S'mores [Layer] Cake

My youngest two girls and I decided we wanted to try something new for dessert on Father's day this year so we came up with this recipe. I made it into a layer cake on the test run, but I would probably go with a simple 9x13, one layer version next time to save time. I may also come up with some other options to make it look a bit prettier in the future.
After making this, I searched online to see if I could put the whole cake under the broiler to give it that toasted look of a roasted marshmallow. I found that you need a cooking torch, but I also saw a s'mores cake recipe that used a graham cracker cake and added whipped chocolate ganache between the layers. I may have to come up with a recipe for graham cracker cake now... 😁

Peaches'n'Cream Tart

We made spinach, ham, turkey, egg, and cheese hand pies for brunch as a family yesterday. Since we're all "stuck" at home together with the "Safer at Home" order in place I figured that we might as well sleep in and then make brunch together. Jared made the filling because he's fantastic at making eggs. Each of the kids took turns helping fill, seal, and brush the pies with egg wash. Then we ate them together with the leftover filling.
Sorry for the rabbit trail. :D
While we were working on brunch, Miss E (my almost 12 yr old) decided that we needed a fruit version. I didn't have enough pie dough ready to make a bunch more hand pies so we decided to make a tart instead. Here's what we did.

Super "D" Brownies

Before you decide to make these, I must pass on the following warnings:

• Do NOT make these if you have little or no self-control as they can be highly addictive. 
• Do NOT make these if you are on a diet. 
• Do NOT make these if you are the only person home for the next 24 hours.
• Do NOT make these unless you plan to take them to or serve them at some sort of get together or party.

Red Velvet Brownies

This was our version for "Dinner at 8pm"
and I also did a smaller version of this for the kids' dessert

I saw an idea on Pinterest the other day and decided that I HAD to try it for Valentine's Day. It was a recipe for Red Velvet Brownies. There were a couple of reasons that I wanted to try it. One, they're red, which worked perfectly for V-Day, and two, I had gotten 3 boxes of red velvet cake mix for $ .65/each (store sale + doubled coupons). I decided to make two pans and cut them into heart shapes using a couple of different sized cookie cutters. We used some for the kids' dessert, we took some to our neighbors, and then we had some for our "Dinner at 8pm" date. They were quite yummy and I've listed the recipe below with my changes.

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Now through 4/29 you can get TOH's Family Meals & Church Suppers 3-Book Set for 19.93 (74% savings). Along with each purchase you also get a free 1-yr. subscription to Taste of Home. Plus, you'll snag free shipping if you use code LST82 at checkout. It's a GREAT deal for yourself or for a gift (Mother's Day, Wedding, Birthday, Housewarming, etc.).

So who are you going to buy one for?

Spiced Carrot Oat Cookies

I love cake mix cookies. In fact, I haven't tasted one yet that I didn't like. After some gloomy fall weather I decided that I wanted to try some cookies using my spice cake mix. This is what I came up with and they were delicious!

Caprese Pizza

I really enjoy watching cooking shows because they generally get my creative juices flowing with ideas for new recipes. I happened to watch a show on Cooking channel the other day while feeding the baby when I had a scrumptious idea pop into my head. I do not remember what show it was but the theme was Caprese dishes (Caprese salad and caprese spaghetti were the two main dishes presented).

Marshmallow Cola Brownies

We were having a get-together with Jared's family the other day and I was going to bring brownies. I was thinking about all the different "semi-homemade" brownies I've made but wanted to try something different. I had a bag of marshmallows, some mini chocolate chips, and a box of fudge brownie mix, so I went online to see what I could come up with. I saw a recipe for Cola Brownies on Betty Crocker's website and decided to try my own take on them. This recipe makes for a very moist, dense brownie with lots of ooey, gooey marshmallow on top.

Fruit Pizza

With tomorrow being my due date with Miss S., I wanted to make dessert for after dinner. I didn't want any kind of dessert though. I wanted something simple and delicious. I had to make a quick run to the grocery and they happened to have kiwis and blueberries on sale. The first thing I thought of was fruit pizza and I ran with it.

Chocolate Toffee Caramel Bars

A friend posted this recipe on Facebook today and it sounded absolutely delicious. Plus, I'm always up for new "semi-homemade" recipes.

• 1 pkg of yellow cake mix (the one that has pudding in it)
• 1/3 cup of oil
• 2 eggs
• 1-12oz pkg of choc. chips
• 1 cup of toffee bits
• 1 cup of vanilla chips
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 32 caramels
• 1-14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350. Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil then spray with non-stick spray. 
2. In bowl combine cake mix, oil and eggs. Stir in chocolate chips, vanilla chips and toffee bits (mix will be thick). 
3. Press 1/2 the mix into the bottom of the foil lined pan. Bake for 10 min. 
4. While baking, in a small sauce pan combine butter, caramels and sweetened condensed milk. Stir and melt until smooth. Remove partially baked crust. Slowly pour hot caramel mixture over baked crust. 
5. Crumble remaining cake mix over caramels. Return to oven and bake for an additional 25 min. until golden brown. Cool on counter for 20 min. 
6. Refrigerate a couple of hours for caramel to harden a little and cut into bars. ~Enjoy~

Yes, I am a member of CA (Chocoholics Anonymous)

Hello, my name is Rebekah and I am a chocoholic. Like many women and even men, I LOVE chocolate. In fact, with baby #3, chocolate was my only craving. With my other 2 pregnancies I didn't crave sweets at all but things like steamed broccoli (I know, it's weird), French fries, and soft pretzels.

Since having Miss A, a little over 6 months, I still crave chocolate and I'm starting to wonder if I use it as some kind of coping mechanism. As Kramer (from Seinfeld) puts it, I "will always return to my dark master, the cocoa bean."

Anyway, I have said all this to share some new semi-homemade brownie recipes that I came up with (yes, we had company - we hosted a College/Career's activity on Saturday).

Cream Cheese Brownies

• 1/4 cup semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips 
• 1 box chocolate fudge brownie mix (the family size box) 
• 1/4 cup canola oil 
• 1/4 cup butter, melted 
• 1/4 cup water 
• 2 eggs 
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened 
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar 
• 4 tablespoons half-n-half, divided 

Directions

1. In a microwave safe bowl, heat 1 tablespoon half-n-half; add chocolate chips, stirring until chips are melted. 
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine brownie mix, canola oil, butter, eggs, and chocolate mixture just until dry ingredients are moist (don't over mix, there should be some lumps). Place 2/3 of brownie mixture in a greased 9x13 Pyrex pan, set the remaining 1/3 aside. 
3. In a small bowl, whip cream cheese and 3 tablespoons half-n-half together; add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Drop by spoonfuls onto brownie mix in pan, then spread out over the top. Pour remaining 1/3 of brownie mix over cream cheese and, using a butter knife, "swirl" the two together to create a marbleized effect. 
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. 

Peanut Butter Caramel Brownies

• 1/4 cup semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips 
• 1 box chocolate fudge brownie mix (the family size box)
• 1/4 cup canola oil 
• 1/4 cup butter, melted 
• 1/4 cup water 
• 2 eggs 
• 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon half-n-half, divided 
• 1/4 cup sugar 
• 1/4 cup water 
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter 
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup 
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Directions

1. In a small microwave safe bowl, heat 1/2 cup of half-n-half in the microwave for 1 minute. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over high heat and cook, without stirring until amber brown. Slowly whisk in the warm cream until smooth and let cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and whisk in the peanut butter, corn syrup, salt and 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth. Let cool until thickened at room temperature, about 30 minutes. 
2. In the microwave safe bowl, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon half-n-half; add chocolate chips, stirring until chips are melted. 
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine brownie mix, canola oil, butter, eggs, and chocolate mixture just until dry ingredients are moist (don't over mix, there should be some lumps). Place 2/3 of brownie mixture in a greased 9x13 Pyrex pan, set the remaining 1/3 aside. 
4. Drop peanut butter mixture by spoonfuls onto brownie mix in pan, then spread out over the top. Pour remaining 1/3 of brownie mix over peanut mixture and, using a butter knife, "swirl" the two together to create a marbleized effect. 
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. 

Double Chocolate Marshmallow Brownies

• 1 box chocolate fudge brownie mix (the family size box)
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup coffee
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine brownie mix, canola oil, butter, eggs, and coffee just until dry ingredients are moist (don't over mix, there should be some lumps). Place 1/2 of brownie mixture in a greased 9x13 Pyrex pan, set the remaining 1/3 aside.
2. Sprinkle chocolate chips and then marshmallows over the top. Pour remaining 1/3 of brownie mix over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.