Lewis Brownie's

Alright so this one...isn't from pinterest, BUT it is the BEST brownie i have ever had! So I thought I would be nice and share :)

Ingredients
3 sticks butter, softened
4 cups sugar
8 eggs
3/4 cup cocoa
4 TBS vanilla
3 cups flour
Mix and bake at 350 for 30-35 mins makes 2 pans

Keep in mind, this makes 2 pans! This is my favorite to make when i have someones pan and need to return it...because you never return a pan empty!

Loaded Potato Soup {Slow Cooker}

So I had to make some soup for a mutual activity....As I looked around my house I saw....NOTHING. So then I went to pinterest :) Realized I had some potatoes so i would make this soup!

http://www.thecountrycook.net/2011/09/loaded-potato-soup-slow-cooker.html

Ingredients:
4 lbs. potatoes (red skin, russet or yukon gold),peeled and cubed
1/2 c. onion, chopped
2 14 oz. cans chicken broth
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups half and half
Garnish: shredded cheddar cheese, cooked and crumbled bacon, sliced green onions
The recipe did not call for garlic, but I added in 2 cloves of minced garlic for added flavor and because I had it on hand already.

Directions:
Layer sliced (or cubed) potatoes in a lightly greased (I sprayed mine with nonstick spray) 5-quart slow cooker
Top with chopped onion (and garlic, if using).
Add chicken broth, salt and pepper. Broth will not completely cover potatoes.
Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours or until potatoes are tender.
Mash mixture with a potato masher. (I didn't mash it completely because I still wanted some visible potato chunks in there).
Stir in half and half. Cover and cook on high setting 20 more minutes, or until mixture is thoroughly heated. Ladle into bowls and garnish with favorite toppings. Serves 8.

I am coming to realize...I don't always follow the recipe :) I did follow her on putting the garlic in....if you know me...you'll know i LOVE garlic! When it was almost ready to take i thought it needed some color so i added the peas. It was good, but VERY bland. I really wanted to add some tony's to it, but seeing how it was for a seniors dinner...i didn't. Next time i make it though...there will be plenty of tony's :)

Sloppy Joe's!

Now, I love sloppy joe's...but as far as i knew growing up....you just used the seasoning packet....WRONG!! I have had some yummy sloppy joe's since then so i thought i would give this one a try.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/Sloppy-Joes-II/Detail.aspx?prop31=2

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.
Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

I don't like green peppers...so i didn't add any. Other than that i followed the recipe :) They were yummy! I couldn't help but sing the sloppy joe song. I like to have some cheese on mine, because i love cheese :) We will be making this again for sure!

Dumplings

Today was a soup day! So I threw some chicken broth, carrots, chicken, and corn in a pot...all it needed were dumplings!! So i headed on over to pinterest and this is what i found!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/dumplings/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=dumplings&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon margarine
1/2 cup milk

Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in medium size bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk to make a soft dough.
Drop by spoonfuls into boiling stew. Cover and simmer 15 minutes without lifting lid. Serve.
To make parsley dumplings, add 1 tablespoon parsley flakes to the dry ingredients

When I asked my husband how they were, his reply was, "party in my tummy, yummy yummy" Haha i love him! I was a little nervous putting sugar in them, but i did it anyway. They were good! I am pretty sure i grew up with a different recipe though....maybe one with egg in it. While this one was good....not what i was hoping for.

Chicken Fried Burger

So there was a pin I found that had a list you go through, check what you have, and it will give you a recipe...i have a feeling you will see a lot of this website!!! It is sooo nice! This is my first one I've tried :)

http://www.myfridgefood.com/viewrecipe.php?recipe=1460


Ingredients 1 pound of hamburger
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup of flour
1/4 cup of fat melted or vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste



Instructions Shape hamburger into flat patties; chill. Place milk and flour in flat dishes; slightly larger than the patties. Place each patty in milk, turn over. Then dip into flour. Place patties into hot skillet with melted fat and season. Cook on each side until crispy, flattening as patties cook. Yields: 4 to 6 servings.

Well, they were easy...thats for sure! But they were VERY bland, even though i added some seasoning. I think if i were to make them again i would add corn meal or corn flakes to the flour and a LOT more seasoning!

Pumpkin Seeds!

Tis the season for pumpkin seeds!!! I love them! I even enjoy carving a pumpkin or two! So we carved some and I saw this recipe for pumpkin seeds!

http://www.hvmag.com/Hudson-Valley-Magazine/October-2011/Pumpkin-Recipes-Roasted-Pumpkin-Seeds/

1½ cups pumpkin seeds
2 Tbsp olive oil or non-stick cooking spray
1 tsp salt
Separate seeds from pulp and strings. Rinse in water and pat dry
Toss dried seeds in olive oil and place in a single layer on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (Or lay flat on baking sheet and spritz with cooking spray.) Season with salt
Place in 325º F oven, stirring often to ensure even browning until a pleasant aroma is apparent (approx. 25 min.)
Remove immediately and transfer to pan or plate to cool. May be stored in air-tight container for a few days

As usual, they turned out yummy! We made sure to keep a good eye on them, and when they started to turn color we pulled them out! These will always be on my keeper list! Our pumpkins turned out pretty good too! The kids had lots of fun!

Brownies. Oreos. Peanut butter.

I saw this and thought to myself...how could this get any better?! It just looks soooo yummy! I was in charge of bringing the dessert to family dinner so i couldn't think of a reason not to make them!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Oreo-and-Peanut-Butter-Brownie-Cakes/

1 box brownie mix, 8x8 inch size
24 Oreo Cookies
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 12 muffin cup baker with paper liners.

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. For each cupcake cup spread 1 teaspoon of peanut butter over 2 Oreo cookies and stack them on top of each other. Place oreo stacks into the cupcake lined muffin cups. Spoon 2 tablespoons of brownie batter over each stacked oreos and let it run down the sides of the cookies. If you have left over brownie batter, bake separately in a separate baker or muffin tin. Bake cookies and brownies for 18 to 20 minutes, until brownies are cooked through. Let cool completely then serve.

I cooked them a little longer...21 minutes. I also used double stuffed...because my husband knew there would be left overs and in our house the only oreo that is REALLY an oreo is a double stuffed. The family said that they were good, but very rich! My husband...like them, but no surprise there! I did not try one until the day after and I thought it was yummy! My husband also had one the day after and said it wasn't as rich as it was the day before...not sure why? But it will go on the keeper list for me, I would say that I will use regular oreos next time, or maybe just do one double stuffed. My husband also wants to try to use raspberry jam instead of peanut butter next time.


Here are the ones my husband..tried..to make. haha He said he did MAN tablespoons....opposed to my woman ones. haha