Thin Mint Mississippi Mud Brownies

prep time: 2 minutes

cook time: 30 minutes

yield: 12 servings

serving size: 1 brownie

thin mint flavor in the form of mississippi mud brownies. 

ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix
• measurement for oil for the brownies, but instead use the equivalent of melted butter
• 1 package andes mints pieces (found by the chocolate chips)
• 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
chocolate frosting
• 3/4 cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup of cocoa powder
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons milk (or more if needed)

instructions

1. mix the brownie mix according to instructions but use melted butter instead of oil. place in a 9x13" baking pan. bake according to directions, removing from the oven 5 minutes prior to being done.
2. top with andes mints and marshmallows and place back in the oven for an additional 3-5 minutes. remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
for the frosting
3. place the butter in a bowl and using a mixer or hand mixer, beat until smooth. add the powdered sugar, cocoa, salt and vanilla and slowly begin mixing, adding 1 tablespoon of milk as needed. frost the brownies and serve immediately or wrap with foil to be served later.

Tasty Green Smoothie

Lovin' this green smoothie! 

Lasagna Roll Ups

The whole family gobbled these up. So yummy! I cut it in half and it filled a 9x13 pan.

• 20 whole Lasagna Noodles
•  Sauce:
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1-1/2 pound Ground Beef
• 1/2 pound Italian Sausage
• 28 ounces, weight Canned Diced Tomatoes
• 8 ounces, weight Tomato Paste
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 3 Tablespoons Minced Fresh Parsley
• 3 Tablespoons Minced Fresh Basil
•  Filling
• 30 ounces, weight Ricotta Cheese
• 2 whole Eggs
• 3/4 cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Parsley, Minced
• 1 Tablespoon Basil, Minced
• 1 pound Mozzarella, Grated

Preparation Instructions

Boil lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain and lay flat on a sheet of foil.

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the ground beef and sausage and stir it around, cooking it until totally browned. Drain excess fat, then add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Make the filling by combining ricotta, eggs, Parmesan, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil. Stir to combine. 

To assemble, spoon a little sauce into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan OR smaller disposable foil loaf pans. Spread 2-3 tablespoons ricotta filling on each noodle, then roll them up. Lay them sideways in the pans (4 will fit in the loaf pans, or you can fill a 9 x 13 inch pan with the rollups.) Top with remaining sauce, plenty of grated mozzarella, and grated Parmesan.

If baking immediately, bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

If baking from a frozen state, bake, covered in foil, at 350 for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for 15 minutes, or until lasagna is done.

Recipe from Pioneer Woman

Chocolate and Coconut Cream Pie Bars

These are totally heavenly!

YIELD: MAKES 16 BARS

Note: To toast the coconut, place it in a single layer in a nonstick skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until it browns evenly. Watch closely so it doesn't burn. I've also halved this recipe with great success - use a 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan. Because many of the steps can be prepared ahead of time and/or need to be coordinated, read through the recipe before starting. Also, these bars can be made up to a day in advance - if doing so, I recommend not topping them with the whipped cream until you are ready to serve (whipped cream that hasn't been stabilized by gelatin, which I chose not to do here, has a tendency to weep and give off liquid if refrigerated over an hour or so).

INGREDIENTS

Crust Ingredients:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cut into 10-12 pieces
Ganache Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 6 ounces (about 1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips
Coconut Cream Filling Ingredients:
• 3 cups half-and-half
• 3 cups coconut milk
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup sweetened, flaked coconut
Whipped Cream Topping Ingredients:
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 3-4 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut, toasted (see note above)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9X13-inch baking dish with foil or parchment paper, leaving a 2-3 inch overhang on both of the long sides to help remove the bars after baking.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour and powdered sugar. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender, two knives or using a food processor for this entire step. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 16-18 minutes until the crust is light brown. Cool on a wire rack.
3. While the shortbread is baking, place the chocolate for the ganache (1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips) in a medium bowl. Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan (or microwave it for a 30 seconds or so). Once the cream reaches a simmer, pour the cream over the chocolate and let the mixture stand for 1-2 minutes. Stir completely until a shiny, smooth ganache forms. Once the crust has cooled fora bout 10 minutes, pour the ganache over the bottom of the crust and smooth to the edges. Place the chocolate covered crust in the fridge to chill until the ganache is set into a firm layer and the crust is cooled completely.
4. While the crust is chilling, make the coconut cream filling by combining the half-and-half, coconut milk, eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly until it is very thick like warm pudding. Alternately (and I've actually done it this way for the coconut cream pie with great results), you can combine all those same ingredients in a large microwave-safe bowl and cook for one-minute increments, stirring well after each minute. It will take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to thicken in the microwave. I always strain my custard/pudding mixures through a fine-mesh strainer into another bowl. That is optional but it helps get rid of any little bits of cooked egg. Once the mixture thickens and after it has been strained (if you choose to do so), stir in the coconut and vanilla extracts and untoasted coconut. Pour the filling over the chilled ganache and refrigerate the bars until they are firm and set up, about 4 hours.
5. For the whipped topping, combine the heavy cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl and blend on medium-high speed with a handheld electric mixer until soft peaks form and the cream is thick and stabilized. Spread the cream over the chilled bars and sprinkle on the toasted coconut. Chill until ready to serve. Use the foil or parchment overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into pieces and serve.

Recipe adapted by Mel's Kitchen from Willow Bird Baking

Salted Nut Roll Bites

I love that these have honey and not a bunch of sugar.

 

makes about 30 "bites"

Ingredients

• ½ cup peanut butter
• ½ cup honey
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 cup nonfat dry milk
• 2 cups Honey Roasted Peanuts, finely chopped and divided
• about 30 mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl combine peanut butter, honey, vanilla, dry milk and 1 cup of chopped peanuts. Stir until combined.
2. Portion out about one tablespoon of mixture, flatten and wrap it around a mini marshmallow.
3. Roll in remaining chopped nuts.
4. Repeat until all the mixture is used.

Salisbury Steak with Gravy

This is a perfect comfort meal for a cold winter night!

2 - pounds ground beef

1 - package Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix or Store Brand

1/2 - cup cracker crumbs

1 - egg

2 - packets (0.75 oz) brown gravy mix

+ the required amount of water stated on the gravy packet.

1 - cup sour cream

1 - small can mushroom stems, optional

egg noodles, rice or mashed potatoes

Make hamburger patties using ground beef, bread or cracker crumbs, egg and soup mix. Fry or grill until patties are browned on both sides. 

While the hamburgers are cooking in a bowl mix together the dry gravy mix, water and sour cream. Mix to combine. Spray. a 9 x 13 pan with nonstick and lay cooked patties in the pan.

Cover the patties with the sour cream and gravy mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees covered for 30 - 40 minutes, turning patties halfway through. Serve with egg noodles, rice or mashed potatoes.

Kung pao chicken (with noodles)

• 2 medium zucchini
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 6 oz skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ground ginger
• 2 tbsp crushed dry roasted peanut

For the sauce:

• 1 1/2 tbsp reduced soy sauce (tamari for gluten free)
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp hoisin sauce
• 2 1/2 tbsp water
• 1/2 tbsp Sambal Oelek Red Chili Paste (or more to taste) I substituted with Sriracha hot chili sauce 
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp cornstarch

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, balsamic, hoisin, water, red chili paste, sugar and cornstarch; set aside.

Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Heat oil in a large, deep nonstick pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.

Reduce heat to medium, add sesame oil, garlic and ginger to the skillet and cook until fragrant, about  30 seconds. Add the bell pepper, stir in soy sauce mixture and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until thickened and bubbling, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in zucchini noodles and cook, mixing for about two minutes until just tender and mixed with the sauce. If it seems dry, don't worry the zucchini will release moisture which helps create a sauce. Once cooked, mix in chicken and top with peanuts. 

I added a little chicken broth to mix and put it over angel hair pasta.