Amazing Brownies

Last year Fig tutored a student through the Kids Hope program.  Once a week for one hour Fig would leave his office and go into a local school and spend time with his student.  He'd help with homework, play games and occasionally do things with the whole class.  Often Fig would bring a snack to share.  I made them brownies one of the last weeks they met.  This recipe is amazing and I actually put all the dry ingredients into Ball jars and had them in my cupboard with directions attached to give away or use in a pinch!  Thanks to the How to Cook Like Your Grandmother blog!

Gotta love farm fresh eggs!

Fig's bag and his snack ready to go!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. flour
3/4 c. cocoa powder (high quality)
3 eggs
3/4 c. salted butter (melted)
3/4 c. chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.
Combine all ingredients but the chocolate chips in a bowl by hand until the dry ingredients are just incorporated into the wet.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Line 9x13 pan with parchment paper.
Pour batter into pan and push it into place with a rubber spatula.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Once out of the oven lift the brownies out by the parchment paper to cool and then slice and enjoy!

Reeses Krispies

One of the nights we had the mission trip team over.  They watched the Jesus film they would show to the villages in Guatemala to help prepare their hearts and minds for the trip.  I made these cookies but they had trouble setting because of how hot it was!  In fact in order to cut up the Reeses I had to throw them in the freezer for a few minutes before the wrappers would come off without most of the chocolate sticking to them.  This is a different kind of no-bake cookie!  The recipe is from the Sweet Basil blog.

Reeses Krispies
Ingredients:
1 C. Sugar
1 C. Corn Syrup
1 1/3 C. Creamy Peanut Butter
4 1/4 C. Rice Krispes
1 Pinch of Salt
4 large Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, chopped
1/2 C. Chocolate Chips

Directions:
In a large sauce pan over medium heat, melt the sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter until smooth and evenly combined.
Remove from heat.
Quickly add the salt and cereal and stir to combine thoroughly. Add the chocolate chips and stir again. Wait about 1 min and add the candy, quickly folding the mixture together so as to not smash up the candy.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drop rounded tablespoons onto the sheet. Let cool and devour!

Berry Cobbler

This is another great recipe that I tried thanks to Pinterest!  I made it a night when the mission trip team was over.  I served the leftovers to guests for dessert the next night but think it at least looked more appetizing the first night.  This was a nice change since I normally do a lot of chocolate desserts!  This was also posted on a blog of someone who has made a completely new lifestyle change in regards to healthy eating. . .so it's better for you!  Check out her blog: Living a Changed Life.

Ingredients
Two 12-oz bags frozen mixed berries
1 box white cake mix (no pudding)
1 can of 7-Up or Sierra Mist (clear soda)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Place frozen fruit in a 9x13 dish.
Sprinkle dry cake mix over the top. Pour soda slowly over cake mix. DO NOT stir the cake mix and the soda- this will give you a 'crust'. If you stir the two, you will have a cake like topping.

Bake 350 for 45-50 min.

You may be able to use frozen peaches instead of mixed berries.

Walnut Chocolate Blondies

I found this recipe on Pinterest and hats off to blogger Mel from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  She calls these Applebees Knock Offs and they are fantastic. This has been my "go-to" recipe when unexpected groups come over.  All the ingredients are in the house and it is a quick and easy recipe.  They are similar to a chocolate chip cookie bar but better!

Ingredients:
2 c. flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
10 Tbs butter
2 c. packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 c. semisweet or milk chocolate chips
3/4 c. chopped walnuts (or pecans)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13-inch pan with foil and lightly grease with cooking spray.
Melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and mix well.
Add the eggs and vanilla and mix. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda and blend until combined.
Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and nuts over the batter.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.