Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Gourmet Boxed Brownies



I have come to the conclusion, that brownies are hard. Brownies need a perfect balance of chocolate. They can’t be too cakey, because we don’t want a cake. And they can’t be too fudgy, because we don’t want fudge. They have to be the perfect combination of cakey, chocolate, fudgy goodness. Through my struggle with perfect homemade brownies, I decided on 1 thing. Brownies are better when they're from a box.
You heard right.
Upon this conclusion, I knew I had to make boxed brownies taste homemade, and not from a box. So... my experiment began. And ended in the same evening. And they are fabulous. So amazingly good. So wonderful, that I had to make 2 full batches in a weeks time so that everyone could get their fill of these brownies. I even had a friend that isn’t the "chocolate type" (I know! Who isnt the chocolate type!??) ask for more. And I watched as she ate every crumb, and then got seconds. And then thirds.
And the best part? They are so incredibly easy! So easy, that I didn’t even have time to document the process for all to see, so follow closely.. because you are about to learn the greatest brownie recipe ever. This recipe will have people falling in love with you, and begging for your hand in marriage. Trust me. My husband forgot we were married for a moment, and asked me to marry him again. And then I told him it was rude to talk with a mouth full of brownies.
First, start with a good brownies mix. I like the kind that has that little packet of chocolate fudge inside to stir into the brownie mix.

This is the mix I prefer.

Follow the recipe on the box, and pour mix into a 9x13 inch pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine the following and mix well:
2 cups of powdered sugar
1 egg
1 8oz package of plain cream cheese
A splash of milk.

Once it has a very smooth consistency, add 2-3 handfuls of milk chocolate chips.
 (Or, you can over board, like me and use an entire bag)

Once the above has been mixed well, plop spoonfuls of the mixture on top of the raw brownies. Then, using a butter knife to swirl the mixture into the brownies. Keep swirling until there is a nice swirly design of chocolate and cream cheese.

Then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Now here is the hard part.
When they are done, they are going to be soooo hard to resist. But, please... whatever you do, let them sit! This is important. Let them cool completely. Okay, okay... lets be honest. No one can wait that long. So, let them cool ALMOST completely.

Cut into squares, and send me love letters.
Because this will be a staple in your "go to" recipes.
Friends will flock from miles away, kids with share their toys with you, and marriage proposals will be made.
Make these for friends, and watch your popularity grow.

I'll bet my life on it.
Enjoy!


Sunday, April 11, 2010

Easter cuteness

I realize this post is late. I dont have a good excuse for falling off the face of blogging Earth. I wish I could say last week was so super busy and eventful, and there was no way I could have blogged unless I had done so in my sleep, but again... thats not the case. Im not sure where last week went, but I still wanted to share my Easter Baskets with you.

Because they are too fabulous to NOT share (Yup, totally tooting my own horn here... )

But before I go on.. I have to admit something.
I lost my mind.


Ya, my mind is gone....


Mum cupcakes. Have you ever, in all your life seen something so insane?
What youre looking at is mini marshmallows cut diagonally, and then dipped into colored sugars. I then frosted a cupcake, and stuck the flat part of the marshmallow lightly onto the frosted cupcake, in 3 circles. I then filled the middle with mini chocolate chips.
And there you have it.
MUM CUPCAKES.
(Thats where my mind went, folks.)

As if that werent already crazy enough....


These.


Marble cake cupcakes with chocolate frosting and marshmallow mum flowers.
Pineapple cupcaked with whipped frosting and covered in green coconut and a yellow peep.
And Cookie dough cupcakes with chocolate frosting, piped creamcheese "grass" and a Reeses egg.
Also, a Rice Krispie butterfly treat, decorated in colored white chocolate,
and a cake truffle on a stick, decorated as a chick.


This is what Ive lost my mind to.

Homemade Easter baskets.

But, Im okay with that because they're really freakin cute.

And I love cuteness.