Here is a recipe from yesterday's meal ideas post. This is from Southern Living, August 2007. I have not made it yet, but it sounds pretty simple and yummy. I think you could substitute other veggies as well.
Tomato-Zucchini Tart
1 9-inch pie crust (homemade or store bought)
1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
2 tsp. olive oil
3 medium tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp pepper
Fit pie crust into 9-inch tart pan, prick bottom and sides with a fork. Bake at 450 degrees for 9 - 11 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool.
Saute zucchini in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until tender. Arrange on bottom of pit crust. Arrange tomatoes on top of zucchini. (I am going to salt and lay the tomatoes on paper towels for a few minutes to get some of the moisture out before doing this so it does not put too much water into the tart.).
Stir together the basil, cheese and mayo. Drop by spoonfuls on top of tomatoes and then gently spread. Sprinkle with pepper.
Bake at 425 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes, or until heated through and cheese melted.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
A few meal ideas.
So often I see posts about people needing meal ideas. I plan for four to five meals each week by using one of my cookbooks or magazines. I do this while making my grocery list for the week.
I write my grocery list on one side of an envelope and the meals on the other side. I do this for a few reasons: it recycles some mail; it holds any coupons I need at the grocery store and I have it all in one place for the week so I have an easy go-to for the meal ideas.
I then grab my cookbook/magazine and just start flipping through it. This week, I took one of my Southern Living annuals and went from month to month looking at the "Healthy Living" recipes (we rather over-indulged on vacation, so some healthier fare is in order this week). I write the meal idea with the page number(s) on the back of the envelope and then add any items I will need from the grocery store to make it on the other side. It is really rather simple and about as organized as I can be. I do not really stick to a certain meal for what day. Instead, I just plan to have the ingredients on hand so when it is time to cook I am prepared. I also only plan for four or five because inevitably, we will have left-overs, Grant will have a last-minute dinner meeting, the kids only want mac and cheese or the lure of kids eat free at Earth Fare gets the best of me. In reality, I do not really have to cook seven days a week.
With a holiday weekend ahead, I know I will have to hit the grocery store again as we prepare for it. I just prefer to do that later in the week.
If you need some meal ideas, here is what I came up with this week:
Grilled Salmon over a white beans. Greek salad.
Oven-fried chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli salad.
Roast beef sandwiches with horseradish cream cheese, avocado and lettuce. Sweet potato fries and cantaloup (I have concluded that I just cannot home-bake good sweet potato fries, so I buy them now. Tonight we had sweet potato tots - very yummy! And...the melon came from a road side stand on our way home Saturday for only a buck! Local and cheap.)
Grilled chicken with a zucchini and tomato tart and cornmeal biscuits.
I hope this helps! I know that sometimes I feel like I am totally blank when it comes to feeding our family. I just have to remind myself that it does not always have to be fancy and that sometimes less is more when offering the kids new foods.
Happy Cooking!
I write my grocery list on one side of an envelope and the meals on the other side. I do this for a few reasons: it recycles some mail; it holds any coupons I need at the grocery store and I have it all in one place for the week so I have an easy go-to for the meal ideas.
I then grab my cookbook/magazine and just start flipping through it. This week, I took one of my Southern Living annuals and went from month to month looking at the "Healthy Living" recipes (we rather over-indulged on vacation, so some healthier fare is in order this week). I write the meal idea with the page number(s) on the back of the envelope and then add any items I will need from the grocery store to make it on the other side. It is really rather simple and about as organized as I can be. I do not really stick to a certain meal for what day. Instead, I just plan to have the ingredients on hand so when it is time to cook I am prepared. I also only plan for four or five because inevitably, we will have left-overs, Grant will have a last-minute dinner meeting, the kids only want mac and cheese or the lure of kids eat free at Earth Fare gets the best of me. In reality, I do not really have to cook seven days a week.
With a holiday weekend ahead, I know I will have to hit the grocery store again as we prepare for it. I just prefer to do that later in the week.
If you need some meal ideas, here is what I came up with this week:
Grilled Salmon over a white beans. Greek salad.
Oven-fried chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli salad.
Roast beef sandwiches with horseradish cream cheese, avocado and lettuce. Sweet potato fries and cantaloup (I have concluded that I just cannot home-bake good sweet potato fries, so I buy them now. Tonight we had sweet potato tots - very yummy! And...the melon came from a road side stand on our way home Saturday for only a buck! Local and cheap.)
Grilled chicken with a zucchini and tomato tart and cornmeal biscuits.
I hope this helps! I know that sometimes I feel like I am totally blank when it comes to feeding our family. I just have to remind myself that it does not always have to be fancy and that sometimes less is more when offering the kids new foods.
Happy Cooking!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The Big Reunion
So, I went to my high school reunion last weekend. It was just what I expected. I cannot believe I was the least bit insecure over that one particular person. It was not an issue in the least. I will not be attending anymore reunions.
What struck me as so sad about this reunion is just how false social networking has made friendships. If you go to my Facebook page you will see I have around 275 "friends". I realized after being face-to-face with some of them last weekend is that "friend" is just not the right term for many on that list. The reality was that when suddenly facing each other, it was awkward. We only know each other for the extend we post to that site. And, for some, the exchange in person was so brief it was almost embarrassing to have been excited to see that person because it seemed we had a genuine friendship. I realized that computer keys just cannot replace personal interaction, be it face-to-face or by phone (maybe by email, but even that can be so one-sided these days). I won't be dropping Facebook as I do genuinely enjoy keeping up with a few folks that way, but I certainly will not be putting much energy into any relationships that exist solely on that site. I will instead, be sure that I am making efforts towards real friendships.
A few notes from the whole reunion experience: It was too expensive. Clicks from high school remain twenty years later. The sweet girls are still sweet. The party-ers are still party-ers. Some person brought her mom....in a hover craft. Some folks look exactly the same. For others, time has not been as kind. It was fun to see some old friends. It was fun to see who they married. I acted like I knew a few folks while I had no clue who they were. It was all I could do not to do "rabbit ears" behind that particular person during the big class photo. I was shocked to see people still smoking. With the exception of a couple, I will not see those people again in my life. We left without saying "good-bye" to anyone.
What struck me as so sad about this reunion is just how false social networking has made friendships. If you go to my Facebook page you will see I have around 275 "friends". I realized after being face-to-face with some of them last weekend is that "friend" is just not the right term for many on that list. The reality was that when suddenly facing each other, it was awkward. We only know each other for the extend we post to that site. And, for some, the exchange in person was so brief it was almost embarrassing to have been excited to see that person because it seemed we had a genuine friendship. I realized that computer keys just cannot replace personal interaction, be it face-to-face or by phone (maybe by email, but even that can be so one-sided these days). I won't be dropping Facebook as I do genuinely enjoy keeping up with a few folks that way, but I certainly will not be putting much energy into any relationships that exist solely on that site. I will instead, be sure that I am making efforts towards real friendships.
A few notes from the whole reunion experience: It was too expensive. Clicks from high school remain twenty years later. The sweet girls are still sweet. The party-ers are still party-ers. Some person brought her mom....in a hover craft. Some folks look exactly the same. For others, time has not been as kind. It was fun to see some old friends. It was fun to see who they married. I acted like I knew a few folks while I had no clue who they were. It was all I could do not to do "rabbit ears" behind that particular person during the big class photo. I was shocked to see people still smoking. With the exception of a couple, I will not see those people again in my life. We left without saying "good-bye" to anyone.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Am I 38 or 18???
Do you have someone in your life, your past, that the mere mention of them makes you insecure and uncomfortable? I do. It's someone I have known for years and years. We were friends at one point, and then something high school-like happened and we weren't. After college, a weird set of circumstances had us indirectly involved in each others lives. I can look back now and see how immature we all were and how very un-Christ-like the whole situation was.
I am thankful for that whole experience. I learned so much about myself and it was the tipping point for me to see I needed to make some serious changes to my behavior. It started my seeking of Christ. What was hurtful about the whole situation is I lost a friend and was being judged as a person I truly am not. It makes my heart race to know someone out there thinks I am a different person than I actually am.
Fast forward thirteen years...I will be face to face with this person this weekend at our high school reunion. I was feeling great about this whole reunion business. I can walk in with my head held high. After twenty years, I have a beautiful, God-filled life. However, for a few of those twenty years, that was not the case. Unfortunately, this person only knows me for those years. So, I find myself so insecure walking in now. It's not an insecurity of how I look or what I have. It's an insecurity that comes from feeling like I am thought to be someone I really am not. I feel like my character took a major hit all those years ago and it still lingers.
I am sure I am putting far more thought into this than the other person. A dear friend of mine, who was part of the whole situation, just reminded me that she is probably feeling equally as insecure and awkward as I am. I wonder if she is right?
Should make for an interesting Reunion, huh!?
I am thankful for that whole experience. I learned so much about myself and it was the tipping point for me to see I needed to make some serious changes to my behavior. It started my seeking of Christ. What was hurtful about the whole situation is I lost a friend and was being judged as a person I truly am not. It makes my heart race to know someone out there thinks I am a different person than I actually am.
Fast forward thirteen years...I will be face to face with this person this weekend at our high school reunion. I was feeling great about this whole reunion business. I can walk in with my head held high. After twenty years, I have a beautiful, God-filled life. However, for a few of those twenty years, that was not the case. Unfortunately, this person only knows me for those years. So, I find myself so insecure walking in now. It's not an insecurity of how I look or what I have. It's an insecurity that comes from feeling like I am thought to be someone I really am not. I feel like my character took a major hit all those years ago and it still lingers.
I am sure I am putting far more thought into this than the other person. A dear friend of mine, who was part of the whole situation, just reminded me that she is probably feeling equally as insecure and awkward as I am. I wonder if she is right?
Should make for an interesting Reunion, huh!?
Monday, June 6, 2011
Vanity must be of the devil.
Vanity. Just the word makes me cringe a little. I would love to say that I am in no way a vain person, but I have realized I am fooling myself in thinking so. For those who know me personally, I think vanity is one of the last words they would use to describe me. I am rarely concerned with putting on make-up and could easily have lip balm and mascara as my only cosmetics. I dress more for form than function, though I do try to look "cute". The only time I really dress to impress is for date's with my husband. I dress for him and doll myself up in a special way just for him.
But, lately, I find myself quite focused on my body. I suddenly find myself thinking I should have my 18 year old body...the body that was still in the middle of puberty, had not yet bore a child, whose metabolism was ridiculously good, the body that had few responsibilities and ample time to exercise. The body that was somehow always tan, toned and perky where it needed to be.
Twenty years later this body has survived quite a bit, it had back surgery, carried and birthed two children, breastfed those two children, carried around those same kids, and is still recovering from a hysterectomy only a few months ago. It survives regular exercise. This body is in pretty good shape. Yet, I suddenly feel inadequate in it. Why???
In reality, my metabolism is actually pretty good. I am now back in the gym post-surgery and perform much of what I used to. I only weigh a few pounds more than my 18 year old body, and wear the same size. Yet, I seem to focus on the fluffy and droopy parts that were not fluffy or droopy twenty years ago. Why???
I find myself in the gym thinking I should look as tone and tight as the woman who is in there every (and I mean every!) time I get there and still at it when I leave. I sit around the pool and wonder how that woman has such flat abs, or that one has such perky boobs (and honestly, I know why some of them are so perky...it's called a good surgeon). I suddenly find myself reaching for my cover-up, or dipping deeper into the water because if I am over here checking out their tone bodies, they are surely looking at me thinking they should slip me their trainer or surgeon's phone number. Why???
I am ashamed to tell you why. I have let myself buy into what the world thinks is healthy and pretty for a woman's body. I have bought into the world's idea that we should all have a tone and tight celebrity body after having children. Years ago Sarah Jessica Parker was interviewed after having her twins. She looked very thin and toned. She was asked about how she got into shape so quickly. I loved her answer that she was in shape because her job demanded her to be in shape, so after having her babies she hired a nanny and a trainer.
My job is not to be in shape, or even look good in a bathing suit. My job is take care of this body so it is best able to take care of our family. My job is to honor the body the Lord gave me.
My job is to look to the Lord for the definition of beauty. Upon a quick review I cannot seem to find "tone, "tight", "flat abs" or "perky boobs" anywhere in the Bible. I take that to mean the Lord just does not find any of that important to the beauty of the women He creates. Instead, I find the words: "inner self"; "gentle and quiet spirit"; "submissive"; "clothed with strength and dignity". The Lord even says that "beauty is fleeting". To the Lord, beauty is all about our heart. And, if you asked my husband, he would rather my heart be beautiful in God's way, than for me to feel inadequate because my outside is a little saggy.
So today, I pray that I will stop trying to compare my outward beauty to what the world says it should be. I pray I will take what the Lord finds beautiful and let that be what I work out.
With this, if you see me at the pool or at our reunion in a couple of weeks, just ignore these poor droopy boobs and little belly. Know that those both came as a result of the two children splashing next to me (and the fact, that as much as I love to cook, I love to eat what I make). I would not trade those two for my 18 year old body on any day.
But, lately, I find myself quite focused on my body. I suddenly find myself thinking I should have my 18 year old body...the body that was still in the middle of puberty, had not yet bore a child, whose metabolism was ridiculously good, the body that had few responsibilities and ample time to exercise. The body that was somehow always tan, toned and perky where it needed to be.
Twenty years later this body has survived quite a bit, it had back surgery, carried and birthed two children, breastfed those two children, carried around those same kids, and is still recovering from a hysterectomy only a few months ago. It survives regular exercise. This body is in pretty good shape. Yet, I suddenly feel inadequate in it. Why???
In reality, my metabolism is actually pretty good. I am now back in the gym post-surgery and perform much of what I used to. I only weigh a few pounds more than my 18 year old body, and wear the same size. Yet, I seem to focus on the fluffy and droopy parts that were not fluffy or droopy twenty years ago. Why???
I find myself in the gym thinking I should look as tone and tight as the woman who is in there every (and I mean every!) time I get there and still at it when I leave. I sit around the pool and wonder how that woman has such flat abs, or that one has such perky boobs (and honestly, I know why some of them are so perky...it's called a good surgeon). I suddenly find myself reaching for my cover-up, or dipping deeper into the water because if I am over here checking out their tone bodies, they are surely looking at me thinking they should slip me their trainer or surgeon's phone number. Why???
I am ashamed to tell you why. I have let myself buy into what the world thinks is healthy and pretty for a woman's body. I have bought into the world's idea that we should all have a tone and tight celebrity body after having children. Years ago Sarah Jessica Parker was interviewed after having her twins. She looked very thin and toned. She was asked about how she got into shape so quickly. I loved her answer that she was in shape because her job demanded her to be in shape, so after having her babies she hired a nanny and a trainer.
My job is not to be in shape, or even look good in a bathing suit. My job is take care of this body so it is best able to take care of our family. My job is to honor the body the Lord gave me.
My job is to look to the Lord for the definition of beauty. Upon a quick review I cannot seem to find "tone, "tight", "flat abs" or "perky boobs" anywhere in the Bible. I take that to mean the Lord just does not find any of that important to the beauty of the women He creates. Instead, I find the words: "inner self"; "gentle and quiet spirit"; "submissive"; "clothed with strength and dignity". The Lord even says that "beauty is fleeting". To the Lord, beauty is all about our heart. And, if you asked my husband, he would rather my heart be beautiful in God's way, than for me to feel inadequate because my outside is a little saggy.
So today, I pray that I will stop trying to compare my outward beauty to what the world says it should be. I pray I will take what the Lord finds beautiful and let that be what I work out.
With this, if you see me at the pool or at our reunion in a couple of weeks, just ignore these poor droopy boobs and little belly. Know that those both came as a result of the two children splashing next to me (and the fact, that as much as I love to cook, I love to eat what I make). I would not trade those two for my 18 year old body on any day.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
When Prayers are answered...I think we should share.
On my very first blog I wrote about the conviction we felt about our finances and expanding our family through adoption. I told you about how we prayed over two jars: one was in our car we decided to sell; the other with our cut-up credit cards.
I think often we ask for prayer from others, but then fail to share the praise when the prayer is answered. With that, I want to share about one of our answered prayers. I do not share so we can take credit for what has happened, but fully so the Lord gets the praise and glory for blessing us.
Sometimes we take prayer as a way to give the Lord our "wish list" for the things we want. I am striving (with some success and some absolute failure) to let my prayers to the Lord be honest, heart-felt and about far more than "stuff" but instead about changing my heart to be more like His; to lift up others; and to help me focus on His way of providing blessings. When my prayers focus on the shiny, new "something", they just become about wanting something from this world; short-changing the glorious plans the Lord has.
Last weekend the Lord took care of one of our jars. We prayed over the jar in the front seat of the car as we made the final decision to sell it. We prayed for the Lord to not just sell it, but to please over-flow the jar. We had honest wants for the over-flow and included that in our prayer to the Lord. (You have to be honest with your prayers anyway because He already knows what is in your heart.) After that, we made some effort to sell it with a false sense that poof! the Lord was just going to send someone to buy it. So, after a few days, we put it on Auto Trader. I think even then we thought ten minutes after posting it that a seller was going to be calling.
I found myself a couple of days later feeling very disappointed because not a single person had an interest in our car posting. I had a great pity party about poor me driving the old wagon while the nicer, newer SUV sat unwanted. Oh, and let me pat myself on the back for a moment or two while driving the wagon because I am so righteous to have made such a choice. HA! I am sure the Lord was just shaking His head at my heart that day in particular.
Fast forward a couple more days...thankfully, my heart had softened back to the reality of what the Lord wanted and just why we had committed to selling the SUV. I actually left town for a couple of days with no real thought to the fact that someone may just call about the car posting.
Long story short, all of a sudden I had an inbox full of emails with interest in the car, most wondering why I had not returned their phone call with hopes the car was not already sold. It was so encouraging! In the end, a very nice couple drove three hours from Georgia to look at our car. Upon test driving it (with our jar obviously in the front seat cup holder), we came inside to negotiate the sale.
I tell you this next part not to glorify "us" or boost about what "great Christians" we are, but to encourage you to never be shy about your faith. I personally struggle with that sometimes not wanting to offend someone, make them uncomfortable, etc. but I am learning (slowly some days) that by using those excuses I am really just denying Jesus at the very times He wants me to be sharing Him the most.
The couple started the negotiations with a comment about realizing that Grant and I are a "nice Christian couple". A comment like that makes my heart skip a bit because I pray that when I meet new people that the Lord's shine will be upon me...that my words and actions make me a Christian, not my actually having to tell someone I am. This lead to a question about the jar in the car. I could not tell them the story fast enough. I loved that I had a chance to share with them an example of our faith in Christ to sell that car.
And, here, were our buyers. A week after posting it on Auto Trader and here sit two people from a very small town in Georgia ready and willing to buy our car. We knew then our jar was filled. The couple paid more for the car than they had originally planned. They told us directly that our faith is what encouraged them to do so. I can tell you that the Lord did not only fill that jar, but allowed it to overflow.
I encourage you...if you have some jars that need to be prayed over, do it tonight. Let the Lord show you just how He blesses those who find their faith in Him. While I am certainly thankful for the Lord selling our car and blessing us with a little extra, I am most, most thankful that we were able to just let Him handle it. I am so thankful that when my sinful self was not so sure I really wanted to sell that car He intervened in my heart to see His path. (I should add that this came through my dear husband's words and patience as I had a complete breakdown over it just hours before the couple was to arrive.)
Know that your example may well impact the most vulnerable little hearts around. If you have a children, such acts are being watched by them. We were very open with our kids about the jars and selling the car. Days after selling the car, our daughter asked me about the jar because she wanted to see just how much money God put in it. It was such a great opportunity to talk with her about the heart of God and how He had not just blessed our family with that one thing, but does it every day in both big and small ways.
I pray you see Him through such eyes too.
I think often we ask for prayer from others, but then fail to share the praise when the prayer is answered. With that, I want to share about one of our answered prayers. I do not share so we can take credit for what has happened, but fully so the Lord gets the praise and glory for blessing us.
Sometimes we take prayer as a way to give the Lord our "wish list" for the things we want. I am striving (with some success and some absolute failure) to let my prayers to the Lord be honest, heart-felt and about far more than "stuff" but instead about changing my heart to be more like His; to lift up others; and to help me focus on His way of providing blessings. When my prayers focus on the shiny, new "something", they just become about wanting something from this world; short-changing the glorious plans the Lord has.
Last weekend the Lord took care of one of our jars. We prayed over the jar in the front seat of the car as we made the final decision to sell it. We prayed for the Lord to not just sell it, but to please over-flow the jar. We had honest wants for the over-flow and included that in our prayer to the Lord. (You have to be honest with your prayers anyway because He already knows what is in your heart.) After that, we made some effort to sell it with a false sense that poof! the Lord was just going to send someone to buy it. So, after a few days, we put it on Auto Trader. I think even then we thought ten minutes after posting it that a seller was going to be calling.
I found myself a couple of days later feeling very disappointed because not a single person had an interest in our car posting. I had a great pity party about poor me driving the old wagon while the nicer, newer SUV sat unwanted. Oh, and let me pat myself on the back for a moment or two while driving the wagon because I am so righteous to have made such a choice. HA! I am sure the Lord was just shaking His head at my heart that day in particular.
Fast forward a couple more days...thankfully, my heart had softened back to the reality of what the Lord wanted and just why we had committed to selling the SUV. I actually left town for a couple of days with no real thought to the fact that someone may just call about the car posting.
Long story short, all of a sudden I had an inbox full of emails with interest in the car, most wondering why I had not returned their phone call with hopes the car was not already sold. It was so encouraging! In the end, a very nice couple drove three hours from Georgia to look at our car. Upon test driving it (with our jar obviously in the front seat cup holder), we came inside to negotiate the sale.
I tell you this next part not to glorify "us" or boost about what "great Christians" we are, but to encourage you to never be shy about your faith. I personally struggle with that sometimes not wanting to offend someone, make them uncomfortable, etc. but I am learning (slowly some days) that by using those excuses I am really just denying Jesus at the very times He wants me to be sharing Him the most.
The couple started the negotiations with a comment about realizing that Grant and I are a "nice Christian couple". A comment like that makes my heart skip a bit because I pray that when I meet new people that the Lord's shine will be upon me...that my words and actions make me a Christian, not my actually having to tell someone I am. This lead to a question about the jar in the car. I could not tell them the story fast enough. I loved that I had a chance to share with them an example of our faith in Christ to sell that car.
And, here, were our buyers. A week after posting it on Auto Trader and here sit two people from a very small town in Georgia ready and willing to buy our car. We knew then our jar was filled. The couple paid more for the car than they had originally planned. They told us directly that our faith is what encouraged them to do so. I can tell you that the Lord did not only fill that jar, but allowed it to overflow.
I encourage you...if you have some jars that need to be prayed over, do it tonight. Let the Lord show you just how He blesses those who find their faith in Him. While I am certainly thankful for the Lord selling our car and blessing us with a little extra, I am most, most thankful that we were able to just let Him handle it. I am so thankful that when my sinful self was not so sure I really wanted to sell that car He intervened in my heart to see His path. (I should add that this came through my dear husband's words and patience as I had a complete breakdown over it just hours before the couple was to arrive.)
Know that your example may well impact the most vulnerable little hearts around. If you have a children, such acts are being watched by them. We were very open with our kids about the jars and selling the car. Days after selling the car, our daughter asked me about the jar because she wanted to see just how much money God put in it. It was such a great opportunity to talk with her about the heart of God and how He had not just blessed our family with that one thing, but does it every day in both big and small ways.
I pray you see Him through such eyes too.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Sweet Treat Friday
Happy Friday! To cut back on baking (and to attempt to curb my sweet tooth) I now only bake on Friday afternoons. I make something yummy for us to enjoy through the weekend. Because I have cut back so much, I do not feel guilty for using whole, pure ingredients. I do not try to cut back the sugar or substitute the flour for whole wheat, or even sneak something healthy, like flax seed, into the weekend treat. Instead, I let it be pure yumminess!
This weekend's sweet treat is...Fudge-y Marshmallow-y Chocolatey Brownies. They are still cooling, but I am just about positive these treats are going to be pretty stinkin' good!
Brownies
7 ounces chocolate chips (I had a mix of milk, bitter and semi-sweet)
8 ounces unsalted butter, cut into four peices
3 Tbs cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
25 large marshmallows
Chocolate Topping (make this while the brownies are baking)
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbs light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk (I prefer whole)
1 Tbs unsalted butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 x 8 baking dish.
Put the chocolate chips in a medium microwave safe bowl. Heat for 45 seconds in microwave. Stir and add butter pieces. Heat for 45 seconds. Stir. Repeat this until it is all melted together and smooth. (This can also be done in a double-broiler, but I think the microwave works just as well.) Stir in the cocoa powder until smooth. Set aside.
Whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt until well combined. Whisk in the chocolate mixture until well combined. With a wooden spoon, stir in the flour until just combined. Pour into greased baking dish, smoothing out the top.
Bake 35 - 40 minutes, until slightly risen and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and immediately top with the marshmallows. Place back in over for one minute (heat turned off). Then, top with the chocolate topping. Allow to cool completely before slicing (this will take a while - at least two hours).
To make the chocolate topping: Combine all ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly. Allow to come to a boil. Cook until the mixture reaches 235 - 240 degrees (soft ball stage on a candy thermometer). Remove from heat, and put into separate bowl so it can cool a bit before topping the marshmallows. It is okay if it is still pretty warm, though, as it will slightly melt the marshmallows, and harden as it cools.
Enjoy!
This weekend's sweet treat is...Fudge-y Marshmallow-y Chocolatey Brownies. They are still cooling, but I am just about positive these treats are going to be pretty stinkin' good!
Brownies
7 ounces chocolate chips (I had a mix of milk, bitter and semi-sweet)
8 ounces unsalted butter, cut into four peices
3 Tbs cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
25 large marshmallows
Chocolate Topping (make this while the brownies are baking)
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbs light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk (I prefer whole)
1 Tbs unsalted butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 x 8 baking dish.
Put the chocolate chips in a medium microwave safe bowl. Heat for 45 seconds in microwave. Stir and add butter pieces. Heat for 45 seconds. Stir. Repeat this until it is all melted together and smooth. (This can also be done in a double-broiler, but I think the microwave works just as well.) Stir in the cocoa powder until smooth. Set aside.
Whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt until well combined. Whisk in the chocolate mixture until well combined. With a wooden spoon, stir in the flour until just combined. Pour into greased baking dish, smoothing out the top.
Bake 35 - 40 minutes, until slightly risen and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and immediately top with the marshmallows. Place back in over for one minute (heat turned off). Then, top with the chocolate topping. Allow to cool completely before slicing (this will take a while - at least two hours).
To make the chocolate topping: Combine all ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly. Allow to come to a boil. Cook until the mixture reaches 235 - 240 degrees (soft ball stage on a candy thermometer). Remove from heat, and put into separate bowl so it can cool a bit before topping the marshmallows. It is okay if it is still pretty warm, though, as it will slightly melt the marshmallows, and harden as it cools.
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)