Sunday, August 22, 2010

Congo Bars


Two weeks past baby I got the urge to bake. Realizing baking should be different - no mixer & bar cookies sounded like the right idea. A quick search dug up this recipe. Super easy & good! As the little one gets older, I feel so much better with homemade goods for him - hope I can keep it up!!



Congo Bars
Source: Bakerella

Ingredients
2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter, softened
1 lb. light brown sugar (Oh my and thank you!)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
11.5 ounce package milk chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions
Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Set aside.
Stir brown sugar into softened (not melted) butter in another large bowl until butter disappears. You can use the back of your spoon to help incorporate the two together.
Add eggs one at a time to butter mixture and stir well after each egg.
Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts. Mix well.
Add dry flour mixture and stir until well combined.

Coat a 13 X 9 pan with non-stick spray and spread batter evenly into dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Make sure you don’t over bake.

Note from the recipe:
If the bars aren’t done at 30 minutes and the tops feel like they are getting too brown, then place a sheet of aluminum foil on top and bake a little longer. Use a toothpick to insert and check for doneness before removing from the oven. Also make sure you sifted the dry ingredients and used room temp butter, not melted.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

S'mores Stuffed Brownies

AHH~~ s'mores! Who doesn't love them. Friends were passing around this recipe - I had to try them. They didn't disappoint! I've already made them twice! Thanks to the Picky Palate blog for such great instructions and pictures! So easy and SO good!

S'mores Stuffed Brownies
Source: Picky Palate

Ingredients
Batch Prepared in 8×8 inch baking pan
1 box of your favorite brownie mix
4 1/2 full Graham Crackers
3 1/2 Full size Hershey’s Bars
16 large marshmallows

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Line foil into an 8×8 inch baking pan and spray generously with cooking spray. Pour half the brownie batter into lined pan. Layer graham crackers over brownies following Hershey Bars and marshmallows. Pour remaining brownie batter over marshmallows. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes mostly clean from center. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Carefully remove foil and brownies from pan. Peel any foil from away from edges and cut into squares.
12 brownies

Note: Be sure to bake long enough ~ they first time I made these I didn't bake them the full 45 minutes & they didn't set as well.