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.

Heavenly Maple Syrup Muffins

Heavenly Maple Syrup Muffins..... need I say more?????

Ingredients:
1/4 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup maple syrup
***GLAZE***
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin pans, or place liners in cups if preferred.

Soften margarine, blend in sugar and salt. Add dry ingredients and blend with pastry cutter until crumbly. Mix in oats.

Blend milk and syrup together and pour over dry ingredients, stirring only until just combined. Divide batter evenly among cups. Bake for 20 minutes or until muffins test done.

Mix the butter, powdered sugar and maple syrup. Spread glaze over muffins when they have cooled slightly.

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.

under 10 bucks! 3 cheese pasta bake

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 package (8 ounces) shredded two-cheese blend (about 2 cups)

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup milk

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

3 cups corkscrew-shaped pasta, cooked and drained

• Stir the soup, cheeses, milk and black pepper in a 1 1/2-quart casserole. Stir in the pasta.
• Bake at 400°F. for 20 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling.

kid friendly snack ideas

found these kid friendly snack tips on the campbell's website. i am always looking for healthier ways to fend off my little guy's appetite. hope you find them useful as well.

Make it easy for your child to make smart snack choices. Try packing these snacks in lunchboxes, and keep a few available for after school snack attacks.

• A simple snack of cheese and crackers, with reduced-fat cheese and whole-grain crackers, is always a hit.
• Popcorn is delicious, crunchy and filling. Pop your own, and skip the butter, or try reduced–fat microwave popcorns.
• Soup is another great snack for after school, and a good way to hear about your children’s day while they sip away.
• Dried fruit is a sweet, high-fiber snack for kids and adults alike. Just be sure to check the nutrition content. Some dried fruits (like banana chips) can be high in calories.
• Snacks like pretzels and Pepperidge Farm^® Goldfish^® crackers are delicious options when kids are craving something crunchy.
• Try spreading some low-fat cream cheese on a tortilla, fill it with fresh veggies and Pace^® salsa, roll it up, and cut it into snack-size pieces.
• Cut up fresh fruit into chunks and set it out with a small bowl of vanilla yogurt for dipping.

Gone Fishin' Trail Mix

Super cute for kid parties or playdates!!!!!

2 cups Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish Colors
1 cup Pepperidge Farm® Baby Cheddar Goldfish®
1 cup Pepperidge Farm® Pretzel Goldfish®
1 package (7 ounces) mixed dried fruit bits
1 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 cup white chocolate pieces

Stir the ingredients in a large bowl or a resealable container"