Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

With Valentine’s Day approaching, I thought that I would serve you up some
Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownie  love ♥ ♥ ♥
Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies
1 cup unsalted butter
4-oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 – 8oz blocks cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350F.
Line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil and lightly grease.
Melt butter and chocolate together. Stir until combined and very smooth.
Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and food coloring.
Add chocolate mixture and stir until smooth.
Add flour and salt and stir until just combined and no streaks of dry ingredients remain.
Pour into prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
To prepare cheesecake mixture, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
Drop in dollops onto prepared brownie batter.
Gently swirl two batters with a butter knife.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, until brownies and cheesecake are set.
A knife inserted into the cheesecake mixture should come out clean and the edges will be lightly browned.
Cool in the pan completely before slicing and serving, either at room temperature or chilled.
Enjoy!

 

source:  adapted from Baking Bites

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have a very normal life:  husband, kids, school, church, homework, sports, cooking, cleaning, laundry.  Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing unique and yet sometimes I can barely keep up.  It seems that I have been in somewhat of a survival mode this past month, trying to catch up on the house and the laundry, trying to adjust back to the routine of school and now homework, trying to deal with sibling rivalry and sassiness, and yet still trying to find the joy in the normalness of my everyday life.  I don’t want to be so busy, so focused with the routine of life that I fail to see the joy in our ordinary everyday moments.  Some days I need to turn a blind eye to my messy house, to the laundry that needs folded, to all that needs done and just enjoy my husband, my kids, my life, my normal.  Today I am celebrating my everyday normal life with these deliciously ordinary chocolate chip cookies! 

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat.
Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
Pour the melted butter in the mixer’s work bowl.
Add the sugar and brown sugar.
Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed.
Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract
and mix until well combined.
Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined.
Stir in the chocolate chips.
Chill the dough for at least 2 hours, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet.
Bake for 11 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Serve warm with a glass of milk after an afternoon nap :)
Enjoy!
source:  adapted form Alton Brown

Top 10 Recipes of 2010

IMG_59391

2010 was filled with many memorable events and milestones for our family.  This was the year that Caleb started kindergarten, got bit by a snake and lost his first tooth.  The year that Bella began preschool, got her first haircut and learned to love dresses.  The year that Drew hit the magical age of two, had Continue Reading …

Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies

IMG_8905b3

My good friend Tanya made these brownies last Christmas and they instantly became a favorite of mine!  I absolutely love the chocolate peppermint combination and the candy cane topping makes them the perfect treat to serve at Christmas time.  These brownies are the best!  Merry Christmas! Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies Brownies: 4 squares unsweetened chocolate (4oz) 1 Continue Reading …

World’s Best Sugar Cookies

IMG_8626b7

These are the sugar cookies that I grew up on.  My mom would make them every year along with Christmas Fudge to pass out to our friends and neighbors at Christmas time.  They are the perfect Christmas cookie. World’s Best Sugar Cookies 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup butter 1 cup Continue Reading …

Christmas Fudge

IMG_9003b3

This Christmas Fudge is a Christmas tradition in my family.  A dear friend made it for us one Christmas years ago and it has been made in our home every Christmas since.  It really is the best fudge recipe out there.  Look no further, make this Christmas fudge today! Christmas Fudge 4 1/2 cups sugar 1  1/2 cubes Continue Reading …