“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]
desserts
Cherry Banana Fruit Pie
My sister Vee contributed this pie to Thanksgiving dinner. Soo good that I asked if I could share with y'all. Cherry Banana Fruit Pie is one of her go-to recipes. Easy to make because you only need to bake the refrigerated pie shells according to directions and stir together the filling while the shells cool. Pour the filling into the shells and pop in the refrigerator until time to eat. So good that the recipe she uses, titles it "Out of this World Pie". The combination of fruit is a little unusual but that is part of it's charm. Because the pie is refrigerated it makes a great summer dessert. But don't save it for any one season. Fruitiness is good anytime. The original recipe is from a community cookbook. Vee made it according to directions and we enjoyed it! Treats in ... [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]
No-bake Cheesecake Chocolate Covered Bitty Bites
Chocolate covered cheesecake bites - just the right size for a bit of dessert at a party or to end a good meal. The first time I made these I was dismayed. These little things refused any attempt at decoration. Snowflake candies fell off, nonpareils just bounced to the side. Pretty little drizzles of colored melts, swirls – forget it. I don’t have a whole lot of patience for “fiddling” as Grandma called it, so I put the chocolates aside and ditched the pretty picture in my head. Next day, Bytes said “those things are pretty good”. I bit into the crisp chocolate and was smitten with the soft, cheesecake goodness inside. Forget decorations and fancies. Just pure ingredients, well blended and aged properly. Moral of the story: Listen to the candy, people! In keeping with the goal of ... [Read More]
Grinch Kabobs
Grapes, bananas and strawberries -- oh my! One look and everyone will know they were Grinch inspired. These are so cute and colorful, they will make any party fun! They are perfect for kid events and they love to help assemble them. Adults laugh when they see them on a buffet table and love them, too. And – big bonus! – they are good for you. You can assemble them using short 6" kabob sticks. But if kids are involved, look for the blunt coffee stirrers. The little straws work great and are sturdy enough to pierce the fruit without bending. I found flat bamboo stirrers with rounded ends that also worked well. This is another quick and easy holiday treat that requires no baking and can be made in quantity as large or as small as you want. Grinch Kabobs Print Cute, ... [Read More]
Crockpot Apple Crisp
Apple Crisp made in the slowcooker -- sort of a "handed lemons, make lemonade" process that turned out well. Really well, in fact. That bag of apples had been setting in the refrigerator for a few days. When I opened them with the intent of adding them to the bowl on the dining room buffet, I hesitated. Apparently someone had dropped the bag before purchase. Bruises and mushy spots on about half of them – meaning they had to be used. Soon. I didn’t want to be caught in a “can’t quit now” situation with the paint brush to check the oven. Nor did I want to risk not hearing the oven timer. We're still in the moving process. Who knows where the little stick-it-in-your-pocket-ticking-timer is. There are still boxes in the basement and in storage two hours away, so I’m sure it will turn ... [Read More]