“Got a good brownie recipe?” my sister asked. “Oh, two or three,”, I replied. Brownies are chocolate –a life necessity. What did she mean, did I have “a” brownie recipe? So here is take one: Classic Naked Brownie. This brownie has a rich chocolate flavor, not too sweet and just the right texture. Texture is the key characteristic of any brownie. Some people like dense fudgy brownies, others like a less dense, more cake-like texture, still others want chewy middles or crispy edges. All brownies have five basic ingredients: Chocolate, butter, sugar, flour and eggs. Varying the amounts of chocolate, butter, sugar, and flour will affect the texture of the brownie. That’s not to say eggs are not important. Most recipes are intended for large eggs, whether they are specified ... [Read More]
chocolate
Fudgy Chocolate Cookie Dough Mini Cheesecake – No Bake
Fudgy Chocolate Cookie Dough No Bake Cheesecake. The perfect dessert to celebrate a special day -- anniversary, birthday or just because. We’d already celebrated Bytes' birthday at a big family gathering with the traditional cake and a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday. This was a smaller celebration. Perfect for cheesecake and fudginess! I’m always a little hesitant to give preparation times for recipes. They can vary according to how many times the cook rescues a toddler or the number of shortcuts that are taken. Like using already crushed graham crackers. Although putting two packages of graham crackers squares (not oblongs) in their wrapping on the work counter and smacking them smartly several times with the side of a meat axe or a rolling pin is a pretty quick process. ... [Read More]
Chocolate Chip Brownie in a mug
Chocolate Chip Brownie in a mug just saved me. Chocolate always has magical powers -- not to make problems go away, but to make them seem less daunting. Besides it tastes really, really good! Being fresh from the oven -- well microwave -- and eaten while still warm helps too. Oh Oh Oh Misery! I had a post ready yesterday about a wonderful dessert – sooo good it gives me goose bumps thinking about it. I was about to hit the publish button and got called to help with some project or other and when I came back an hour later, the computer was not glowing its usual glow. Hmmm, I thought, I don’t remember taking time to shut things down. And that would be weird anyway since the computer is the first thing on in the morning and the last thing off at night. Then with my mind on the ... [Read More]
Cheesecake Topped Fudgy Brownies
Five star dessert! Chocolate yum topped with New York Style cheesecake. The chocolate is the lightest fudgy brownie ever! Not too sweet, rich chocolate, light as a feather. The cheesecake is just barely dense, creamy without sweetness, the perfect foil for the deep chocolate flavor of the brownie. Amazing! Fabulous! The best dessert for a special occasion – like Valentine’s Day – any occasion that calls for chocolate. Or delicious. The melted butter gives the brownie it’s rich flavor and light texture. The directions are pretty straightforward and easy to follow. Mixing the brownies and then the cheesecake is quick and easy. You’ll probably have them both mixed before your oven is preheated. It’s better to make the furrows as described than it is to just drop the cheesecake ... [Read More]
Minty Christmas Cookies
Minty Christmas Cookies are fun! Fun colors, fun and easy to make and decorate, fun to make with littles. Best of all, they are fun to eat! Use the paste colors because they give deeper color without adding extra liquid. It’s no secret that I am not good at dipping things in chocolate! (Remember? How not to make peppermint patties and Chocolate covered Cheeseballs) I frosted half of each cookie with the melted chocolate instead of dipping. Requires less chocolate – saves $ and lowers the carb count a tiny bit and is a whole lot easier! Melt about half the given amount if you do this. Have fun! Minty Christmas Cookies Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 10 mins Total time 25 mins Colorful and fun, Minty Christmas Cookies are a crispy sugar cookie. ... [Read More]
Toffee Crisps
Toffee Crisps seemed a bit unusual to me in that it was a baked cookie recipe using graham cracker crumbs for thickener and condensed milk for sweetener. It is a very goooood combination!! If you crush the graham crackers, you’ll need about 32 squares to make 2 cups. That’s about the most complicated thing in making these delights. Very quick and easy. The dough is thick and can be shaped into a relatively uniform circle very easily as you push them off a tablespoon., although a cookie scoop makes the job easier. I’ve also rolled them into balls between the palms of my “very clean” hands – but that is not necessary. What IS necessary is keeping a close eye on the baking time, as these go from brown to overdone very quickly. Toffee Crisps Print Prep time 10 mins Cook ... [Read More]