Food for Thought - Five Layer Brownies

The other night I had this huge craving to bake something. I had no idea what to bake so I asked Ryan what he'd like me to make and showed him all the desserts I've pinned. After three pins of letting him down - we didn't have the ingredients - I went to the kitchen to figure it out myself. I started by pulling out EVERYTHING baking related from my pantry. Literally, everything.

After deciding I wanted to make some sinful brownies, I ended up using the following:'

Brownies Layer

4 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla

4 (heaping) tbsp cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Cookie Layer

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chopped)

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/3 cup peanut butter

1 stick of butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp water

Additional

1/2 cup chopped pretzels

1/4 cup toffee bits

Here's how I concocted it...

Step 1. I started with the cookie layer to make sure it would all be ready by the time the brownie mix was set to go. I mixed the egg, oil, and vanilla together until they were well combined.

Step 2. Add in your dry ingredients (minus the chocolate pieces) and mix until you have the basic cookie dough. 

Step 3. Fold in your two ounces of chopped chocolate into your dough and then set aside. Try not to eat too much. 

Step 4. Preheat your oven to 350° F. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, oil, vanilla, and cocoa powder for the brownies. Mix well until fully combined.

Step 5. Add in the remaining dry ingredients for the brownies, mixing well. 

Step 6. In a foil-line 9" x 13" pan, pour half of the brownie mixture and spread until you have an even layer.

Step 7. Carefully, layer all the cookie dough on top of the brownie layer. Press down slightly, but not so that the brownie goes on top of the cookie dough.

Step 8. Take the remaining brownie batter and mix in the chopped pretzels, folding until the pretzels are evenly distributed. Pour the batter on top of the cookie dough layer. 

Step 9. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Checking the center with a toothpick.

Step 10. While your brownies are baking, soften one stick of butter and add it to a bowl with the peanut butter. Using an electric mixer beat the two together until well combined. Add in your water and powdered sugar until it has a smooth consistency. 

Step 11. Allow your brownies to cool overnight (or a few hours). Store your frosting in the fridge if you do. Layer on your frosting and then finish off with toffee bits (your fifth layer).

The good thing about baking your brownies in foil is that you can just lift it out of the pan, making it incredibly easier to cut. You may have to beat back the masses from these. They're fantastic and go quick. It's not hard to imagine why.

I know, I need a new camera. I've been using the one on my phone.What do you use? What would you recommend?

Food for Thought...Nutella Frosting

A few years ago, while I was still with GE, I was nominated to attend a leadership development workshop at the famous Crotonville. Crotonville is like university for the folks at the heart of GE. The company invests about $2.0 billion a year in the center on courses and innovative learning. It's no wonder the campus looks like this:

Yea, it's pretty sweet. The hotel located on the campus can hold over 400 folks and has stocked kitchens with ready-to-eat sandwiches, yogurt, fruit, snack, and Haagen Dazs ice cream. It's like heaven there. Oh, and there's five star meals from the on campus executive chef. They really spare no cost. This is the place to make connections across the company and up the ladder. 

The campus also has two places to hang out, the Green House and the White House. The Green House is self-sustainable and off the grid (hence the "Green"). The fully open bar, pool tables, and darts offer ways to interact and network with folks. If that's not your speed, the completely redesigned White House, is a coffee shop with professional baristas and the most delicious thing on this entire planet. The Nutella Hot Chocolate.

Up until that point in my life, I had never had nutella. Ever. I'm not quite sure where my life was headed before this magical drink but I certainly knew that my life was going to have a whole lot more nutella in it afterwards.

Which brings me to today's recipe. Nutella Frosting. Since my glorious discovery of the delicious hazelnut spread, I've tried to incorporate it into everything. Today, I bring you frosting. Here's what you need:

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup nutella

1/4 cup milk

1 cup powered sugar

Step 1. Soften butter in microwave but be sure not to melt. You don't want to wait to spread this on your cupcake. 

Step 2. Beat together butter and nutella until well combined and there are no butter lumps. (Sorry, no pictures. I was making this up as I went.)

Step 3. Add in milk and powdered sugar. Beat on high until all ingredients are well combined and fluffy.

Step 4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes as your cupcakes are cooling. (This step is NOT required.)

Step 5. Layer this delicious-ness on your cupcake (I made vanilla) and try not to eat one right then and there. 

I sprinkled toffee bits on top of these to make them just a little bit more heavenly. Ryan couldn't wait for these to come out of the oven. Or for them to be frosted for that matter. 

On another note, I truly hate, hate, hate my kitchen lighting. It's dull and gross. Someday I'll switch to nice bulbs. Maybe even LED, you know, after I hit the lottery.

Food for thought...Oreo Truffles

These are probably the easiest dessert ever and are absolutely fantastic. Me, the hater of cream cheese, I love them! I had them once at my mother-in-law’s and then I was hooked. Literally, you can’t just have one. Then you’re standing next to the bowl and it’s half gone because they pop so easily into your mouth. It’s almost a sickness. When I asked one of my good friends if I could bring anything to her son’s baptism get-together she replied almost instantaneously with those “oreo evil things.” Once you make them, you’ll understand why.

Here’s what you need:

1 pkg regular oreos (double stuffed not required)

1 8oz pkg philadelphia cream cheese

9+ squares of almond bark (this is key)

Step 1 . Take out the cream cheese and let it soften while you make the oreos into crumbs. This will help out with step 2. Take each sleeve of cookies and pop it into your food processor (no need to de-cream). Turn it on until they resemble coarse crumbs. Remove crumbs to a large mixing bowl. Repeat for the two remaining sleeves.

Step 2. Add the (now) softened cream cheese to the mixing bowl with oreo crumbs. Fold with a spatula (or dig right in with freshly washed hands) to combine oreos and cream cheese. The mixture should be slightly sticky with no loose crumbs.

Step 3. Get out a large cookie sheet (feel free to line it with parchment paper if you like). Scoop out approximately 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Place these on the cookie sheet. You should be able to make about 3 dozen. Place the cookie sheet into the freezer for at least one hour to harden the “dough.” I did mine overnight because I started late in the day.

Step 4. When ready to coat, break apart 9 squares of almond bark (I like to use white because it’s a nice contrast but the hubbs likes the brown because it’s so delicious). You can either heat them in a tiny crockpot or in a microwaveable bowl. If you go the microwave route, heat for 30 seconds, then stir. Repeat until the bark is melted and smooth. Be careful not to over cook! If you do you’ll end up with gross bark that’s not useable.

Step 5. When the bark is melted, remove the oreos from the freezer. Using a toothpick dip each ball into the melted bark and roll around until covered as desired. I’m lazy a fan of leaving a little at the top showing so I don’t coat it completely. Remove the now dipped ball back to the same cookie sheet. Repeat 35 more times

Step 6. Place the now dipped truffles back into the freezer for an additional hour to firm up.

Step 7. Serve the truffles in a large bowl and then stand far away, lest you gain twelve pounds by standing there devouring the whole bowl.

These are probably already in your recipe deck. But I want to make sure everyone knows about these habit forming snacks desserts. What do you think about them? Tasty?