Recipe Swap - Brownies

Let's just let it be said that my favorite part of cooking anything is baking. I would rather make something sweet than cook a meal. Even with this being true, I have never made homemade brownies before. I'm more a cookie kinda girl. However, I've been craving brownies lately.

The VP debate was last night so we invited five of Daniel's closest friends over to enjoy it with us. As the guys were enjoying Iron Man, I was in the kitchen slaving away making brownies. Let me just tell ya, they were a hit! The pan was cleaned in no time. And I know at least one person had four!! How he stomached that much sweet, gooey, yumminess, I'm not sure but maybe that's just my sensitive stomach talking. Absolutely amazing though! Delightful! Will DEFINITELY make them again! Only next time, I'll double the recipe and making a larger dish.

MMMMMM... Brownies!

1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch square pan.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and water. Cook over medium heat until boiling. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies set up. Do not over-bake! Cool in pan and cut into squares.

You have to make these brownies! Your taste buds will thank you!

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Recipe Swap - Hashbrown Casserole

So I've been a lurker for a while over at The Grocery Cart Challenge. Her dilemma seemed impossible so I had to watch and see if she accomplished her goal! It's been an interesting read to be sure. When she started doing her recipe swap, it came as no surprise. I didn't have anything to offer... until now... And even then, only because of my mother's recipe! ::angelic smile:: Love ya Moma!

So here's the deal. I have recently joined the Citizen's Police Academy in my city to try and understand my mom's job better. We had a cook-out on Tuesday and I signed up to bring a casserole. But let's be honest, I've never made a casserole in my LIFE! And here I'd signed up to make one and serve it to people I barely know! What in the world was I thinking!? Apparently, I wasn't. But when the brain cells kicked in again, I remembered my mother's Hashbrown Casserole. MMM MMM MMM! Yummy! So I stole her recipe... and proceeded to lose it. Sorry 'bout that Moma...

Thankfully, I had already purchased the ingredients before I lost the recipe. Thanks to my photographic memory, I was able remember the ingredients and the directions and recreate the recipe. Shame on me for losing it in the first place. ::hangs head in shame::

Needless to say, the casserole was a success. The dish was cleaned. And I'm going to sing my mother's praises because she gave me the recipe. It's super simple to make. I mean, goodness, if I can make it, you can certainly make it!!!

Hashbrown Casserole

By: Aclaypot4Him

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of onions

2 cans of cream of chicken

8 oz. sour cream

2 cups shredded cheese

32 oz. o frozen hashbrowns, partially thawed

Topping: 1/2 stick butter and 2 cups corn flakes

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix everything together in a large bowl.

3. Place in a 9 X 13 buttered dish

4. Melt the butter and mix it with the corn flakes. (Helpful hint: place the corn flakes in a zip-loc bag and pour the butter in)

5. Top the casserole with the corn flakes.

6. Bake for one hour.

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