Knock You Naked Brownies {Recipe}

One of my new goals is to try a new recipe every week. Let's face it, desserts are so much more fun to make and ENJOY! So, this week I visited The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond's website/blog and found this lovely and enticing recipe.

The picture can't do this brownie justice. This brownie is gooey goodness and pure trouble.

Knock You Naked Brownies

Ingredients

1 box of German Chocolate Cake Mix

1 cup Chopped Pecans

1/3 cup Evaporated Milk

1/2 cup Evaporated Milk {additional}

1/2 cup Butter, Melted

60 Caramels

1/3 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together cake mix, chopped pecans, 1/3 cup evaporated milk and melted butter.

The batter will be very thick.

Press half of the batter into a 9"x9" square baking pan.

{I didn't have a 9"x9" so I used my 8"x8" and it worked fine.}

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, unwrap your caramel. In a sauce pan on low to medium low heat melt the caramel and

1/2 cup evaporated milk until they are melted and combined.

{The original recipe said to use a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of bowling water. If you melt the caramel over low heat and keep stirring it I found that you can just use a saucepan.}

Pour the caramel over the baked brownie.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips.

Top with the remaining batter.

Since the batter is so thick I found it easiest to just drop small spoonfuls of the batter on top of the caramel. Then I used my spatula to spread it a little {your hands would work as well}. As you can see the top layer is far from perfect looking but remember you will make it pretty later by adding lots of powdered sugar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool, then cover and refrigerate for several hours.

Generously sift powdered sugar over the surface of the brownies. Cut and ENJOY! 



Sisters in the Kitchen

I'm one lucky lady...my mom and sister are visiting me this week and I couldn't be more thrilled. My mom is like the energizer bunny. As I write this she is sweating up a storm in my yard cleaning up my unruly flower beds {there are not enough words to thank her for that} and earlier this week she painted the nursery. She refuses to let her basketball carrying, fat ankle daughter help {and I do feel guilty}.

The other night Maggy and I made homemade Mac & Cheese for our dinner side {except we made enough to feed an army...leftovers!}.

Maggy mixing the cheese sauce.



The recipe was pretty easy. It can be found here. It was also pretty tasty.

Lots of Mac & Cheese {I doubled the recipe}

Triple Chocolate Cake Recipe {As Promised}

This cake is really moist and chocolaty. I know there is no icing but to be honest it really doesn't need it. Here is the recipe that you've all been waiting for after my 'A Busy Weekend for My Kitchen' post.

Ingredients1 box chocolate cake mix

1 3.9 oz package of chocolate pudding {the dry stuff}

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend the chocolate cake mix, chocolate pudding, eggs, sour cream, warm water and vegetable oil on low for 1 minute, increase to medium for 2-3 minutes.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into a greased bundt pan.

Bake for 45-50 minutes. When the cake is finished it should spring up when touched.

Let cool, run knife around the edge of pan and flip. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and ENJOY!



A Busy Weekend for My Kitchen

This weekend we had a few fun things to do. Saturday was a BBQ and Sunday I spent the day with my BFF. Also, on weekends we like to have muffins for breakfast and in an effort to be a little bit more health conscious I decided to make some from scratch {YUM}. Needless to say my muffin pans got A LOT of use this weekend.

Saturday started out with Banana Crumb Muffins. So good. I don't think I ever want to buy boxed muffin mix again. My only issue with this recipe is the 1 stick (or half a cup) of butter/margarine. A little greasy. I'm going to make them again but replace the butter/margarine with apple sauce. I know that's what you do in recipes with Weight Watchers to make them healthier so I'm hoping it's just as good with this recipe.

Banana Crumb Muffins

Next on the agenda was Pina Colada Cupcakes. These are surprisingly not that unhealthy and they were a hit at the BBQ {and with my husband but he seems to like everything I make so I don't know if we should count his comments}.

Pina Colada Cupcakes

To decorate them I cut a paper straw in quarters {I found my straws at Paper-Source}. Then I added an umbrella with a cherry and piece of pineapple on it. They looked super cute and were very easy to decorate. They look good even if you don't decorate them.

Pina Colada Cupcakes

Of course, I wanted to make sure there was enough dessert for everyone so I also made a family favorite Triple Chocolate Cake {I'll post the recipe later this week}. This cake is to die for. This quote is from my friends boyfriend {the couple that hosted the BBQ}. After the party was over he came and said to her "Who made that chocolate cake? I just ate four pieces. We HAVE to make sure we wrap it up so it's good tomorrow." It made me laugh. Plus, it's a super easy recipe.

Triple Chocolate Cake

Today my friend and I celebrated her soon-to-be 29th! I made her Raspberry-Kissed Lemonade Cupcakes. I do have one suggestion on this one, be careful with the lemonade mix. My cupcakes were way to sweet/sugary, mainly the frosting.

Raspberry-Kissed Lemonade Cupcakes

I also made guacamole for today because we have tried guacamole at numerous restaurants {even authentic Mexican restaurants} and there has been no guacamole that compares to what we had in Mexico. This recipe was great and came pretty close to the Mexican version we love. Side note: I did not add the cayenne pepper that is optional with this recipe. Also, I know that the fresh lime juice is really what made this guac good.

Guacamole

For now, the kitchen is closed! I hope you had a great weekend.

Living A Healthy Lifestyle {The Shine Project Challenge}

This month The Shine Project is focusing on body image. Last week was about beauty. I know that I'm a week late but I got this in an email this week and had to share it. It is a poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her beauty tips.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed;

never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself and the other for helping others. 

I just think that was beautifully written and had to share.

Now, onto this week's challenge. How will I be living a healthier lifestyle?I'm not going to lie, being pregnant opens the flood gates for food and laziness. I'm less strict with myself and while I'm at the grocery store I find myself looking at items like these...



Not good choices, I know. But, I do supplement that with fruit and normal meals.

My Healthy Lifestyle Goals

On average I only eat fruit 3-4 times per week.

My goal: Eat fruit at least once per day {most likely with my bowl of Crispex cereal in the morning}

Lately I've been a little lazy with dinner. I make dinner but I don't always make sure we have a salad or vegetable included.

My goal: Include a salad or vegetable with every dinner. {Check out my easy peasy recipe below for grilled veggies. They taste great!}

Snacking...I love a little afternoon snack of chips or something that I can just pull out of the cupboard.

My goal: Instead of chips have pretzels, pita chips or something healthier. That way I'm not totally depriving myself of something salting and crunchy but I'm choosing a smarter option.

Grilled Veggies Recipe

I will be the first to admit that I'm a picky eater when it comes to vegetables. I've gotten better over the years and I think that has A LOT to do with learning how to prepare them so I'll eat them. This recipe is so easy and delish.

What You'll Need

Veggies {I prefer yellow and orange sweet bell peppers, zucchini, portabella mushrooms.}

Olive Oil {about 1/2-3/4 cup, depends on how many veggies you use}

Worcestershire Sauce {about 1/4 cup, once again depends on how many veggies you use}

In a large Ziploc bag combine clean and cut veggies, olive oil and Worcestershire sauce. {Hint: You  need enough oil/sauce to coat all of the veggies. They don't need to be soaking in it.}

Shake it up and put it in the refrigerator to marinate for about 20 minutes.

Use a grill pan on your grill so the veggies don't fall through. In about 10 minutes your veggies will be ready to eat. Viola...you'll have delicious veggies to serve on the side or over couscous.

Note: Before this recipe I wouldn't even touch bell peppers.

I'm linking this post up at The Shine Project today. Stop by and check it out.

Lemon Pepper Pasta with Edamame Recipe

If I have to go grocery shopping I prefer Trader Joes. Not only is their food awesome and quick to make, I can get in and out of their store in less than 30 minutes. One of my favorite items is Lemon Pepper Pasta with Edamame. Yummy and ready in 15 minutes. 

Make your pasta, cook the edamame, stir together. Add your chicken {I use the canned chicken because it's quick}. Mix in 1 1/2 - 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Dish up and sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!