Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

It is time for The Secret Recipe Club again.  With this post comes my usual excitement for reveal day, but also a bit of sadness.  This will be my last month participating in The Secret Recipe Club.  I am not keeping up with this part of my life anymore and it is time to let it go.

Now,  I want your focus and attention to be on my assigned blog, My Beautiful Disasters.  This fun blog is written by a Casey a high school athlete and aspiring cook.  She makes the most wonderful things for her family and blogs about the food and her family!  I loved reading about their celebrations and the treats they enjoyed.

For my recipe I struggled to make a choice.  Casey's blog is full of all kinds of mouth-watering recipes, but when I saw this recipe for Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies I was drawn in.  My husband DEVOURS anything with peanut butter and chocolate, so I knew this was the right recipe for me.  Plus, I have been crazy busy this month and wanted something that was quick and easy.  This recipe fit the bill by using a brownie mix.

I am typically a brownie purist.  I like dark chocolate flavors without anything adorning the batter.  Simply put, I just want them to taste like chocolate.  These brownies were a nice change, and I will be making them again VERY soon :)  These weren't the most beautiful brownies I have ever made, but they were sure tasty!   I did doctor up the brownie mix with a tablespoon of instant coffee which enhances the chocolate flavor, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and reduced the white sugar to 1/4 cup.  If you wanted a homemade brownie you could make my recipe for Andes Mint Brownies and omit the mints. ENJOY!

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
Recipe Source: Modified slightly from My Beautiful Disasters

1 brownie recipe prepared, or a box mix prepared according to the instructions
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup white sugar (Casey uses 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
2 Tablespoons flour
1 egg

Preheat the oven to 350 F and prepare an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with butter or cooking spray.

Prepare the brownie recipe or mix, and spread it into the prepared baking dish.

In a separate bowl, combine the peanut butter, sugar, flour and egg until well combined.  Then, drop the mixture by spoonfuls on top of the brownie batter.  Run a knife through the peanut butter to make a swirly design, (mine didn't swirl too well).

Bake 30-35 minutes or according to the package directions until the brownies are set.  Cool and serve.

Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Hooray!  It is Secret Recipe Club time again.  This is such a fun group to be a part of.  My blogging has slowed down significantly over the last year, but I wouldn't miss one of these reveals!

This month I was assigned to Cooking Whims by Megan.  She not only shares recipes, but fun food finds, and her life experiences.  I really enjoyed getting to know her and her family through her blog.  She says, "I am no chef, but I do love to cook and bake and photograph everything under the sun."  She likes to try new recipes and document them on the blog.

When it came time to choose a recipe, I struggled to make just one for my post.  I pondered these Homemade Oatmeal Granola Bars because I have struggled to find a granola bar that I really, truly loved.  I also considered Rosemary Roasted Chicken and Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Burgers.  But, I finally settled on these Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting because fresh strawberries are everywhere right now.

This recipe turned TASTY!!  Honestly, I think you could put cream cheese frosting on cardboard and I would eat it.  But, on top of these moist strawberry cupcakes, the frosting was heavenly.

The cake was sweet, and with a hint of strawberry flavor.  I think I will try upping the strawberries to get a stronger flavor next time, but that was just me.  The rest of my family enjoyed them just as they were.  Megan reminded her readers that this recipe isn't a quick one.  There are multiple steps involved, but, if you choose to make it, you won't be sorry. I kept it all original and didn't change anything.  ENJOY!

Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe Source: Cooking Whims

Cake:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 tsp plus 1/8 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup softened butter
3/4 cup pureed strawberries (about 1 cup whole strawberries blended in a mixer or blender)
4 egg whites
1/3 cup milk
5-6 drops of red food coloring if you want a deep pink color

Frosting:
12 oz. cream cheese (1/3 reduced fat), softened
3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 350 F and line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

Place the dry ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer and mix for a few seconds on low to combine.  Add the butter and and strawberry puree, mix well until combined on low speed.  Increase the speed to medium and mix for 2-3 minutes of until the mixture is light and fluffy.  It will be very thick at this point.

In a large bowl, combine the egg whites, milk, and food coloring.  Add this mixtures to the flour and strawberry mixture in three parts, make sure to incorporate the each addition well.  Add more food coloring if desired to reach the desired color.

Fill your cupcake liners 3/4 full.

Bake 17-20 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Allow to cool on a cooling rack.

For the frosting, combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl.  If you like a sweeter frosting add more sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.  Pipe or use an offset spatula to frost the cupcakes. Top with fresh strawberry slices.

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

It is time for another round of Secret Recipe Club recipes.  I love doing this every month, because it introduces me to blogs that I wouldn't otherwise see.  This month I was lucky enough to be assigned to Fantastical Sharing of Recipes written by Sarah.  What I love about this blog is that Sarah has a similar take on food as me.  She tries to cook at home and not from packaged meals, but she also cooks what her family loves.  Not everything is the healthiest but she is always trying new recipes and sharing them with her family.

As I started going through her recipes, I found many that I wanted to make.  Her one pot spaghetti looks awesome, and has been pinned for future reference.  I almost went for the cheddar baked potato soup, but the weather here is just too warm for that.  So, finally, I settled on this chocolate chip coffee cake.  I love coffee cakes, and Sarah says "adores," it and it is super easy to make.  I didn't feel the need to make any changes to this recipe.  I left it just as Sarah did.  It was light, with just the right amount of chocolate and cinnamon in every bite.  ENJOY!

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Recipe Source: Fantastical Sharing of Recipes via Two Peas & Their Pod

2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powders

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter at room temperature

2 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

Cinnamon Sugar Filling/Topping:

Combine in a small bowl and set aside

1/4 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Greas an 8 inch square pan and preheat your oven to 350 F

In a bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

In your stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy.  Add the eggs one at a time and continue mixing until the mixture is smooth.  Add the sour cream, and vanilla.

Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. 

Spoon half the batter into your prepared pan.  Sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar mixture and half the chocolate chips.  Spoon the rest of the batter into the pan and top it with the remainder of chocolate chips and cinnamon mixture.

Bake for 40 minutes and cool to room temperature.

Cheese, Tomato, and Herb Twists

Well, another month has rolled around, and it is time for another round of the secret recipe club.  This month I was assigned a fun blog called, The More Than Occasional Baker written by Ros.  Ros has a love for baked goodies, both sweet and savory, and enjoys participating in cooking challenges.

I really enjoyed looking through the many different posts at The More Than Occasional Baker.  There is a wide variety of delicious recipes to choose from.  I was drawn to all 30 of the recipes made with peanut butter  because it has been a while since I have tried anything new with the husband's favorite ingredient, but in the end practicality and time won out.  I chose these tasty Cheese, Tomato, and Herb Twists because I needed an easy and tasty side dish to serve with dinner one night.  I had all the ingredients on hand and was able to whip these babies out in no time flat.

Honestly, I was a little worried about how these would turn out.  I'm not 100% sure, but, based on the spelling on The More Than Occasional Baker blog, Ros if from the UK or Australia.  I wasn't sure that what I thought "tomato puree" was would be the same thing that Ros used in the original recipe.  But, either way, the final product we delicious!  I added a little bit of chopped roasted garlic to my twists, and a pinch of salt.  My children devoured them.  They were great as a side for our pasta, as well as a tasty snack later in the evening.  ENJOY!!

Cheese, Tomato, and Herb Twists
Recipe Source: The More Than Occasional Baker

1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten
1 small can of high quality tomato paste
1/2-1/3 cup grated mozzarella cheese
dried Italian herbs
pepper
roasted garlic (optional)


Pre-heat your oven to 425 F.

Roll out one sheet of puff pastry on a floured counter or baking sheet.  Brush it with the beaten egg.  Turn it over and spread a layer of tomato paste.

Sprinkle a layer of cheese, dried herbs, pepper and roasted garlic.

Cut the dough into strips, twist the ends and place back on the baking sheet.

Bake for 10-18 minutes depending on the size of your twists.

Orzo, Cranberry, and Apple Salad

I love a good pasta salad, but I am also very picky about my pasta salads.  As a result I don't typically eat other people's salads, nor do I try new recipes.  I stick with what I know and love.  However, this month I stumbled on to this Orzo, Cranberry, and Apple Salad when I was assigned to Life and Kitchen for my Secret Recipe Club blog.

Life and Kitchen  is run by Lindsey, a busy mom who enjoys cooking for her family and having fun.  She writes her blog for her daughter and family in a hopes that one day they will understand what day to day life was like growing up in their family.  Lindsey's most current posts don't have meat in them.  In 2012  she gave it up and no longer cooks with meat products.  But, that doesn't mean her recipes aren't super tasty! And, her older recipes do have meat so if that is what you are after you can find it on her blog. 

I searched through her blog and found many recipes I was tempted to make. I narrowed my choices down to Apple Croissant Bread Pudding , Queso Blanco, French Onion Soup , and Orzo, Cranberry, and Apple Salad.  The orzo salad won out because it looked light and refreshing, perfect for the Spring weather we have been having.

Now, like I already said I don't typically stray away from my favorite pasta salad, so this was a big step for me!  The flavors in this salad can't be explained.  The dried cranberries and granny smith apples add a delicious tart bite to the almonds and pasta.  I loved the vinaigrette made with maple syrup and apple cider vinegar too because it soaked into the pasta and created a little morsels of tastiness in each bite.  

My family had mixed reviews.  My son would have no part of it.  My husband said it was ok.  My oldest son, daughter, and I decided that we liked it best completely chilled the next day.  Really, it is up to you how to serve it.  We tried it warm, room temperature, and cold.  Cold was my favorite and the way I will eat it in the future.  I did make a few changes.  I used two apples instead of one, two cups of dried cranberries, and one cup of toasted almonds. I also chose to cook my orzo in chicken broth rather than vegetable broth and then added some cut chicken breasts so I could make the salad a main dish for my family.  I hope you ENJOY!

Orzo, Cranberry, and Apple Salad

Recipe Source: modified slightly from Life and Kitchen

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound orzo
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 medium green apples, diced into small pieces
2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup slivered almonds, toasted*
1-2 chicken breasts, roasted and cut into small pieces

Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

In a medium sauce pan, heat the olive oil.  Add the orzo and cook for a few minutes until it is toasted and just light brown in a few spots.  Pour in the broth of your choice and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 10-11 minutes.  Strain off any liquid that may be left in the pot.

Put the cooked orzo into a large bowl.  Add the chopped herbs, apples, cranberries, almonds and chicken.  Combine well.

In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Whisk well to combine all the ingredients.

Pour the vinaigrette over the orzo mixture.  Combine well.  Serve at room temperature, or place in the refrigerator to cool completely.

*To toast almonds, spread the nuts in a single layer in a non-stick pan.  Allow to toast over medium heat, stirring often.  As soon as you can smell the nuts they are probably done.  You are looking for a very light golden color.  You can also toast them on a cookie sheet in an oven set at 350 F.  Keep an eye on them.  As soon as you can smell them, take them out and let them cool. 

Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce

I am so excited to share this recipe with all of you today!  Why, you ask?  Well two reasons.  First, because today is Secret Recipe Club reveal day and I was assigned to an AMAZING blog and second, because the AMAZING blog is packed full of healthy, but delicious recipes.

The recipe I am in love with is Baked Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce and it comes from Laura over at The Healthy Jalapeno.  Her blog is full of recipes that are made with fresh ingredients that are good for your body.  She says she has, "no special talents," but don't believe that because her food is awesome!  Every recipe she makes for her new hubby and herself looks tasty, with a capital T!  

I first contemplated one of her many smoothie recipes , because I am always in a rush in the mornings and need a filling, healthy breakfast.  Then I spent some time on her snacks page drooling over a ton of options for my wine book club, (doesn't this Carmelized Onion Tart with Gorgonzola and Brie look heavenly ) But, I finally listened to a craving I had been having and felt inspired to make  Baked Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Aioli  because I wanted some french fries to pair with my oven baked chicken fingers. 

These Sweet Potato Fries were a hit with my entire family!  They were sweet and a little bit spicy.  I loved the garlic dipping sauce so much that I decided to use it as a dip for bread later in the evening.   For the sauce, I added fresh garlic instead of granulated garlic, and used reduced fat mayonnaise and sour cream to reduce the calories and fat.  I especially like that these fries are easy to make, and can take the place of a regular fry anytime.  I have found my go to healthy option with this recipe! ENJOY!!

Baked Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries 

with Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce

Recipe Source: The Healthy Jalapeno

**Please note, I tripled the recipe so that I had enough fries for my family.  I am posting the recipe as I prepared it.  You may need to adjust your quantities depending on the serving size you need.**

Baked Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries

3 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and cut into french fries

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 egg whites

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoons white pepper 

3/4 paprika
additional salt if desired for sprinkling over the top after the fries are out of the oven

Garlic Aioli 
**Again, cut this down or increase depending on the amount you are serving**

3 tablespoons reduced fat mayonnaise

1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream 

3 large garlic cloves, very finely minced (you may use granulated garlic as well)

5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

salt and pepper

Pre-heat your oven to 400 F.  While it is heating up, line your baking sheet with parchment paper.  

In a mixing bowl, combine the oil, egg whites, salt, chipotle powder, pepper, and paprika.

Add the sweet potatoes and toss to coat evenly with the coating.  

Lay the potatoes on the baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake for about 20 minutes on one side and another 20 minutes on the second side or until tender and brown on the edges.  Sprinkle with salt and serve with garlic aioli or your favorite dipping sauce.

Lite Cheddar Broccoli Soup

For the last few weeks my part of the world has been enduring freezing temperatures   By freezing I mean highs around 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  If anything says soup weather, these temperatures sure do! So, for this month's Secret Recipe Club I chose this  Light Cheddar Broccoli Soup from I Am a Honey Bee.  I loved that Nicole, the blog's author writes a blog with recipes, restaurant reviews, and scrap booking posts.  It is creative and fun, and I loved checking in to see what new surprises might be posted.

On to the soup! Not only was this soup warm on a cold winter's day, it was great to try a recipe for a family favorite that is lower in fat and calories, but full of a TON of flavor.  It was easy to make, and it took little time or effort.  I stayed to true to the recipe and didn't make any changes other than the type of low fat cheese I used. ENJOY!

Lite Cheddar Broccoli Soup
Recipe Source: I Am a Honey Bee

2 heads of broccoli
3 cups  skim milk
2 cups chicken stock/vegetable broth
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
8oz of shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese

Finely chop the broccoli including the stems. In a large pot, combine the milk broccoli and simmer about 10 minutes or until the broccoli is tender.  

Heat a small pot, and then sauté the onions with 2 tablespoons butter. When the onions are soft and translucent, sprinkle the flour in and stir with a wooden spoon until the flour is evenly coating the onions.   Add the broth slowly and mix until all lumps of flour are broken down.

Add the broth mixture into the pot with the broccoli and milk.  Allow to heat through.  Slowly add the cheese until well combined.  Serve immediately. 

Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese

It's Secret Recipe Club reveal day!  This has become one of my favorite events each month.  This month I was lucky to be assigned Healthy. Delicious. as my blog to choose a recipe from.  Lauren loves to cook and has a blog full of tasty AND healthy food.  I had a lot of trouble choosing a recipe because Lauren's blog is full of amazing food, and since she has been blogging since March of 2007 there were many tasty recipes to choose from!  Finally, I narrowed my choices down to three: Pear and Raspberry Brie Puffs, Brussel Sprout Salad with Maple Vinaigrette, and Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese.  I settled on the Mac and Cheese because homemade mac and cheese is one of my all time favorite dishes, and jalapeno poppers are a favorite appetizer of mine.  Both have cheese, and in my book cheese bumps a recipe to the top of the rankings.

Let's get to business about this recipe.  I love that Lauren took a favorite unhealthy recipe of mine and lightened it up.  This mac and cheese is made with reduced fat cheeses and vegetable stock.  The addition of cream cheese helps create the jalapeno popper flavor, while also keeping the final product creamy--which is how mac and cheese should be!  There is a smokey flavor from the bacon, crunchy breadcrumb topping, and, the best part, diced jalapenos dotted throughout the entire dish.  Is a party in your mouth!

To make this dish kid friendly, I chopped the jalapenos very small and also reduced the overall amount to three peppers instead of eight.  If it were just the hubby and me, I could have left it as the original recipe stated.  I also increased the cream cheese to six ounces. This was an accident because I didn't pay attention, though it was a good accident.  The extra cheese only helped the dish have a creamy texture and gave it more flavor.

Overall, this is one of my favorite Secret Recipe Club recipes that I have posted. It was delicious and a HUGE hit for the entire family.  ENJOY!

Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese

Recipe Source: Modified slightly from Healthy. Delicious. 

4 ounces dry small, ridged pasta (I used Shells)

1 slice bacon, diced (optional)

1/4 cup diced Red Onion

1 clove Garlic, minced

3 Jalapeno Peppers, seeded and sliced (the original recipe called for 8)

2 Tablespoons Flour

1 cup Vegetable Stock

4 ounces Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded

4 ounces Reduced Fat Pepper Jack Cheese, shredded

6 ounces 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese, cut into cubes (the original recipe called for 4)

1/4 cup Bread Crumbs

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to directions on the package until al dente.  Don’t overcook the pasta!

While the pasta is cooking brown the bacon, in a large sauce pan over medium heat.  Allow to get crispy then remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.  Leave the grease in the pot.

To the warm bacon grease, add the onion and garlic and cook until softened — about 3 minutes.

If you choose not use bacon simply soften the onion and garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil.  Add the jalapenos and cook until soft. Stir in the flour. Cook for 1 minute, and then add the vegetable stock. Cook for about five minutes or until the sauce begins to thicken.

Slowly stir in the Cheddar and Pepper Jack cheeses, adding a little at a time and letting it melt completely before adding more. Don’t add the cheese too quickly or the sauce will become grainy.  Stir in the cream cheese. Mix in the crumbled bacon, if using.

Combine the cooked pasta and cheese in a shallow baking dish or individual ramekins. (At this point no one will know if you sample a few bites!)  Sprinkle a thin layer of bread crumbs over the top. Broil 3-5 minutes, or until bread crumb topping is crispy and golden brown.

Roasted Tomato Tart

I can not believe that a month has gone by since my last post!  The month of August has FLOWN by like a whirlwind, and I now find myself adjusting to a new school schedule.  In addition to the start of school, it is also time for another round of the Secret Recipe Club.

This month, I was assigned to Bewitching Kitchen written by Sally who is originally from Brazil and has traveled the world.  If you want recipes that feature fresh and healthy ingredients this blog is for you.  I was struggling to choose a recipe because all of Sally's recipes look mouth watering!  I finally settled on the Roasted Heirloom Tomato Tart that she adapted from Just a Smidgen because tomatoes are in abundance right now, and I believe that anything that calls for puff pastry is destined to be delicious!

I was not wrong!  This tart was delicious with the creamy cheese and sweet summer tomatoes atop the light and crispy puff pastry.  I was not able to locate bocconcini mozzarella which is a fresh mozzarella cheese about the size of a cherry tomato and stored in water or whey.  I was able to find a fresh mozzarella with a soft creamy texture, but it was not stored in whey and was about a pound in size.  Another change I made was to use the fresh tomatoes from our church's community garden.  These tomatoes, though not heirlooms, are sweet and delicious and pair wonderfully with the cheeses and herbes de provence.  Please head over and take a look at the beautiful recipes that Sally has posted on her blog, you won't be sorry!  ENJOY!

Roasted Tomato Tart

Recipe Source: Modified slightly from Bewitching Kitchen
(Changes are in italics)

1 package puff pastry, defrosted (use one half for the tart)
5 to 6 heirloom tomatoes (I used fresh garden tomatoes)
olive oil
salt and cracked black pepper to taste
1 container of bocconcini mozzarella, drained (200g / 7 to 8 ounces) (I used a fresh mozzarella cut into cubes, though it wasn't stored or shaped like bocconcini mozzarella)
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1/8 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
2 tsp Herbes de Provence
1 egg

Heat oven to 400° F.

Roll out one sheet of puff pastry on parchment paper until it measures about  11” x 14”.   Use a fork to poke holes in the dough.  This will help prevent the dough from "puffing" too much.  Roll the edges of the dough to create a border all around.

Spread the tomato sauce inside the border.  Top with the bocconcini or cubed mozzarella.  

To remove the excess liquid from your tomatoes, slice them and place them between two layers of paper towels to draw out the moisture.  Layer the tomatoes over the cheese allowing them overlap a little bit.  If you can, use a variety of sizes and colors.  

Sprinkle the top with the herbes de Provence and the grated Parmigiano.

Whisk the egg with a tablespoon of  water to make a wash, and brush this mixture on the edges of the pastry.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until the puff pastry has risen and lightly browned.   Begin checking around 20 minutes in case your tart is done in less time.  Remember all ovens vary and so do the moisture levels in the tomatoes.

Cut into squares and enjoy with a green salad.

Peanut Butter Pound Cake

This month's recipe for the Secret Recipe Club comes from the blog Loving Life written by Kirstin.  What I enjoyed about reading through this blog is the personal aspect Kirstin brings to all of her posts.  Not only are there recipes, but also daily life details of one family from the Pacific Northwest.  I love learning about those who write the blogs and getting to know about their life and what is important to them.

I have shared on my blog a time or two that my husband's favorite dessert flavors are chocolate and peanut butter, in fact I have a chocolate and peanut butter category on my blog just so I can quickly find a recipe whenever he has a craving.  When I found this peanut butter pound cake at Loving Life I knew it was the recipe that I would be making for this month's reveal.

As pound cakes go this one fits the bill.  It is dense, but moist, and very full of flavor.  Alone it reminds me of a peanut butter cookie in cake form, but then the frosting is added leaving the eater with a peanut butter explosion of flavor...oh yes, it was tasty!  I didn't change a lot about the recipe.  I doubled the amount of vanilla, thinned the frosting so that it was more of a glaze, and added a chocolate drizzle on top for hubby.  I did find that it took 1 hour and 20 minutes to finish baking. This may be due to the size of my pan.  I used a large stoneware fluted pan that utilized "most" of my batter.  If you make this, be sure to begin checking your cake for doneness at about 55 minutes.  ENJOY!!

Peanut Butter Pound Cake
Recipe Source: Modified slightly from Loving Life

Cake:

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup peanut butter

5 eggs

2 tablespoons vanilla (original recipe called for 1)

3 cups cake flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cups whipping cream or whole milk

Prepare a large tube pan or bundt pan and preheat the oven to 325 F.  Depending on the size of your pan you may have extra batter left over, use this for cupcakes.

In a large bowl or kitchen aide mixer cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the brown sugar and peanut butter mixing until well combined.  Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one.  Add in vanilla.

In another bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  Add about 1/3 of the dry ingredients and then about 1/3 of the milk.  Continue adding the dry ingredients and the milk alternating until they are both added and well combined.

Fill the prepared pan about 3/4 full (remember you may have extra batter left over depending on the size of your pan).  Bake for 60-90 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  

Cool cake for 10 minutes then turn out to finish cooling.  When completely cooled frost with frosting and top with chocolate drizzle or shavings.

Frosting/Glaze: 

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cups peanut butter

2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tablespoons milk (more or less depending on how thick or thin you want it. I used close to 7 tablespoons to get the consistency I wanted.)

In a kitchen aide bowl or medium bowl with an electric mixer combine the butter and peanut butter until well mixed.  Add in the powdered sugar and milk until the desired consistency is reached.  

**I should have cut the original recipe in half because I ended up with a lot of glaze, but it was tasty and with some additional powdered sugar to thicken it up it tasted great on graham crackers!**

Chocolate Drizzle:

1/2 chocolate chips

1 teaspoon oil

Melt together over a double boiler over low heat until well combined.  Drizzle over frosted cake.

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats

Yes, it is time for another Secret Recipe Club reveal.  I can't believe how little I have been cooking or trying new recipes.  I am happy to report that school was released a few weeks ago, so my days of not cooking much are gone, at least for the summer.  I will be preparing many more new recipes for my family and everyone that reads my blog starting with the June Secret Recipe Club.

For those that aren't familiar with it, the Secret Recipe Club, is a once a month opportunity to secretly try a new recipe from another blogger's site and write about it.  Everyone does a reveal on the same day at the same time.  During my last term of school it was the only time I tried new recipes because it was all I had time for.

This month I am assigned to Shockingly Delicious.  Oh. My. Goodness.  This drool worthy blog is written by Dorothy Reinhold who is newspaper editor, writer, mom, food lover, and volunteer.  Just reading her blog made me hungry, and I was challenged to choose only one recipe to highlight.  She highlights recipes that are familiar yet unique, like Avocado ice cream, and Mediterranean Deviled Eggs. After drooling over this delicious dressing for a summer salad, her 22 pie recipes, and her many meatless dishes, I finally settled on Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats.

These little dessert bars are reminiscent of my adult childhood favorite gooey snack. Dorothy has many variations of this traditional recipe on her blog, but I chose this one because it was different than any other version I have seen.  Because I was out of chocolate chips, used pieces of a chocolate bar; however, I didn't feel the need to change or alter anything else about Dorothy's original recipe.  They are bites of soft, gooey, sweet, and salty heaven.  Browning the butter adds a rich nutty flavor that can't be beat for a grown up treat.  Dorothy calls them, "scary good," and I couldn't agree more.  ENJOY!

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats
Recipe Source: Shockingly Delicious adapted from Smitten Kitchen


4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 (10-ounce) bag marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Garnish: chocolate chips equal to the number of pieces you are cutting (A Cook's Quest used a chocolate bar instead)

Lightly grease an 8-inch square pan with butter or a non cook spray. Set aside.

In a  heavy pan melt the butter over medium heat allowing it begin to brown. As the butter begins to change color, add the salt and stir frequently, making sure to scrape small brown parts from the bottom of your pan. Don’t leave your stove now, this step requires attention or you will end up with burned butter which is not good at all. 

As soon as the butter is the nutty brown color, turn the heat off and stir in the marshmallows.  Stir until the marshmallow is completely melted and glossy. 

Stir the Rice Krispies cereal into the melted marshmallow and butter mixture. Using your greased hand, or any other handy kitchen gadget, press the delicious mixture into the prepared pan. Press the chocolate chips point down into the warm mixture using as many as you need to have one chip per serving.

Cool completely and cut between chips into squares.

Another variation recommended by Dorothy is to omit the chocolate chips and add 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh rosemary.  Yum!

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken

Can you believe it is Secret Recipe Club time again?  The time is just flying by and I am so sad that I have not had a post in over a month.  I am only five weeks away from a full summer off which means lots of cooking and lots of fun with my family.  I can hardly wait!

OK, on to my blog assignment for this month.  I was so lucky to get Prevention RD a blog about healthy eating that tastes wonderful and is EASY to do.  This is my kind of blog I tell ya!  Nicole, who writes Prevention RD, is a registered dietitian so she knows what she is talking about in the healthy food department.  She also knows how to make healthy food taste delicious!  I had such a hard time choosing a recipe to feature from her blog so I had to make three or four before I finally settled on her Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken.

Most of you know that I L.O.V.E my slow cooker.  It is such a life saver at times and makes my hectic life much easier.  This recipe is wonderful.  I cut the red pepper flakes down to a 1/4 tsp just so the final product wasn't spicy for my kids, but other than that I made it as she lists it below. The chicken is tender and moist, full of sweet tangy sauce, and works perfectly with rice that absorbs all that delicious flavor.  We paired ours with the stir fried broccoli that I featured last month for Secret Recipe Club and it was wonderful. Make it this week for a delicous and easy dinner meal.  ENJOY!

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken
Recipe Source: Prevention RD 

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1.25 lbs)

1/2 cup honey
2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1/2 onion, diced
2 1/2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp safflower oil or extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced, pressed or grated
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (A Cook's Quest used 1/4 tsp)
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp sesame seeds

Put chicken into crock pot.

Meanwhile in a separate bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken and mix,

Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through. 

Remove chicken from the slow cooker leaving the sauce.  Whisk the  cornstarch into liquid in the crock pot, cover and cook the sauce on high for ten more minutes or until it just starts to thicken.

Shred chicken or cut into bite size pieces, return to the sauce and stir together.  Serve over rice and with your favorite green vegetable.

Stir Fried Broccoli

It is secret recipe club time again.  My life has been a rush of finals, research papers, and of course all the running around required with baseball, dance, and other family obligations.  I have been on the look out for fast, easy and delicious side dishes to go with our slow cooker dinners.  Melanie over at Fabulously Fun Food has a lot of great side dishes that are not only tasty, but easy too.  She gives a great description of the pros and cons of each dish as well as the changes she plans on making the next time.

For this recipe I listened to her suggestions and eased up on the oil but I didn't know how much ginger to use so I just guessed.  I will probably add more next time or use thicker slices because we really like ginger in our house.  Overall though it was delicious!  Perfect to use as a side dish or to make into a vegetarian main dish with some other veggies.  I really loved the flavor of the ginger with the broccoli and nutty flavor of the sesame oil.

Double Take Stir Fried Broccoli
Recipe source: Fabulously Fun Food

1 pound of broccoli
1 Tbl vegetable oil
10 thin slices ginger (use less if you aren't a huge fan)
1/4 cup chicken broth
sprinkle of salt
sesame oil
sesame seeds

Add oil and ginger to the pan over medium heat.  Allow ginger to infuse into the oil for just a minute.  Toss in the broccoli and cook a few minutes until it is bright green but still firm.  Add the chicken broth and salt continue cooking a few minutes until just fork tender. Don't cover the pan or you will end up with steamed soggy broccoli.  Remove from pan, drizzle with a small amount (remember this stuff is very strong so a little goes a long way!) of sesame oil and some sesame seeds.

Pumpkin Pound Cake

 

It is Secret Recipe Club time again!  This month I was assigned the blog, Savannah's Savory Bites.  It is a fun blog full of recipes that are tasty, easy on the budget, and easy to prepare.  Yes, it is right up my alley!  Because this Secret Recipe Club posting is during the holiday season, I decided to make a Pumpkin Pound Cake.  We love pumpkin year round in this house so I always have a can of it in the pantry ready for a delicious treat.

This recipe is exactly what holiday desserts should be in my opinion.  Warm and delicious full of sweet spices and moist from the canned pumpkin.  We topped ours with fresh whipped cream, oh yes it was a delicious dessert, but it also makes a great breakfast treat too!  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pound Cake
Recipe Source: Savannah's Savory Bites


3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups white sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

1/2 cup milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

Grease and flour a Bundt pan.

Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together sugar and oil until foamy.  Add eggs one at a time beating thoroughly after each. Mix in  pumpkin. 

Stir in flour mixture alternately with milk.

Pour batter into prepared pan.Bake in the preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 

Add small cup of water to oven in heat proof pyrex while the cake cooks for a moist texture.