Crème de Menthe Brownies

Take your brownies to the next level!  Try this easy recipe and wow your friends at your next party!

• 1 package brownie mix
• 1/2 C. plus 6 T. butter
• 2 C. Confectioner's sugar 
• 2 T. Crème de Menthe 
• 1 tsp. Vanilla 
• 6 oz. Chocolate chips*              

1. Follow package directions for making brownies except bake in a jellyroll pan (11x17) and bake for only 15 minutes.  
2. Cool brownies in refrigerator. 
3. Combine 1/2 butter, Confectioner's sugar, Crème de Menthe, and vanilla, mixing until creamy.  
4. Spread this icing on brownies.  
5. Heat 6 T. butter and chocolate chips in microwave or double boiler until melted.  
6. Dribble chocolate mixture onto brownies.  
7. Do not completely cover – have some of the green icing showing.  
8. Refrigerate until ready to serve.  
9. Freezes well. Enjoy!

*If you can find and use Hershey’s Chocolate Mint Chips instead of regular, it will intensify the mint flavor.

Black Bean & Tomato Quinoa

Black beans are an excellent source of fiber and protein. Quinoa is a light crispy protein-packed whole grain. Mix them together and you’ve got a high protein meal with energizing nutrients to keep you strong and healthy! 

Try this satisfying Black Bean & Tomato Quinoa… delicately enhanced with a touch of lime, this dish packs the power of whole grains and tons of flavor.

Ingredients:

2 tsp. grated lime zest, grated peel

2 Tbs. fresh lime juice

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 tsp. sugar

1 cup quinoa

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed & drained

2 medium tomatoes, diced

4 scallions, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

salt & pepper (to taste)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk lime zest and juice, olive oil, sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
2. Wash quinoa in cold water, drain, and place in a medium pot of 2 1/4 C. boiling water with 1 tsp. of salt.
3. Cook with pot covered, simmering gently for 20 –25 minutes.
4. Using a fork, fluff the quinoa to allow it to aerate while it cools.
5. Add quinoa to dressing and toss until dressing is absorbed, then stir in remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe was sent by RT Peck

From Meatout Mondays listserv.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Almost Like the Frog Commissary Recipe*

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 1/3 C. old fashion oats

2/3 C. coconut

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 C. sugar

1 C. brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. pure vanilla 

12 oz Nestles chocolate chunks or chips

Mix together and set aside the first 6 ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, old fashion oats and coconut.

Cream the unsalted butter for about 3 minutes.

Add and cream for an additional 3 minutes all the sugar.

Add eggs and mix again until fully incorporated

Add vanilla and mix a few seconds.

Add flour mixture and mix just a few seconds until about half of the flour has been incorporated but is not completely mixed in.

Add 12 oz Nestles chocolate chunks chips (a taste test in Cook’s Illustrated said that chunks are better than chips. You decide). Mix only until flour is incorporated.

Nuts of your choice, up to a cup, can be added. I don't add nuts.

At this point you can refrigerate up to 2 days.

Roll dough into balls. Mine are usually about 1 1/2" to 2'' diameter. Flatten somewhat into a concave disk with the palm of your hand. I find this helps with more uniform baking.

Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 15 - 20 minutes depending on size of cookie and your oven.

*  Ellen Kane gave me this recipe when we were in charge of the food for the Eastern Pa District Y Swim Meet. She got it out of the Frog Commissary Cookbook and she had  added the coconut. I made a few changes in technique and ingredients.

Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies

Easy Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies

This is the only recipe that I have made up. It is more of a
recipe of substitution and elimination of the classic recipe.

These brownies are delicious with just three ingredients!
1 1/2 inner packages of graham crackers (2 cups
if you use purchased crumbs), 1 can of sweetened condensed
milk, and 1 cup of Hershey's mint chocolate chips.

Oil and flour an 8'' x8'' pan. I prefer to make a parchment paper
''cradle'' by cutting two  8'' pieces of parchment paper in the
bottom of the pan, leaving ends of the paper to hang over the
sides. 

Place another piece of cut 8'' paper the opposite way. You don't have to oil the
 parchment paper.

Make crumbs out of the of graham
cracker with a rolling pin between two pieces of waxed paper or a ziploc
bag, or my favorite way - with a Cuisinart. 

Put the crumbs in a bowl.

Add 1 can of sweetened condensed milk. 

 Add 1 cup of mint chocolate chips. Combine all the ingredients until
all the chips are mixed in. 

The dough is very stiff, so put it in the pan in blobs and then
spread it out.  

Put it in oven preheated to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to to 35 minutes until
golden brown.

After the brownies have cooled down for 20 minutes score them
 because it is easier to cut while they are warm. 

Enjoy!

Cinnamon and Sticky Buns

Applesauce Muffins

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Walnut Cookies