel Sauce.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

No -Knead Bread in a Poor Man's Dutch Oven

I love homemade Bread. I have a Terra Cotta Bread Cloche that I make it in. I was recently sent this recipe so I decided to post the video to make it easier to see the process. The dough is never handled with your hands. It's really easy.
I will definitely try this.

How to Bake No-Knead Bread in a Poor Man’s Dutch Oven (no mixer… no bread machine…)

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Cinnamon Crunch Cheesecake

I love Cheesecake. It's my dessert of choice when we eat out. The only one I make is a very plain New York Style. It's a complicated recipe but it's my favorite. It's on the Blog.  I just received this one from a Blog I follow and I decided to post the link to it.

http://www.365daysofbakingandmore.com/day-148-cinnamon-cru…/

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Blueberry or Cranberry Snowmen / Cornbread Snowmen

I have a vast collection of Cast Iron Cookware. I just received this cool, little Cast Iron Snowman Pan. It came with a Blueberry Mix so I decided to create a recipe so I can continue to make them throughout the Winter. All I need is some Snow, some cold Wintery Weather with a Snow storm. I live in Texas....... it will eventually come!
You can also make these in Corn Shaped Cast Iron Pans.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 Cute Little Cast Iron Snowman Pan, brushed well with Vegetable Oil.
Put the pan on a Sheet Pan and place it in the cold oven to preheat it.

Blueberry or Cranberry Snowmen

8 TBS Butter, room temperature
3/4 C Granulated Sugar + additional for sprinkling the tops of the Snowmen.
1 Egg
2 C Flour, divided
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
2 C Fresh Blueberries or 1 C Dried Cranberries
1/2 C Buttermilk

In a Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment:
Butter
Sugar
Mix until Creamy Smooth, about 3 minutes.

Add:
Egg
Vanilla
Mix just to combine well.

In a small bowl:
Toss Blueberries or Cranberries with 1/4 C Flour.
Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl:
Remaining Flour
Baking Powder
Salt
Whisk Well.
Add this, alternating with Buttermilk.
Mix just until combined.

Add Blueberries or Cranberries
Mix just until combined, don't over mix.

Spoon evenly into the Snowman wells.
Sprinkle with additional Sugar.
Bake 8 - 10 minutes.
Remove the pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes.
Transfer the Snowmen to the rack to cool completely.

Repeat with remaining Batter.

Serve with room temperature Butter.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!





Cornbread Snowmen:

2/3 C All Purpose Flour
1/2 C Cornmeal
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 C Buttermilk
1 TBS Butter, melted
1 TBS Vegetable Oil
1 Egg, beaten


In a mixing bowl:
Flour
Cornmeal
Baking Powder
Salt
Whisk well.

Add:
Butter milk
Mix by hand with a Blending Fork.

Add:
Butter
Oil
Egg
Stir to combine well.
Spoon Batter into the Snowmen Wells.

Bake 8 - 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove the pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes.
Transfer the Snowmen to the rack to cool completely.

Repeat with remaining Batter.

Serve with room temperature Butter.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Boston Cream Pie Sheet Cake

Wow, if you love Boston Cream Pie like I do, you'll love this version in a Cake. I decided to simply post a link to the recipe to give full credit.

http://www.chef-in-training.com/…/boston-cream-pie-sheet-c…/

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Sweet Paul's Spiced Fig, Cranberry and Amaretto Cake with Caramel and Coconut

Here's a decadent and delicious cake from Sweet Paul. I simply posted the link to the recipe. I'll definitely make this one. I like the combination of ingredients and flavors.

http://www.sweetpaulmag.com/…/spiced-fig-amp-cranberry-amar…

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Strawberry Vanilla Jam Crumb Bars from Savory Simple

There aren't a lot of recipes that I like with Strawberries. I recently discovered this one, it looks delicious and I think I'd like it. It's not really original and I know it's been around for decades, but I've never made them.
I decided to post a link to the recipe rather than re write it.

http://www.savorysimple.net/strawberry-vanilla-jam-crumb-b…/

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!