Odd Dotty Dollymaker

Because sometimes? I just want a brownie!

 

Over the past several years, I have changed how my family and I eat dramatically.  We eat as clean as possible, buy pretty much only organic produce and have now switched over to eating only grass fed beef and "fresh air" pork from local farmers via Wallace Farms. If they deliver in your area, I would HIGHLY recommend adding yourself to their email list. But when you have a sweet tooth as big as Australia, sometimes? You just want a brownie.

A couple of months ago I stumbled upon this recipe while in a desperate fit of chocolate deprival. It rocked my world view. So I thought I'd share it with you, my friends. You're welcome.

Brownies So Good They'll Melt Your Face Clean Off (that's the working title)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C) and grease a 9x9 pan. (I use organic virgin coconut oil to grease it because a) it's good for you b) it smells YUM c) I can and d) it smells YUM! Also? As a bonus, you can just rub the rest into your hands as a moisturizer! )

2. In a medium bowl mix together the melted butter, sugar and vanilla. Beat in the eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in another bowl. Gradually stir the flour mixture in the egg mixture. At this point you can add nuts if you so desire. I have never liked nuts in my brownies. I like my brownies to be nothing but pure unadulterated pieces of gooey chocolaty heaven. But I won't judge you if you like to add walnuts. I'll still love you. I just won't eat your brownies.

3. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until brownie begins to pull away from the edges of the pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

I love love LOVE this recipe! It comes together so quickly, which is always good when you have those gotta-have-chocolate-in-my-mouth-NOW moments. And I don't feel so bad about having it as a treat every day of the week now and then because I know everything that's in it.

So give it a try! And then invite me over to share in your efforts!

Reindeer Poop

Nothing says Christmas like Reindeer Poop, right? No? That's not what immediately springs into your mind at the mention of the holiday? Huh. Well, it will be after you've tried some!

 

This recipe has been in my family for as long as I can remember. I always knew it was the Christmas season when my mom would make these little bits of yum! Only we didn't call them Reindeer Poop. We called them Egg White cookies. Apparently we were boring. It wasn't until my sister and I had kids and started sharing this tradition with them that they came up with the new name. Now, I would like to clarify that this was not my choice. I voted to keep Egg White Cookies, or at least name them something much less poop-sounding like Christmas Snow. But nobody heard my pleas. So Reindeer Poop it was. I don't know. All I know is that I love them. My kids love them. And it just wouldn't feel like Christmas without them. Here's the recipe:

Reindeer Poop/Christmas Snow/Egg White Cookies

Ingredients:

2 egg whites

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 c sugar (EDIT: I originally had this at 3/4 tsp. It's CUPS!! So if you made these with tsp. I'm sure they weren't very good. SORRY! Please try it again, I promise it'll be so much better!) *

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c chocolate chips or chunks

2 tbs. crushed candy canes **

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250. Beat egg whites with salt until stiff. Add sugar and beat until very stiff. It will be shiny and should hold its peaks. Fold in vanilla, chocolate and candy canes. Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheet and bake for 45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack and enjoy!

What you will have on your plate will be a melt in your mouth meringue cookie loaded with chocolate and peppermint goodness!

 

I would love it if you would give these a try and share some with your friends/family/neighbors. Let me know if you do and what you think! Now, I will warn you that not everyone loves these as much as you may. I'm not sure why. I still haven't figured that out. But this is what you will find if that is the case.

 

Notice the polite "No thank you" bite and the not so subtle shoving of it off to the side of the plate, making sure it comes nowhere near other food that may be left on there. Try not to take it personal...that's something I'm still working on, btw...but if the circumstances allow, it is perfectly acceptable to finish the cookie for them!

Happy Baking!

* It has been discovered if you use organic sugar, all calories will become void and turned into vitamins and minerals making these a healthful treat! ++

** I just crush two candy canes rather than measuring this out.

++ This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

I like to party!