tyler's favorite peanut butter brownies...

i had the pleasure of seeing our good friends, that live in california, this last weekend:) even more fantastic is why i saw them... after lots of trials, they are expecting there first child! & i got to go to a very sweet baby shower! so here is a great recipe from them.

this is a recipe that i got from natalie, they are her husband, tyler's, favorite brownie. what is not to love about chocolate & peanut butter together. thanks for sharing nat, & we are soooooo excited for you two... or should i say three?!?

{Tyler’s Favorite Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies}

1/2 c. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

2 oz. good-quality unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

4 oz. good-quality semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

2/3 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 c. granulated sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp. good-quality vanilla extract

Filling:

4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1/2 c. confectioners' sugar

3/4 c. smooth peanut butter

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. good-quality pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 8-inch square baking pan ; set pan aside.

Make batter: Put butter and chocolates in a heatproof medium bowl set over a pan of simmering water; stir until melted. Let cool slightly. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl, and set aside. Whisk granulated sugar into chocolate mixture. Add eggs, and whisk until mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla. Add flour mixture; stir until well incorporated.

Make filling: Stir together butter, confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, salt, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth. Pour one-third of batter into prepared pan, and spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Place dollops of filling (about 1 tablespoon each) about 1 inch apart on top of batter. Drizzle remaining batter on top, and gently spread to fill pan. Place dollops of remaining filling on top.With a butter knife, gently swirl filling into batter, running knife lengthwise and crosswise through layers.

Bake until a toothpick inserted into center of brownies comes out with a few crumbs but is not wet, about 45 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan, about 15 minutes. Enjoy with a tall glass of milk!

grandma hope's messy mikes...

my grandma always made these "messy mikes" named after my uncle mike. & we always thought the name was so funny. i love this recipe & think it is a perfect quick or even make ahead dinner for a school night dinner.

{Grandma Hope’s Messy Mikes}

1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef

2 TBSP butter

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 can chicken gumbo soup

1/4-1/2 cup ketchup (to taste)

1/4 cup brown sugar

salt & pepper

In a large skillet, melt butter & add onions. Cook until translucent. Add ground beef & salt & pepper. Brown ground beef until cooked through. Drain off fat. Add to soup, ketchup & brown sugar to the drained meat. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Add additional salt & pepper to taste. Serve on hamburger buns with cheese of your choice.

pickles or pickle-less??????

how do you prefer your potato salad??? here are our 2 favorite potato salad recipes. 1 with pickles, 1 without. you choose:) leave us a comment & let you know how you take yours!

{Mom’s Overnight Picnic Potato Salad}

10-12 medium red potatoes

1 sweet onion, chopped

1/2 cup italian salad dressing

3 large dill pickle, cut into chunks

6 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup miracle whip

1/2 cup sour cream

Boil potatoes in salted water until tender when pierced with a sharp knife. Drain & cut into large chunks. Place potatoes into a large bowl. Add onion & italian dressing. Carefully toss together until well combined, try not to break up potatoes. Cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate overnight.

The next day:

In a small bowl stir together mayo, miracle whip & sour cream. Set aside.

Add pickles & eggs to marinated potatoes. Fold in mayo mix & mix well. Serve immediately.

{Kesley’s Pickle-less Potato Salad}

12 large red potatoes

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 cup diced celery

1 tsp. salt

6 eggs, hard boiled & chopped

~Dressing~

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup rice vinegar

1 tsp. cornstarch

1- 5 oz. can evaporated milk

1 tsp. yellow mustard

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup butter

In a very large pot, boil potatoes in salted until fork tender.

While potatoes are cooking- whisk together 2 eggs, sugar, cornstarch & salt in a medium sauce pan. Stir in vinegar, milk & mustard. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thick, about 10 minutes. Remove form heat & stir in butter. Refrigerate until cool. Stir in mayonnaise.

Drain, cool & cube. Transfer to a large bowl toss with celery, onion & salt to taste. Add hard boiled eggs. Stir in cooled dressing. Lightly stir until all combined. Cover & chill for several hours.

holy crap... did you think i died???

i officially will the award for the biggest blog slacker:) this summer has just been CrAzY!!! no excuses though, i have been a slacker & hopefully anyone who still actually checks this blog doesn't hate me;). here is a tasty classic we have been making a lot this summer. Enjoy!

{kacy's asian chicken salad}

1- 16 oz. bag coleslaw

5 green onions, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

3 chicken breasts, cooked & cubed

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/4 sesame seeds

1 cup cashews

2 packages Chicken flavor Ramen noodles, uncooked & crushed, seasoning reserved

{Ginger Sesame Dressing}

3/4 cup oil

1/4 cup sugar

2 TBSP rice vinegar

3 TBSP soy sauce

3/4 tsp. dark sesame oil

2 packages Ramen noodle seasoning packet

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. minced fresh ginger

1 tsp. dry mustard

Scatter almonds, cashews, sesame seeds & crushed uncooked ramen noodles on a cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8- 10 minutes. Watch closely so they don’t burn. Remove from oven & cool.

In a large bowl mix coleslaw, green & red peppers, onions & chicken. Stir until mixed.

In a separate bowl, mix all of the dressing ingredients. Whisk together until sugar is dissolved. Pour dressing over salad & mix well. Add cooled nut mix just before serving & toss one more time.

Raspberry Tapioca Jello salad

I thought for sure that I had posted this recipe before- but I came searching for it tonight and its not on here- I know I have brought it to Recipe Club- but knowing me- I never posted it:) And there is one that is similar to this recipe on our blog but not the same so I thought that I would post mine. I just made this for a funeral lunch in my ward today- and got an email saying what a hit it was and that everyone wants the recipe:) It is a perfect Summer Salad.
What I love about this salad- is that its SIMPLE and Delicious!! You can totally mix things up with this salad too- try different fruits and jellos (strawberry, peaches, mandarine orange, cranberry, etc...)- this past week I tried it with pina-colada jello and frozen pineapple- it was so yummy! Try it- I promise you won't regret it- and your kids will love it too!:) Happy Summer everyone!

3 cups water
1 3oz raspberry jello
1 3oz Cook and serve vanilla pudding
1 30z tapioca pudding
2 bags frozen raspberries
2 8oz cool whip

*In sauce pan heat water til almost boiling and stir in dry ingredients, make sure they dissolve and cook til comes to a full boil and get thick.(2 minutes)
When pudding mixture has cooled fold in fruit and put in fridge to cool. When cold, mix in cool whip and refridgerate over night or til set up. Enjoy!

jess' golden graham treats...

jess brought these to recipe club quite a while ago, & they are so simple & yummy! with school almost out, we all need to stock up on recipes to keep our little ones sweet & happy. also, this is a great one to let the little ones help out with.

{jess' golden graham treats}

1- 18 oz box Golden Graham cereal

1 bag mini-marshmallows

1 stick butter

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup milk chocolate chips

In a large pot over medium heat, melt together butter & marshmallows. Mix in cereal. Pour out & flatten onto a greased cookie sheet. In separate microwave safe bowls, on half power, melt chocolate chips in microwave. Cook 1 minute, stir & then melt again 30 seconds at a time. Drizzle melted chocolate, one flavor at a time, over treats.

** you can also substitute white chocolate chips instead of milk.

heather's root beer cookies...

with warming weather teasing us, outdoor cooking is just around the corner! this is such a great dessert for a potluck or any other summer occasion. don't for get end of school parties! these little babies are perfect for kids!!!

{picture courtesy of cafe johnsonia}

{Heather’s Root Beer Cookies}

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup margarine

1 egg

1/2 cup water

1 tsp. root beer extract

2 1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix first three ingredients. Stir in water & root beer extract. Add the rest of the dry ingredients. Refrigerate 1 hour. If dough is sticky, add a little flour. Roll into small balls & bake for 6-8 minutes. frost after completely cooled.

{root beer frosting}

1 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp. rootbeer extract
a few tablespoons hot water

in a medium bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter until light & whipped. add powdered sugar & continue to mix until combined. add extract & enough hot water to make spreadable.