Mint Oreo Brownies

I was searching Pinterest (Are you following my pins?) last week for a fun dessert recipe. Somehow I stumbled upon a great one. Today I finally made this yummy recipe. It was so easy and turned out wonderfully. I followed the directions and only had to bake a little longer. Otherwise everything was perfect. These brownies are delicious, especially if you love the chocolate mint combo.

Here is the recipe as found on Averie Cooks.com:

Fudgy Mint Chocolate Brookies

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted

1 egg

1 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons brewed coffee (enhances chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup flour

25 mint Oreos, quartered, divided (save 5 for the top)

Directions: 

1. Preheat the over to 350. Line a 8x8 pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Melt butter in bowl.

3. Let butter cool for a few minutes, then add egg, brown sugar, coffee, vanilla, peppermint extract (Do not add too much!) and whisk until smooth.

4. Whisk in cocoa powder until smooth.

5. Add flour and stir until just combined. Don't overmix.

6. Quarter 20 Oreos with a sharp knife and stir into batter. (Save 5 for top.)

7. Turn batter into pan and smooth top.

8. Quarter the remaining 5 Oreos and place evenly on top of batter.

9. Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until done. (This took me about 5 more minutes in my oven.) A toothpick will come out mostly clean when done.

10. Let brownies cool, cut, and eat. Yum!

Yield: 9-12 pieces, depending on how big you want your brownies

Gorton's Wicked Good Seafood - Fish BLT Sandwich Recipe

Disclaimer: I received this product for review. All opinions are my own.

How does your family feel about fish? Mine likes it quite a bit. Fish is not something that my mom made a lot of when I was growing up. I never really developed a taste for it. I think the most I'd do was eat the frozen fish sticks. As I got older I started trying more fish and other seafood. I found that I really do like it. I am still bad about cooking it for my family enough, but we all do like fish.

I recently participated in a campaign for Gorton's Wicked Good Seafood. We got to try a few different varieties of the frozen fish products that they make. One of my favorites is the Lemon Herb Fish Fillets. So tasty and easy to make. We also were able to try the new Fish Sandwich Fillets. 

I looked at Gorton's website for recipes to inspire me. Not only do they have recipes, but you can also download coupons and explore their other great products. When I found the recipe for a Fish BLT Sandwich, I knew we had to try it. My boys love bacon. I knew this recipe was a winner for us. The Fish BLTs were very quick and easy to make. I served them along with a salad for dinner and everyone was pleased. My son enjoyed it and so did my husband and I. If you're looking for a great way to change up a fish meal for your family, you should give this recipe a try.

Fish Sandwich BLT

INGREDIENTS:
4 Gorton's Fish Sandwich Fillets
4 Hamburger Buns
8 Slices Bacon
Lettuce
Tomato

DIRECTIONS:
1. Prepare four Gorton's Fish Sandwich Fillets according to package instructions.
2. Meanwhile, prepare 8 slices og bacon according to package instructions.
3. Place Gorton's Fish Sandwich Fillet on hamburger bun and top with two slices of cooked bacon. Add lettuce and tomato and enjoy!

We added tartar sauce on the bun and served with a salad. Perfect!

Connect with Gorton's on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest too. 

Gorton's Seafood #Giveaway

Seafood in your kitchen...even if you don't live near an ocean. That's something we often miss out on in Ohio...fresh seafood. And that could be one of the big reasons that we enjoy vacationing near the ocean when we can. Gorton's makes some great seafood products that bring a little taste of that to your home.

The product: Gorton's is promoting a new "Eat Seafood Twice a Week" campaign. This recommendation comes from many health organizations, and Gorton's wants to encourage your family to partake. You can read more about the health benefits of seafood for yourself.

You can easily find a way to get seafood into your family's meal rotation by seeing all the tasty recipes on Gorton's Recipe Gallery. You can find things like appetizers of fish stick lettuce to family favorites, like marinara topped crunchy fillets. The possibilities are endless when you look at the wide range of seafood products from Gorton's, including 20 products that are 200 calories or less.

What we thought: I was really looking forward to trying Gorton's Grilled Seafood Roasted Garlic & Butter Grilled Tilapia. Unfortunately I couldn't find it at the local grocery store I went to. (I'm going to keep looking around for it, because I really want to try it.) Instead we got our stand-by favorite Gorton's Crispy Battered Fish Fillets. I don't do anything fancy with these. We just bake them and serve them with a side of tartar sauce and some vegetables. Yum! It's something that my whole family enjoys.

Where to buy: You can find Gorton's Seafood in your local grocery stores.

Prize: Gorton's is offering 3 of my readers a $2.00 coupon plus a limited-edition Gorton's Seafood plate remind you to Eat Seafood Twice a Week.

Giveaway: This giveaway is open until 12:01am EST on 12/22. It is open to US residents only. Please enter in the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*I received this product for review. All opinions are my own.*

Taco Leftover Dip Recipe

This is so simple and easy. It's also a great way to use leftover taco toppings. Yummy!

Creating Your Own 'Fika' (Swedish Coffee Break) with Gevalia Kaffe

Scandinavian trends are all the rage, from IKEA to Scandinavian sweater prints set to hit stores this fall, to the success of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, we’re beginning to see this trend trickle from design, to fashion and even food.

Another Swedish trend coming to the U.S… Fika, a Swedish social institution that allows Swedes to take true coffee breaks throughout the day (not just grabbing a coffee to go and drinking it at their desk). Swedes actually slow down, sit and savor a rich cup of coffee, a sweet snack and the company of friends, twice a day, every day.  Gevalia Kaffe, a Swedish heritage coffee new to U.S. retail stores, is the preferred brand in Sweden and an official coffee of the Swedish Royal Court (see more info below).

How do you master the art of creating your own fika stateside? Here are some tips:

·         Silence the cell phone, set the timer for 15 minutes and take a break with a friend

·         Choose the right brew, like a delicious cup of Gevalia Kaffe (see more below), a Swedish heritage coffee now available in retail stores nationwide

·         Do what the Swedes do and bake a simple decadent dessert like Kanelbullar (Swedish Cinnamon Buns) or even something as simple as a Pepparakakor (Swedish Ginger Snaps) – if you’re not up to baking, any sweet treat will do!

·         If you want to go all out, decorate your space with a nice place setting, use Swedish-designed mugs and label the desserts in Swedish making it feel authentic and festive

The product: A new speciality coffee has arrived from Kraft Foods - Genalia. Hve you tried it yet? They have many varieties for your enjoyment. It will make having a cup of coffee a little more enjoyable. Here's a little more about it:

What sets Gevalia apart from other premium coffees? 

·         For more than 150 years, the Swedes have been perfecting Gevalia coffee.  Gevalia roasts its beans with care and the result is an exceptional taste, cup after cup.
·         In Sweden, where the citizens drink more coffee than almost anywhere else in the world, Gevalia is their preferred brand.
·         Previously available online only, Gevalia is available for the first time in select stores in 10 premium varieties:
o   Traditional Roast, Traditional Roast Whole Bean, House Blend, House Blend Decaf, French Roast, French Roast Whole Bean, Colombia, Espresso Roast, Vanilla and Chocolate Mocha.

What we thought:

Read more »

Super Bowl Snacks

Will you be watching the Super Bowl this Sunday? This year will be Giants vs. Patriots. We're cheering for the Giants here, since none of our favorite teams made it this year.

A big part of the Super Bowl is the food. I've heard before that the Super Bowl is the 2nd largest food consumption day in the US, second only to Thanksgiving. Football and food go hand in hand...especially when it comes to the Super Bowl.

What will you do for the Super Bowl this year? We sometimes stay home and host a party here. We've celebrated the Super Bowl different ways before. We have stayed home, we've hosted parties, we've gone to parties at friends houses, and years ago we used to get together with my family (who are big football fans). No matter what we do it's always a blast. Whether you watch for the game or the commercials, the Super Bowl is always entertaining.

What kind of foods do you like for watching the Super Bowl? We've done a little of everything. Appetizers, potluck with friends, chili, ordered pizza, subs and more. My favorite would probably be preparing appetizers. This was it's easy for everyone to grab little bites of food when they are hungry. You can have a big plate or just keep going back to the kitchen for more all night. And small, easy to eat appetizers are great so you never have to take your eyes off the game.

This year we decided just to stay home. Since having a kid we're never able to do anything past halftime of the Super Bowl anyway. He always needs to go to bed, and he will especially this year since he has school in the morning. Actually his normal bedtime (school nights) is just after kickoff. We'll see how he does (maybe he'll take a nap Sunday), and he'll probably get to stay up a little later than normal. But I'm not letting him stay up to watch the whole game.

Just because we're the only ones watching the game, doesn't mean that we can have good snacks. I have prepared a little menu that has a little of everything. And I thought of things that I already had on hand to use. This made buying extras a little easier and cheaper too. Here's what I'm serving on Sunday- Bourbon Dogs, Western Potato Rounds, Homemade Soft Pretzels, and Knock-You-Naked Brownies. And you can find all these recipes below...in case you need some Super Bowl inspiration or they just sound good.

Enjoy! And whatever you do for the Super Bowl, have fun and be safe!! Enjoy the game too!

Bourbon Dogs

from Cooks.com

1 lb. cocktail hot dogs

3/4 c. bourbon

1/2 c. ketchup

1/2 c. brown sugar

Mix bourbon, ketchup and sugar. Add hot dogs. Simmer for 1 hour. Serve hot.

Western Potato Rounds

from Pampered Chef

2 large unpeeled baking potatoes (about 1 1/4 lb)

Vegetable oil (or cooking spray)

1 c. shredded co-jack cheese

6 bacon slices, crisply cooked, drained & crumbled

1/3 c. green onion slices

1/4 c. barbecue sauce

Preheat oven to 450. Cut potatoes into 1/4-inch slices. Spray both sides of potato slices generously with oil and place on baking stone/pan. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned; remove from oven. Combine cheese, bacon & green onion. Using a pastry brush, brush potato slices with barbecue sauce; sprinkle with cheese mixture. Return potato slices to oven. Bake 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes about 24 slices.

Homemade Soft Pretzels 
from FoodNetwork.com (Alton Brown) 


1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 package active dry yeast
22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for pan
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Pretzel salt

Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.

Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.

In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

 *I like to serve with a little butter brushed on and cinnamon and sugar on top. Or plain and dipped in cheese sauce.



Knock-You-Naked Brownies
from FoodNetwork.com (Pioneer Woman) 

1 stick butter, melted, plus more for greasing
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1/3 plus 1/2 cup evaporated milk
One 18.5-ounce box German chocolate cake mix (I use Duncan Hines)
1 cup finely chopped pecans
60 caramels, unwrapped
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-by-9-inch baking pan.

Begin by pouring 1/3 cup evaporated milk into a bowl with the cake mix. Add the melted butter and the chopped pecans. Mix the ingredients together; it'll be pretty thick!

Divide the dough in half down the middle. Press half of it into the bottom of the prepared pan to make the first brownie layer. Bake until slightly set, 8 to 10 minutes. Then remove from the oven and set aside.

While the brownie layer is baking, in a double boiler (or glass bowl set over a bowl of simmering water) combine the caramels and the remaining 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Stir occasionally until the caramels are totally melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the caramel mixture over the first baked layer, spreading so it's evenly distributed. Sprinkle the chocolate chips all over the top.

Next, on a clean surface or a sheet of waxed paper, press the remaining dough into a square shape slightly smaller than the baking pan. Carefully set it on top of the chocolate chips. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let the brownies cool to room temperature. Cover the pan and refrigerate the brownies for several hours to allow them to set.

When you're ready to serve them (or give them to someone you love!) sprinkle generously with the powdered sugar and cut them into large rectangles before removing from the pan. These are absolutely killer, my friends. Make them for someone you really, really love... or someone you want to love you back.

It'll work. Guarantee it.

*I will leave the nuts out of this one, since Matt's not fond of nuts in recipes. I'm sure they'll be almost just as yummy!

BENGAY Cold Therapy Review

Do you suffer from aches and pains, especially from sore muscles? I know the older I get the more I feel it. When my back is achy, BENGAY is a great way to soothe those sore muscles quickly. And now they have a new Cold Therapy to help get those stubborn kinks out of your sore muscles.

BENGAY COLD THERAPYScientifically formulated gel that brings the powerful relief of cold therapy directly to alleviate pain

Product Benefits:Provides a fast-acting blast of cold and deep penetrating, long-lasting relief.
A vanishing scent that starts to disappear in minutes, making it preferable for daytime use.
Only brand to use PRO-COOL technology.
Same technology used by chiropractors and physical therapists. 

BENGAY Cold Therapy:
Available at food, drug and mass retailers nationwide.
Suggested retail price: $8.49 - $9.99, 4 oz. tube
Visit www.bengay.com

Matt always likes the cooling stuff they put on his back with ultrasound at the chiropractors office. The new BENGAY Cold Therapy is similar to that. It's supposed to be the same technology that chiropractors use. Now you can get it at home without an appointment.

Matt recently used the BENGAY Cold Therapy. I helped him put it on his lower back. The gel is nice. I like the texture better than regular BENGAY. It rubbed in really easily and the strong menthol smell didn't linger long. Matt said he didn't feel the cooling effect last long, though, compared to regular BENGAY. He'd prefer dealing with the smell and using the regular. But I think this is a good option for daytime use, you know, when you don't want to smell like BENGAY all day long. Since the BENGAY Cold Therapy rubs in so well, you won't get that lingering smell.

The price might seem a little high at around $9 per bottle, but compared to similar products on the market I think it's reasonable. When you hurt and need something like this, the price doesn't really matter so much anyway. At least that's usually how it works with me. Ha!

You can find BENGAY Cold Therapy in stores all over the US. Plus they have a link to order from their website. And Amazon does carry it too. I think you'll find this a great product to keep on hand in your house for those aches and pains.


*Disclaimer: I received this product to review. All opinions are my own.*

Taste of Home Review + Recipes

I am always on the lookout for great recipes. Taste of Home magazine is a great resource for new recipes bi-monthly.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes from the August/September issue of Taste of Home magazine perfect for football parties or tailgating:

Baja Chicken & Slaw Sliders

Prep: 30 Minutes

Grill: 10 Minutes

¼ cup reduced fat sour cream

½ tsp. grated lime peel

¼ tsp. lime juice

Slaw:

1 cup broccoli coleslaw mix

2 tbsp. finely chopped sweet red pepper

2 tbsp. finely chopped sweet onion

2 tbsp. minced fresh cilantro

2 tsp. finely chopped seeded jalapeno pepper

2 tsp. lime juice

1 tsp. sugar

Sliders

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

½ tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp chili powder

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp coarsely ground pepper

8 Hawaiian sweet rolls, split

8 small lettuce leaves

8 slices tomato

1. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, lime peel and lime juice. In another small bowl, combine the slaw ingredients. Chill the sauce and slaw until serving.
2. Cut each chicken breast in half widthwise; flatten to ½ inch thickness. Sprinkle with seasonings.
3. Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 inch from the heat for 4 to 7 minutes on each side or until no longer pink.
4. Grill rolls, cut sides down, for 30-60 seconds or until toasted. Serve chicken on rolls with lettuce tomatoes and slaw.

Pepperoni Pizza Casserole

1 pkg egg noodles

2 lbs ground turkey

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 jar (26 oz) meatless spaghetti sauce

1 can (8 oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained

1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes and green chilies

2 cups shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

2 cups cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

3 oz. sliced turkey pepperoni

1. In a Dutch oven, cook noodles according to package directions; drain.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook ground turkey and chopped onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in noodles.
3. Transfer to two greased 12 inch by 9 inch baking dishes. Sprinkle each with mushrooms, cheeses and pepperoni.
4. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degree for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and cheeses have melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

We enjoy finding things that we all will like to eat. And if you're getting the Taste of Home magazine bimonthly, you'll have seasonal recipes all the time. Warm casseroles in the fall, yummy holiday meals in winter, fresh garden dishes in the summer and more will keep your family happy. You never know, you might find some new favorite recipes that everyone loves.

You can find recipes and more at http://www.tasteofhome.com/. Plus you can order the magazine to be delivered to you and cookbooks as well. I can tell you from personal experience, these make great Christmas gifts too!


*Disclaimer: I received a copy of Taste of Home to review. All opinions are my own.*

Auntie Anne's At-Home Baking Kit Review

Auntie Anne's knows pretzels. Walk into almost any mall and you'll smell the baking dough of pretzels from the Auntie Anne's snack stands. They are fresh and oh so good! Now Auntie Anne's has a mix for your to make your own pretzels at home. The Auntie Anne's At-Home Baking Kit has everything you need to make your own delicious pretzels and more.

The Auntie Anne's At-Home Baking Kit has great step by step instructions to make your own pretzels. You can make regular pretzels with salt or cinnamon sugar pretzels. Everything is included in the box. And You can make more than just pretzels too. Auntie Anne's has lots of recipe ideas on their website that you can use with this kit. The possibilities are great!

As you can see by the photos, my son and I decided to make the Auntie Anne's Monkey Bread Recipe. It was so easy to do. The directions are very simple and you don't need many ingredients. Most of them are right in the kit!

To make Monkey Bread first we followed the directions for mixing the pretzel dough. I used the ones for my mixer. (It made it so easy to mix and stir with the dough hook in the mixer.) They you let the yeast dough rise in a warm place. I always put my bowl by the oven vent as the oven is heating up.

Then we set up an assembly line to prepare the monkey bread after the dough was risen and ready. I tore the dough into pieces and formed balls, then we dunked them into melted butter. Zachariah took them and rolled them in a cinnamon sugar mixture and placed then into the fluted pan. (You can see had this part down pretty well.) From there all we had to do was put it in the oven and wait for it to bake.

Only about 30 minutes later we had a delicious dessert. The monkey bread was sugary, cinnamon-y, sweet and yummy. As you can see, Zachariah had no problems digging right in for his bedtime snack. It met his approval. Matt did give it a try when he got home. He thought it needed some icing on top, but I'm afraid that would be too much sweetness. Maybe we'll give that a try, though. I like it as is. It's best when you eat it warm from the oven.

You can connect with Auntie Anne's on Facebook and Twitter. And you'll find videos on their YouTube channel too. The At-Home Baking Kit is available from select stores and retailers. This will make a great gift or fun recipe to take along to holiday get-togethers. You have to try this great product with your family!



*Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a Blog Friendly PR campaign on behalf of Auntie Anne's. I received a sample for my participation, all opinions are my own!*

Pumpkin Chocolate Cookies Recipe

When the weather starts to change to fall-like conditions, the first thing I think about is Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. These are the most delicious cookies. They are easy to make, moist, soft, chewy, sweet, and perfect for fall.

I have made these cookies for years. I am going to repost an entry from my old blog that tells about them. Over the years I have made a few minor changes, though. I’ve included my new notes in {}.

I usually press the cookies down a bit with the bottom of a glass to make them a little flatter/rounder. I always make the icing to top them. It just gives them an extra yum factor. And I rarely use sprinkles on them anymore. They are great without. But the sprinkles are fun for kids, so maybe make some with and some without.

OK, who can resist that yummy goodness? I have made these cookies 3 times this month alone. I always crave them in the fall. Well, at least since I was pregnant anyway. {Who was I kidding, I crave these EVERY fall, pregnant or not!}

*****

Pumpkin Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
½ cup shortening
1 Tbs. grated orange peel (optional)
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. salt ½ cup nuts (opt) &/or ½ cup milk chocolate chips or ½ cup raisins (I always use Milk Chocolate chips & sometimes nuts)

Mix in order & bake at 375 8-10 minutes. Cool. Glaze.

Glaze
¼ cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1-2 Tbs. milk

Melt butter till brown. Add other ingredients. Frost cookies.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

*****

Now that is my mom's recipe. Here's what I do differently. #1 always double the recipe. Then it uses the whole can of pumpkin instead of half (a small can). #2 And I like it better with 1/2 cup of extra flour. My mom's tend to stay rounder, but mine flatten out a bit so they're more like cookies. #3 Forget the nuts and raisins, go with my mom's suggestion and always use milk chocolate chips. Yum! #4 Also don't bother with the orange zest, unless you already have some on hand. #5 These are still good without the glaze, but the glaze makes them lots better.

So run right out to the store. Go now, why are you waiting? Get the ingredients and make them. RIGHT. NOW! GO!

For your enjoyment, a few more pictures of these yummy delights.

Stay tuned for my mom's amazing caramel apple dip.

I hope that you enjoyed this recipe from the past. I know I spoke of another recipe, so if you need those too let me know and I'll post them.