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dessert

What’s in the cookie jar?

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BROWNIES!  That’s what’s in the cookie jar!   

How is it that it’s Labor Day weekend already? The last blast of summer… except for the heat and humidity of course! My latest recipe will be a sweet addition to your holiday weekend. 

I’ve got the latest recipe from my series (based off of Food Network Magazine’s ) “A Year of Brownies”, and this one is a keeper.  Like last month’s brownie , it’s a few step process, but well worth the effort.  This brownie has 4 layers of deliciousness, including a shortbread cookie bottom layer! I used “Lorna Doone” cookies , but you could be an overachiever and make your own homemade layer. You do you!  

The original recipe called for chocolate, peanut butter and butterscotch baking chips.  I substituted espresso chips and pretzel M&Ms , along with the butterscotch baking chips.  Use whatever flavor candies or baking chips you have on hand, or your family favorites. . Try white chocolate  baking chips, sno-cap candies or caramel baking chips in this recipe! 

The brownie layer has extra chocolate chips added. I had a half of a 10 ounce bag on hand, so I used it all. Original recipe called for 4 ounces. Who doesn’t need MORE chocolate in their brownie?   Overall, this recipe is 10 out of 10 on the deliciousness scale. Perfect treat for a picnic, party, or baked in a disposable tray and delivered to a friend or neighbor. It’s so decadent, you could use an an alternative to birthday cake (IMHO)! 

Here’s the recipe:

 Cookie Jar Brownie

Ingredients for shortbread and cookie dough layers:

9×13 pan coated in nonstick cooking spray 

24 Lorna Doone cookies (or your own shortbread cookie recipe)

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick butter, room temperature

1 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup espresso baking chips (I used Nestle brand)

1/2 cup butterscotch baking chips

1/2 cup pretzel M&Ms

For the brownie layer: 

2 sticks butter

5 ounces semi-sweet or milk chocolate baking chips

2 cups granulated sugar

4 eggs

1 2/3 cups flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Assemble the shortbread layer: Preheat oven to 350, ready your 9×13 pan with nonstick cooking spray .  Arrange cookies on bottom of pan.

For the cookie dough layer:  Combine flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with mixer until fluffy, add eggs and vanilla until smooth.  Beat in flour mixture on low speed until combined.  Stir in baking chips and candies until combined. 

Head to the stovetop to make the brownie layer: Melt butter and chocolate chips over medium heat until combined. Remove from heat , let cool,  add the granulated sugar and eggs until combined. This mixture  should look smooth and glossy . Stir in flour, cocoa powder, and salt until no lumps remain.

Spoon half this mixture over the cookies and spread to cover completely. Flatten handfuls of cookie dough mixture into small patties over the brownie layer until covered.  Cover with rest of brownie mixture and smooth to cover dough layer. 

Bake until toothpick or cake tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 55 mins.  Let cool before serving. 

As always, let me know if you try this recipe. I like it so much I MAY add it to the market menu! Stop by on the 17th and visit to see if I do. 

Have a great weekend, foodie friends! 

Gina

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s old is new again!

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I recently had the honor of baking for a baby’s first birthday, and the theme was “Winnie the Pooh”.  A timeless theme (if you ask this Disney loving gal) for boys and girls alike, and for their parents as well. Mama sent a few  ideas , and I got to work figuring out how to make those ideas become a reality. 

I was also baking  a smash cake, and of course went with Pooh’s “hunny” pot. 

                                           

Off I went to “think think think” (as Pooh Bear would say) about the larger sheet cake design. 

You all know by now how much I love Disney, so Disney themed desserts are never an issue, as I have quite the collection of all things character shaped for cakes, cookies, and cupcakes.   As I looked through my stash, I came across a pan I hadn’t used in 19 years , and quickly sent the birthday mama a picture and asked if she liked the idea:  

It was my Wilton Pooh Cake pan from days gone by! She loved the idea, so I was off to collect the supplies. I didn’t stop at that pan though, and sorted through at least ten different Wilton pans that I know I can resurrect in the future.  Who here wouldn’t love to go back in time?

Waves of emotions flooded over me as I remembered baking that same Pooh cake three different times over the years for my kids first birthdays.  The “Barney the Dinosaur” cake pan for second and third birthdays, and the “PowerPuff Girls” pan for a special 5th birthday party, many years ago….

Those kids are in their 20’s now, but still love Disney, cartoons, and reminiscing over tv shows they watched as kids.  

They also love cake, lol!  I’m sure many of you reading this have kids that had similar party themes back in the day  (or maybe YOU were that kid)! 

I realized I could bring back those nostalgic times simply by baking a cake in an ages old pan , and decorate that cake using the tried and true Wilton method, bringing childhood characters to life.

Look what I discovered in my cupboards! 

  • Race car
  • Barbie
  • Seashell
  • The Little Mermaid
  • Thomas the Tank Engine
  • Jack O Lantern
  • Christmas tree 
  • Open Book (I used as a bible, and again as a volume of Shakespeare) 
  • Graduation cap
  • Bow Tie 

I’ll be adding these cake pan ideas to my menu starting today .  I’ll post prices and pictures as I can – but for now you get the idea. I’m going back to simpler times and sharing the love of all things old, as they can be new again.  

Have a great week, foodie friends! 

 

Gina 

 

 

 

Very Berry Brownie Crumble

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What a mouthful, foodie friends.   A mouthful to say , and a mouthful to enjoy!   Trust me,  Sunday dessert for the family this weekend was a hit! 

The original brownie recipe came from Food Network Magazine, and I adapted it to reflect what I had on hand.   I’m 8 months into “A year of Brownies” in the magazine, and this is the August brownie. Just in time for back to school for the college kids.  A pan of these will head back to school with my son when he leaves later this week! 

Although this brownie recipe involves multiple steps, it’s well worth the effort.  With a rich chocolate brownie layer, sweet/tart berry filling, and a topping of oats, flour and butter, what’s not to love?  Absolutely my favorite brownie yet!  I used a frozen mixed berry blend, omitted almonds, and substituted all purpose flour for almond flour (as I was out of the latter). Still, a delicious dessert treat that the whole family loved. 

 ‘Very Berry Brownie Crumble” :

Filling and topping ingredients:

One bag frozen mixed berry blend of your choice

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

7 tablespoons butter , softened

For the brownies:

12 ounce bag of chocolate chips

1 stick butter

3/4 cup brown sugar 

3/4 cup sugar

4 eggs (room temperature)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Prepare the filling :

Combine fruit, sugar, and lemon juice in pot on stovetop. Cook over medium heat, bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, cook , stirring until juice is reduced, about 10 minutes.  In separate bowl, mix water and corn starch.  Add mixture to berries and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and add extracts. Allow to cool while making brownie batter and topping. 

Assemble the topping:

Combine topping ingredients in a bowl , then add in butter and mix until blended and crumbly. Refrigerate until ready to use. 

Make the brownies:

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9×13 pan with butter/olive oil spray to prevent sticking. Then, melt chocolate and butter in saucepan on stove top.  Remove from heat and add sugars.  Whisk in eggs and extracts. Add flour  and pinch of salt , mix thoroughly. 

Assemble the layers:

Spread batter in prepared pan. Top with berry filling, then top the filling with the oat mixture. Bake until tester comes out clean- about 40-45 minutes. Cool about 20 minutes and cut into squares. 

Bake this in a disposable pan, and send off with your favorite college student, deliver to a neighbor, or serve at a picnic. 

Enjoy! 

 

Gina

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Pudding Cups

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A fun little treat, dessert , or snack for kids of all ages ! 

This recipe is made with vanilla pudding tinted blue.  My good friend Rosemarie upped the healthy factor an used coconut yogurt to make hers!  I love when my friends get creative in their kitchens! 

The recipe is pretty simple, and only uses a few ingredients. 

One box (4 serving size) Vanilla instant pudding

2 cups milk

Blue food coloring

Graham cracker crumbs 

Life saver gummy rings candy

Teddy Grahams crackers 

4 clear plastic cups

 

Prepare pudding as directed on the package. Once set, add a few drops of blue food coloring and mix until blended.

Layer graham cracker crumbs on bottom of each cup. Add a layer of pudding, then a thin layer of crumbs. Add remaining pudding until each cup has equal amounts. Sprinkle one side of pudding with more crumbs to resemble beach sand.

Take one bear cracker and fit a gummy ring around it, place in blue pudding for a perfect little floating beach visitor!

You can also add swedish fish candies for a fishing/lake themed treat.

Watch me make this recipe on my YouTube channel!

Remember, if you make this recipe , be sure to tag @fromginaskitchen on social media! 

Have a great weekend, foodie friends! 

 

Gina 

Peach Turnovers

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What a fun conversation we had tonight in the Kitchen with Alesia!  

Alesia shared some history and fun facts about her home state of Missouri. I got to share a fun recipe I found in the cool cookbook she brought me back from her recent visit home.

The recipe for “Peach Turnovers” is a local favorite, and couldn’t be easier to make! I can see (and taste ) why locals love this seasonal fruit dessert.  But seriously, they could. be breakfast too! 

Peach Turnovers (recipe found in “Missouri Back Road Restaurant Recipes”)

3 large peaches

2 (8 ounce cans) crescent rolls

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

6 oz. Mountain Dew

1 pinch ground cinnamon (I used more than a pinch, I sprinkled my cinnamon sugar mixture on all of them)

Preheat oven to 350. Slice peaches and set aside. Unroll crescent dough, separate into 16 triangles. Please one pech slice at base of each and rollup. Arrange in a 9X13 pan as you work. Melt butter, add sugar, vanilla and salt. Pour over turnovers in baking pan. Pour Mountain Dew over turnovers, sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake 30-40 minutes, or until turnovers are golden brown and liquid is bubbling. 

Enjoy! 

Make sure to visit the Kitchen on  Facebook every Monday at 5 pm as we talk travel and share local recipes. 

And make sure to share pics and tag @fromginaskitchen and @ibooktravelforu if you make this recipe!

Enjoy!

Gina

Brownie ice cream bites (July’s brownie!)

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Happy July, foodie friends! 

Let’s get the patriotic party started with the July brownie from “A Year of Brownies” over at Food Network magazine. 

I used the recipe from the magazine, but made them a little differently. 

I made my brownies a little thicker. and cut them into smaller bites, so that when I made the sandwiches I just scooped about one tablespoon of vanilla ice cream onto each brownie bottom , topped it with another brownie, and sprinkled the sides with patriotic non-pareils.  

Click here for the original recipe.

I made mine in an 8×8 pan, instead of the larger pan they called for.  It made my brownies thicker and denser, so I opted to call my version “brownie bites” rather than full sandwiches. You still get a homemade ice cream treat that takes next to no time to make

I think they will make a nice addition to the July 4th dessert table! They are bite sized, ice cold, and  all dressed up for the fireworks show! 

Let me know if you make this, by tagging @fromginaskitchen in you social media posts! 

Have a wonderful holiday!

Gina

Mid-way through “a year of brownies”!

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Ok foodie friends, where did the time go? We all want 2020 to get on out of here… but June flew by and I almost forgot about my mission to bake a brownie a month  thanks to inspiration from Food Network Magazine!)

I FINALLY got into the kitchen to make this month’s brownie , and boy is it a good one! 

Have you ever made a “skillet brownie’?  I love to make them, because it’s quite the showstopper dessert to impress a crowd, especially if your guests are around to watch you remove that giant cast iron skillet from the oven! 

This is what my “Pecan-Toffee Skillet Brownie ” looked like as soon as it came out of the oven.  The key with this brownie is to be patient, and give it time. First you make the brownie batter on the stove top, and bake it in your skillet. Then, after it’s done, let it cool. While it cools, you make the toffee topping. 

As you drizzle that gooey pecan mixture over the entire brownie, you can’t help but taste-testing a bit of the homemade toffee goodness!  Then… while you wait for the topping to set (about 90 minutes) you can lick the pan! Be careful though, it’s hot, lol! 

Watch me make this recipe on my YouTube channel! 

I can’t take credit for inventing the recipe, so I have to give props to my favorite foodie magazine for coming up with so many new and creative ways to makes brownies. Trust me, you want to see what I’m baking up next month (which is sadly already next week!)

To make this yummy recipe, visit Food Network Magazine’s site here.

I enjoyed my slice today , after it set up overnight:

See you next month, for a star-spangled brownie you’ll want to have around all month long.  

 

Gina

 

 

 

Microwave Mug Brownies for One

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Good Morning, foodie friends! If you caught my FaceBook Live yesterday, you saw me make this quick and easy treat.

I adapted the recipe from the March “Brownies in a Year” post that makes four mugs of chocolate brownie goodness.

Microwave Mug Brownie

So, if you are in the mood for a warm mug BROWNIE, make this recipe ! If you are so inclined, top yours with whipped cream, ice cream, Baileys, or Kahlua! Enjoy!

Microwave Mug Brownie (one serving)

One mug, lightly greased with butter/butter spray

In your mug, add:

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp. cocoa powder

pinch of salt

1 egg yolk

3 Tbsp vegetable oil (I used butter olive oil! )

3 Tbsp. coffee

1/4 tsp. vanilla

Mix together until blended, microwave for 1 minute and 30 secs.

Let me know if you try it, and post pics to social media… dont forget to tag @fromginaskitchen!

Gina

In the Kitchen this week!

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Happy Easter Monday , foodie friends!

I hope you had a blessed Easter! I know for us all it was a very different way of celebrating, and that’s ok. We have to take one day at a time in the “new normal” we are all living in. Take care of each other and reach out virtually to check in with loved ones near and far! And don’t forget to do something fun in YOUR kitchen!

Not sure if you caught me on FB Live last week (Friday to be exact) as a guest of PWC Moms. I demonstrated a few quick and easy ways to decorate Easter cupcakes. But really, these cuties can be considered spring themed as well. Watch here !

Farmers Market Menu:

The City of Manassas Farmers Market will be open this Saturday for pre-order, pre pay orders only. On the menu in the Kitchen this week:

Artisan brownie trays, baked with olive oils from Manassas Olive Oil Company .
Trays are 8×8, will serve 1-12 or more depending on how you cut them!  Each tray is $20 plus tax.  You can ask for traditional chocolate, blood orange, or chipotle cinnamon. 

Spring themed sugar cookie mixes, and make your own brownie mixes. $6.50 each.

Starting next week you can customize the cookie cutters in your kit!

Depending on availability of butter in the area, all-butter pound cakes (new larger size) could be on the menu. $7.50 each 

All Butter Pound Cake
NEW Larger Size !

ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY WEDNESDAY APRIL 15th, and payment received by the 16th. 

The market is open at 10am in the parking lot across from Baldwin Elementary.  Pick-up between 10am-10:30am or by special arrangement.  

Place your order at fromginaskitchen@gmail.com

Have a sweet week, foodie friends!

Gina

My favorite banana bread recipe (and it should be yours, too!)

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It’s “Tip Tuesday” in the kitchen, and I have a great one for you!

My go-to idea for softened bananas (if we don’t throw into a morning smoothie) is always banana bread. But not just any banana bread… it’s Martha Stewart’s banana bread.

Stay with me here, it’s EASY! You probably have everything you need on hand, and here’s a secret- it calls for sour cream, but when I’m out I substitute greek yogurt and it still comes out moist and delicious!

I found the recipe years ago in one of my favorite cookbooks, pictured here.

My favorite banana bread recipe can be found in this trusty old gem!

I was excited to see the recipe in a FB post last week! If you don’t have the cookbook (it’s on page 106 if you do) click here .

You know how I love to share the kitchen sweetness. This makes one standard loaf of bread, or several smaller loaves perfect for gift giving.

Oh and if you DO have a copy of the book, try the recipe for Bourbon Bread, found on the same page. You’re welcome!

Hoping you are staying healthy and safe around YOUR kitchen table.

Gina