Chocolate Chip Pecan Bars

OMG! I cannot wait to try this recipe out. I think my boys will LOVE them. I heart you Duncan Hines.

Cookie Bars:

1 pkg Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Classic Yellow Cake Mix

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Drizzle:

• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tsp shortening

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease and flour 13 x 9-inch pan.

For cookie bars, combine cake mix, melted butter, brown sugar, water, eggs, 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips and pecans in large bowl. Mix with spoon until thoroughly blended. Spread in pan.

Bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely.

For drizzle, combine 1/2 cup chocolate chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high power for 30 seconds; stir. Repeat until chocolate is melted. Drizzle over cooled bars. Allow chocolate to set before cutting into bars.

Crazy stuff!!!!

I have heard recently that you can take a regular box of cake mix (any flavor) and bake it with a can of SODA (instead of the eggs and oil). The result is a lower fat cake option that doesn't need frosting. I was curious.... so I googled it. Turns out, it's TRUE!!!

Click here for a more detailed description.

CRAZY stuff, eh?

Extreme Fudgy Peanut Butter Brownies

I ran across this recipe on the Duncan Hines site while searching for a jazzy new spin on brownies. Sweet Jesus, I think the search is over!

• 1 box Duncan Hines® Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2-4 tablespoons cream
• 1 tub Duncan Hines® Creamy Home-Style Milk Chocolate Frosting

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9 inch baking pan; set aside.
2. Prepare brownie mix as described on box using eggs, water and oil. Fold in 1 cup of milk chocolate chips. Spread evenly into prepared pan.
3. Bake in center of oven for 25 to 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Place on wire rack.
4. Add peanut butter and butter in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly until combined and smooth. Note: You will get a much taller filling if you whip this with an electric mixture to incorporate lots of air.
5. Slowly add powdered sugar, mixture will be a bit crumbly.
6. Blend in cream until mixture is fluffy and reaches desired spreading consistency.
7. Spread evenly over warm brownie.
8. Melt Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Frosting for 30 seconds in the microwave. Stir and put back in for another 10 – 15 second. Pour over peanut butter spread on the brownies. Use a knife to spread the chocolate evenly.
9. Put in refrigerator for an hour to set.
10. Take out and let the brownie sit in room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.

Cheesecake Factory's Carrot Cake Cheesecake

OMG! I just found the coolest website EVER!!! Zillions of copycat recipes that you have always been wishing for. First up my FAVORITE cheesecake on the planet. Can't wait to try this recipe out for hubby's birthday next week.

Cheesecake Factory`s Carrot Cake Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients:
***Cheesecake:***
16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon flour
3 eggs
***Carrot Cake:***
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 1/2 ounces can crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained well, reserve juice
1 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
***Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:***
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice

Directions:

In large bowl of electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in flour, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside. Meanwhile prepare Carrot Cake.

Carrot Cake:

In large bowl, combine oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract; mix well. Stir in dry ingredients; mixing well. Stir in drained pineapple, carrots, coconut and walnuts.

Spread 1 1/2 c. carrot cake batter over bottom of greased 9- or 9 1/2" springform pan. Drop cream cheese batter over carrot cake batter by spoonfuls; top with large spoonfuls of remaining carrot cake batter. Repeat with remaining cream cheese batter, spreading evenly with a knife. Do not marble with a knife. Bake in preheated 350ºF oven for 50 to 65 minutes or until cake is set and cooked through. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. When cake is cold, prepare Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting.

Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a bowl of electric mixer, combine cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and reserved pineapple juice. Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency. Frost top of cheesecake. Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours before serving.

Note: Don't skimp on the ingredients (and don't use store brands or generic). Use regular cream cheese, real butter, and pineapple packed in juice, not sugar syrup. You will be glad you did.

Taste a Rainbow cupcakes

I found this fun and festive recipe on the Family Fun Magazine website. It's a perfect St. Patrick's Day treat..... which is one of MY favorite holidays!!!!

Here's what little leprechauns look forward to on St. Patrick's Day: a magical snack that can add color to the grayest March afternoon. Pot of gold not included.

Ingredients

• White cake mix (we used an 18-1/4-ounce box)
• Food coloring (red, blue, green, and yellow)

• Baking cups
• Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare your favorite white cake mix, then divide the batter evenly among six small bowls. Following the chart below, dye each bowl of batter a rainbow color.
   
   

   RAINBOW COLOR	DROPS OF FOOD COLORING
   Purple	9 red and 6 blue drops
   Blue	12 drops
   Green	12 drops
   Yellow	12 drops
   Orange	12 yellow and 4 red drops
   Red	18 drops

   
   
   

2. Line 16 muffin pan wells with baking cups. Evenly distribute the purple batter among the cups, then the blue, and so on, following the order shown. As you go, gently spread each layer of batter with the back of a spoon to cover the color underneath.

3. Bake the cupcakes according to your recipe directions. Before serving, remove the paper wrapping, and if you like, top each cupcake with a whipped-cream cloud.

Touchdown Brownies Recipe from Betty Crocker

1box (1 lb 6.5 oz) Betty Crocker® Original Supreme brownie mix (with chocolate syrup pouch)
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box
Betty Crocker® white decorating icing (from 4.25-oz tube)



1.Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2 inches over short sides of pan. Grease bottom only of foil with cooking spray or shortening.
2.Make and bake brownie mix as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan, using water, oil and eggs. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
3.Remove brownies from pan by lifting foil; peel foil from sides of brownies. Cut brownies with 3 1/2x2-inch football-shaped cookie cutter. Pipe on decorating icing to look like football laces."

Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie. My husband's favorite dessert! I have a great recipe that is super simple and always comes out perfect!

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup DARK corn syrup

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 bag pecans (8 oz)

Beat all ingredients together. Pour into crust.

Bake 375° oven for 35-40 minutes.

Cover edges of crust with foil for last 10 minutes.

YUMMY!