Quick & Easy

Here’s a quick and easy dessert you can make when that last minute invite comes through and you don’t want to go empty handed.

I’ve made similar brownies before but found this idea for the base on a blog recently.  (I apologize for not remembering which one.  Let me know if it was YOU and I’ll update my post with a link.)  The other blogger just layered graham cracker squares on the bottom instead of making a graham cracker crust.  Doesn’t get any easier. I like easy.

Quick & Easy S’mores Brownies

• One box of your favorite brownie mix
• One box of graham crackers
• One bag of marshmallows

Grab desired pan and line with aluminum foil.  Once lined layer with graham crackers. Prepare your brownies according to the box directions and pour into pan.  Set timer for 5 minutes prior to the recommended bake time to allow for the addition of your marshmallows.  When the timer goes off quickly top brownies with marshmallows and put back into oven until marshmallows are puffy and browned, 5 minutes or so.  Once out of the oven I added more graham cracker squares to the top and allowed to cool.

Note:  You don’t need the whole box of graham crackers or bag of marshmallows.  Add as much or as little as desired. You could, if so desired make homemade brownies instead of a box mix and you could get even crazier and use homemade graham crackers and marshmallows.  I’m not that crazy.  :)

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Hope everyone is enjoying their three day holiday weekend!    :)

S’mores Snack Cake

 

Seriously good and relatively easy.  For those of you that may not know, besides loving all things cinnamon, blondie, and banana loaded I’m also very fond of s’more-ish treats.  (I’m pretty sure its the warm melty roasted ‘mallows that gets me.) 

A while back Debbie from Mocha Me blogged about a s’mores snack cake  baked. She said while she enjoyed the cake it didn’t quite hit that s’mores note.  After thoughts of it lingered, I finally decided on how to get  that “s’mores” flavor I love.  I think I nailed it with my adaption.  Or at least that’s how I took the almost empty pan.  I did manage to snag this piece to photograph.

Click here for the original recipe as seen on Mocha Me or here for a printable version of mine. Note, for decorative purposes I stuck a graham cracker in the center and drizzled more chocolate on top.  Babygirl ate this piece and said it was better than her first one. 

Only Because I said I would

NOT because I wanted to!  These photos flat out stink but I said I would so, here it is nutella marshmallow mousse. 

There are a few things I want to say about this mousse.  First, it didn’t change my thoughts on chocolate.  It was good but it was chocolate.  What I did love was the mousse part of this!  I’m kicking myself for all the times I passed up chocolate mousse because it was chocolate.  I’ve never tasted a traditional mousse but this one was creamy and silky smooth.  I just loved the texture.    Now I have to find some mousse recipes that aren’t chocolate.  Anyone have a vanilla mousse recipe?

 

Nutella Marshmallow Mousse by the Art of Dessert          (Please check out the Art of Dessert my photos don’t do this recipe justice!)

Makes 4 servings
Allergy Note: contains nut and dairy ingredients

4 ounces marshmallows (about 2 cups of mini marshmallows or 16 large marshmallows)*
1/4 cup whole milk**
6 tablespoons Nutella chocolate-hazelnut spread
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Using a strainer, rinse the mini marshmallows over cold running water. (Why rinse the marshmallows? It removes the cornstarch and powdered sugar on the outside. Skip this step and you won't have a smooth and silky mousse. Trust me.) In a microwave-safe bowl, combine marshmallows, milk and Nutella. Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. Mix until smooth. Set aside to cool.

In another mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream to soft peaks. Take 1/4 of the whipped cream and mix it into the Nutella mixture. Gently fold in the rest of the whipped cream. Transfer into margarita glasses, goblets or ramekins. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped cream, shaved chocolate or fruit.

To make the chocolate filigree heart:
Draw the heart design on a piece of parchment paper. Turn the parchment paper over and place it on a flat surface. Melt some dark chocolate (I used white chocolate) and pour it into a pastry bag with a small round tip or a cornet (parchment paper cone). Pipe the chocolate onto the heart design and let it set.

*Note:  I used homemade marshmallows.                                   **Note:  I used 2% milk.

(Click here for a printable recipe)

Marshmallow-mania

with Monica and Michelle.  This month’s installment of our kitchen challenge was chosen by Monica.   She chose Alton Brown’s marshmallow recipe.  If you haven’t tried your hand at making homemade marshmallows and have a bag of store bought ones in your pantry then you need to give this recipe a try.  

Unlike Monica and Michelle this wasn’t my first foray into marshmallow making.  Having already conquered marshmallows I thought of all these great flavors I could make but then thoughts of other recipes seeped into my head and I went the plain route.  I can’t say if these were better than my last batch of marshmallows but my nephew, Babygirl, her friend from across the street, and myself thought they were great, way better than the kind you eat out of a bag! 

With my homemade marshmallows I made several other recipes.  First up and the most obvious was toaster oven s’mores.  These were requested by Babygirl’s friend. 

The toasted marshmallows didn’t get hot enough to really melt the chocolate or I might have let them cool down too much while I was taking photos.  :)

Next up, toasted marshmallow milkshakes.  These are even better than you’d think.  The best part was the bits of charred marshmallows, YUM!  For those of you who are thinking rats, I don’t have homemade marshmallows. You don’t have to wait you can use the store bought jumbo ones.  :)

Everyone loved these and requested I make a second batch but the rest of my marshmallows were designated for other recipes!  You know what?  Add some chocolate syrup, maybe to the sides of the glass and generously sprinkle in some crushed graham crackers and you’ll have a s’mores shake!  If you make it let me know! 

During our email exchanges Monica, Michelle, and I all agreed turning our marshmallows into cinnamon ones would have been a great adaption to the recipe.  While it was too late to flavor the inside of my marshmallows I thought what if I added cinnamon to the outside? I added some to the cornstarch and powdered sugar and then tossed several of my freshly cut marshmallows.  Pretty good!  Not as good I’m sure as adding the cinnamon to the cooked sugar but definitely nice.  (Hey, Michelle?  Monica?  You guys coming over for some milkshake and cinnamon marshmallows?)

There was one more thing I made with my marshmallows, nutella marshmallow mousse.  Unfortunately you’re gonna have to come back for it. This post is already running  kinda long and you still need to go visit Michelle and Monica’s to check out their marshmallows! 

• Click here for a printable marshmallow recipe.
• Click here for the printable toasted marshmallow milkshake recipe.

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To the 10 Lucky Leaf winners I emailed your addresses to Krista.  I asked that she please let me know when the packages are in route to you.  If she does I’ll let you know.   To those of you that didn’t win I have another giveaway coming up.  I meant to have the post up this weekend but marshmallows kinda got in the way.  :)

Cookies & Cream Rice Krispy Treats

I made these cookies and cream rice krispy treats treats last Sunday for Devon and three of his football buddies that were coming over for dinner and to spend the night. To say that the boys liked the treats would be a huge understatement.  They tore into them and had eaten all but four of the treats by the following morning.  I know you’re thinking well, it was four boys but they didn’t start eating the treats until after 8:30pm and they also each had a piece (or two) of the ice cream cake I made!  (That post soon to come.)

While I didn’t follow her recipe I did take inspiration from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody.  I initially was going to give it to you but instead I’m just going to tell you to check out your Rice Krispies box.  The one thing I do differently when making rice krispy treats is I always increase the amount of marshmallows.  Marshmallows are what makes the treats so yummy, be generous.  For this batch I added another half a bag of marshmallows and about two rows of oreo cookies that I cut into quarters.   I didn’t want a strong chocolaty flavor and  I wanted to have oreo cookie chunks so I was careful not to add any of the oreo crumbs.

Do you like oreos?  Do you like rice krispy treats? Then I recommend giving this a try and if you are super keen on chocolate, up the oreos, add the crumbs, and use Cocoa Krispies.  For all of Sunday and Monday I was “d’man”!  All three of the boys went home talking about my cookies and cream rice krispy treats!  One of the boys even went so far as to hide one of the treats so he could bring it home for his parents to try.  :)

Technorati Tags: bars,marshmallows,oreos,rice krispies,treats

Cooking with Alicia & Annie: Marshmallow Brownies

Yup, I just entered another blogging event!  Getting crazy, I tell ya. 

Amanda from Amanda’s Cooking mentioned to me a few months ago (yeah, I know) in an email  that I might like to check out a blogging event called Cooking with Alicia & Annie.  I panicked at first but after looking at the blog page for it and checking out some of the recipes I realized that I could do this.  For those of you that haven’t participated you should check it out. I don’t think there’s an “easier” blogging event out there. They have something for everyone with a TON of recipes to chose from, both savory and sweet.  I, of course, went for the sweet.  :)  Oh, before I forget…you can win prizes!  Pretty cool! You pick  a recipe from Alicia’s or Annie’s site, make it,  blog about it, and then you get a chance to win a prize. Easy, right?!

I’m laughing right now….you know why?  Because those of you who have been reading my blog for a while are, I’m sure, NOT surprised by my choice in recipes. Bars and blondies, no big surprise there, right?  :) Don’t be fooled by that title while Alicia calls these Marshmallow Brownies they are NOT brownies.  I’m unofficially renaming them Marshmallow Goldies.

The recipe called for chocolate chips which might have helped the brownie cause but I left ‘em out.  Besides leaving out the chocolate chips I also tossed out the nuts and used coarse sea salt. (‘member this post?)  Thinking back I should have upped the salt and sprinkled some on top.  While these won’t usurp snickerdoodle blondies from their prime spot at the top they are worth giving a try!

Marshmallow Brownies/Goldies

1/2 cup butterscotch pieces

1/4 cup butter or margarine (go w/butter)

3/4 cup flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt (coarse sea salt)

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1 cup chocolate chips (I omitted)

1/4 cup chopped nuts (I omitted)

Instructions

Grease bottom and sides of 9-inch square baking pan. In a 3-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt butterscotch chips and butter, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool to lukewarm. Add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla and egg; mix well. Fold in miniature marshmallows, chocolate chips and nuts just until combined, about 5 strokes. Spread in prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Do not overbake! Center will be jiggly but becomes firm upon cooling.

 

Technorati Tags: bars,blondies,butterscotch chips,marshmallows

S'mores Bread Pudding

When you have bread going stale what do you make?  Why bread  pudding of course!  And if you're me S'mores bread pudding to be exact! :)

I remembered drooling over Peabody's photos of her S'mores Bread Pudding awhile back and new this was the perfect opportunity to give it a go. 

 

I checked out the recipe since it had been a while and I couldn't  find the printout in the stack of ten thousand sheets I have lying in a mountainous pile.What I found after checking the recipe was that she used a Hot Chocolate bread.  Well, I wasn't making one and the whole point of the bread pudding was to use up my leftover baguette.  Not to be deterred I decided to adapt the recipe to suit my purpose and taste.  I think I did pretty good though I'm sure had I followed her recipe I would have also been happy. 

S’mores Bread Pudding (my adaptations in red)

1 Guatemalan Hot Chocolate Bread (recipe follows)- cut up into square pieces (I used 1 loaf of french bread.)

1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
½ cup whole milk  (I used 2%)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 egg yolks
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

10 graham crackers
¾ cup mini chocolate chips (semi-sweet Guittard chocolate chips)
2 cups marshmallows (give or take, the amount is really up to you, I used minis)

Butter a 8-x-8-inch pan.  (1 souffle dish)
Whisk together the heavy whipping cream, milk, sugar, egg yolks, egg and vanilla extract. Set aside, this is the custard mixture.  (I cut up my baguette and added it to the custard mixture.   I left the bread soaking in the custard and stirred it occasionally until most of the custard was soaked up by the bread.)
Sprinkle bread pieces on the bottom of the pan so that the pan is covered. (I layered the custard soaked bread, graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips in the souffle dish.  One layer of bread pudding, one layer of graham cracker, liberally sprinkled with mini marshmallows,chocolate chips, and another layer of bread pudding followed by the graham crackers.)  Break graham crackers in to pieces (I keep mine in whole pieces. Just breaking off pieces to fit my dish.) and sprinkle evenly half of them on top of the bread. Sprinkle evenly half of the chocolate chips as well. Add 1/3 of the custard mixture and press bread down so that the custard soaks in. You may need more custard depending on how dry your bread is. Then add bread pieces again, followed by remaining graham crackers and chocolate chips. Add another 1/3 of the custard mixture and again press the bread down to make sure all the bread pieces get soaked with custard. Keep adding the custard until all of the piece are soak through with custard. You will most likely have both bread pieces and custard left over (I didn't have any of either leftover), feel free to make a mini one.
Place dish in a water bath and bake at 350F for 1 hour. After the first 20 minutes, place aluminum foil on top of the bread pudding to prevent the graham cracker pieces and top of the bread from browning too much.
When the bread pudding comes out of the oven, immediately (I added more chocolate chips and then the marshmallows) spread marshmallows on top to allow them to melt. You can use a kitchen torch (Joe used our kitchen torch) or place under a broiler to get the toasted marshmallow look. Top with chocolate syrup (The kids and I don't do a lot of chocolate so we left off the syrup.) and serve warm (or hot or cold for me).

The sitter, Miss Karolyn and the twins really liked the it.  Babygirl was too slow so she missed out.  Devon, my unofficial taste tester said it was good but that the Bananas Foster one was better.  (I think it was the Bananas Foster sauce that put it over the edge!) I admit to liking this better after it cooled substantially. When I first tasted it still warm (hot) from the oven I didn't like how "wet" the bread still was  (I DO NOT like mushy, soggy  textures! EW!) but after it cooled to room temperature it was perfect, moist with a yummy custardy flavor but not soggy.

I broke out my new kitchen torch and (finally) used it or rather Joe did to toast the marshmallows.  I was a little timid and kept worrying we'd burn the house down or at least each other.  He did a good job.  Did ya see all those lovely toasted marshmallows?

**Please let me know if I missed something in the recipe or if I didn't explain myself well.

Don't forget to answer my question with your opinion and enter my giveaway!

Technorati Tags: giveaway,s'mores,marshmallows,chocolate,graham crackers,bread pudding

S'mores Brownies two ways

I'm sure it's not a shock to read that I love s'mores (desserts).  Here's the crazy thing, I've never had an actual s'mores. You know,  everyone's fave campfire treat, the kind with the marshmallows roasted over an open fire. I've made toaster oven s'mores and many other s'mores like desserts but never the real deal.

These first S'mores Brownies were pretty good and were made using a boxed brownie mix. Unfortunately I overcooked the brownies and thus the graham cracker crust a bit.  The brownies sit atop a  graham cracker crust and  its crowning glory is a yummy layer of oven melted marshmallows.  Sandwiched between the two (should have been) a gooey fudgy brownie. Sounds good right? So you know I was bummed when I sampled one and found my brownies were not gooey or fudgy. 

I made these for Devon, one of the twins to take to school along with a pan of white chocolate blondies but because they didn't turn out as well as I wanted I didn't send them. Against my better judgement Devon convinced me to send in two for his teacher to try.  (He came back with the message....she liked them!) I didn't follow a recipe just an idea of what I wanted.  

The second S'mores Brownies I made were inspired by the ones I saw on the blog, Joy the Baker.  Being that the Twins had baseball practice and it was moved indoors I figured I would take the brownies to practice but after taking them out of the oven I realized that they would be a bit messing to cut and serve.  I took the recipe's concept of adding marshmallows and graham cracker pieces into the batter to make it "smores" and instead of making homemade brownies I used a box mix.  (Original recipe provided below) I did add a bit more marshmallows and graham cracker pieces which lead to their being a tad difficult to cut.  While I liked these, especially warmed up and topped with vanilla ice cream, I wasn't crazy about them.   I've come to realize while the concept of a s'mores brownies is a good one it doesn't translate well.  In both of these the brownie was the dominant taste. Don't get me wrong some (brownie lovers) might enjoy both of these  but for me s'mores are more about the gooey marshmallows and graham crackers than the chocolate.  If you want something that is reminiscent of those yummy campfire treats give these a S'mores Bars or even these.

S’mores Brownies

     adapted from Bon Appetit, October 1991

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup graham cracker, roughly crushed with your hands
• 12 big marshmallows  (I also diced 6 additional marshmallows and stirred them into the batter. These marshmallows dissolve when baked, so you can leave them out, or throw them in.  Up to you!)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9×13-inch baking pan with 2-inch-high sides. Combine first 3 ingredients in small bowl. Stir butter and chocolate in a medium sized bowl over a  heavy  saucepan of simmering water.  Stir chocolate and butter in this double boiler until melted and smooth.

Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Stir in warm chocolate mixture, then dry ingredients. Fold in graham crackers.  Pour batter into prepared pan. Dot with 12 large marshmallows.  Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 30- 40 minutes minutes.

Marshmallows will be browned and puffy but will deflate as the brownies cool.  Cool for at least 20 minutes than slice with a sharp knife, cleaning the knife with hot water if it gets too messy and sticky.  Serve or wrap individually in wax paper for storing.

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Technorati Tags: s'mores,bars,brownies,marshmallows,graham crackers,chocolate

Butterscotch Marshmallow Brownies with Butterscotch Ganache

This couldn't have been easier or yummier! Some of you may cringe when you read this but I used a boxed brownie mix! Yup, it was after nine, the boys had friends over to watch a movie and I knew they were expecting me to bake 'em something yummy. Because I couldn't just make 'em boxed brownies (I've got a rep with these boys as being the Mama whose house you want to eat at)I decided to kick 'em a notch or two or three. I added two hand fulls of butterscotch chips and about three hand fulls of marshmallows to the batter. Remembering I had some butterscotch ganache in the fridge I decided to drizzle some over the cooled brownies.

They were a hit! I had to stop the boys at two! (I needed to save a few for tomorrow's photo session) I managed to control myself and eat only one but I wanted a second!

**Update, I totally forgot to mention, the Butterscotch Ganache was one I made using Bakerella's recipe. I've added the links. Sorry!

LiveJournal Tags: butterscotch,brownies,marshamllows,chocolate,bars

S'mores Cheesecake

Hmmmm, what to say?  Aaaaa, duh it's S'mores Cheesecake!  Was it good? Yes! Would I make it again?  Yes, with a few more changes.  I already made a couple of minor ones, the most significant was the use of semisweet and bittersweet chocolates instead of milk.  I liked it and the kids enjoyed it but I think they would have liked it more had I used all semisweet.   Though I made a bit more crust I think the next time I'll  double the recipe so I get lots of that graham cracker S'mores-y flavor.  I'm not messing with the top. Everyone agreed the marshmallow meringue topping was awesome.  I thought just the right amount of marshmallow.  Well, I would have liked more but it would have been overkill.

This recipe comes by way of the blog Sugar on Top.

Unfortunately I didn't take a photo of a slice of the cheesecake.  :-( I only got a bunch of the top.  I'm not sure why I didn't?  Anyway here's the link to the recipe.

Oh, before serving I sprinkled graham cracker crumbs over each slice.

LiveJournal Tags: s'mores,cheesecake,chocolate,marshmallows,cream cheese,meringue

Two for one

Yesterday was the birthday of my twin boys, Devon and Jalen. They turn 12 yrs old and so to celebrate their day I made two different desserts.

The first was Bakerella's Simple Sprite Cake with her recipe for buttercream. I followed her recipe exactly and was not disappointed nor will you be so try it. With the buttercream frosting instead of using vanilla extract, I used vanilla bean paste but added the same amount called for in the recipe. I've had it for a little bit and have been dying to try it. It was worth the purchase...cheaper than actual vanilla beans but you still get those yummy vanilla bean specks. I'm sure there is a difference in the taste between the vanilla beans and the paste but at this point I've yet to used actual bean pods so I don't know the difference.

The Twins didn't want to wait for me to beautify their cake with my new found cake decorating skills courtesy of Wilton's Cake Decorating (I. & II.) so I just threw some candles on it and we sung them Happy Birthday. Joe, the Twins, and Babygirl all loved the cake but Babygirl said the frosting was gross. Yes, those were her exact words. In my house they don't mince words. The kids give it to you, um, me straight. Here's another one to make you cringe, Devon's told me that if I continue to gain weight not to worry 'cause he'll still love me. I'm a SIZE 4! Okay, mind you I have gained some weight but if anything in the past I was underweight. I should also tell you this is coming from someone who has about 2 or 3 percent body fat. He's only 12yrs but he totally cut up. The guy has an eight pack! Okay, anyway, getting back on track. With the exeption of Babygirl and her "gross", the cake and frosting was a hit. This is deffinitely one of those recipes you can tweak to make different flavor combos and not go wrong. No matter how gross Babygirl thought the frosting was it's a keeper. More for me is what I say! Though I am shocked as she normally loves frosting.

The second dessert I made was a brownie recipe I found on the blog, The Crepes of Wrath. I made it my own, sorta, by adding a cream cheese marshmallow "floater" filling that I found on So Sinful it's Sweet. It is the filling for her The Devil Made me Do It cupcakes but the moment I read cream cheese and marshmallow I knew I had to use this in something. I was not disappointed.

*Cream Cheese & Marshmallow Floater*

8 ounces softened cream cheese
½ cup confectioner’s sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
pinch of salt
1 cup small marshmallows

Cream together cream cheese, sugar, and egg. Add vanilla and salt stirring and stir well. Fold in marshmallows.

**Side note: If using again for the brownies I'd add MORE marshmallows!