Bownies

I combined my cake like brownie recipe with my chewy moist brownie recipe and came up with this one that is a nice combination of the two recipes. The result is a chewy brownie that is not so sticky that it sticks to your fingers. For birthdays, our family often prefers brownies instead of cake. Since I usually don't add frosting, I add sprinkles to the top before baking for a more festive appearance. In the photo, the brownie with the sprinkles was made with this recipe. The plain brownie is from the Chewy Moist recipe (1/2 recipe made in a 7x11 pan)

Favorite Brownies
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cube butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk or plain yogurt
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9x13 pan with oil and dust with flour. Combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, salt, and baking powder together. Stir in the remaining ingredients and mix well, either by hand or with electric beaters. Spread in the pan and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Chewy Moist Brownies
2 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups flour
2/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cubes butter or margarine, melted
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
Mix dry ingredients and then stir in the wet ingredients, mixing well. Spread in an oiled and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degree for 25 to 30 minutes.

Cake Like Brownies
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cubes butter or margarine
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 eggs
 1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
Cream the butter or margarine with the sugar. Mix in cocoas powder, then eggs and vanilla. Add flour and salt and mix well. Spread in a 9x13 pan (oiled and floured) and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

My Current Favorite Cookie

Oatmeal and Stuff Cookies

I love this recipe because I have added lots of my favorite additions.

1 cube butter or margarine

2 to 4 Tbsp vegetable oil

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour (I like to to use whole white wheat)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups oatmeal

your choice of any or all: coconut(1/4 C), chopped nuts(1/4 C), dried cranberries(1/4 C), orange zest(from 1 orange), CrioBru cocoa grounds(2 to 4 Tbsp), mini chocolate chips(1/4 C)

Cream the butter or margarine, oil, and sugars together. Mix in eggs thoroughly. Stir in flour, soda, vanilla, and oatmeal. Add your remaining choices and stir in. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake for 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Christmas Cookies

At our house, it wouldn't be Christmas without cookies. Here are some of our family's favorite recipes:

Great Grandma Barnes’ Chocolate Cookies

½ cup shortening

1/3 cup cocoa

1 egg

1 cup sugar

1 2/3 cups flour

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

½ cups chopped nuts

Melt shortening and cocoa.  Add sugar and egg.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well (may need extra flour).  Bake at 375 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes.  Frost with chocolate icing (2 tbsp cocoa, 2 tbsp margarine, 1 cup powdered sugar and 1½  Tbsp milk). Sprinkled with crushed candy cane or Christmas sprinkles. Makes 2-3 dozen.

Russian Tea Cakes

2 cubes margarine

½ cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 cup flour

¼ tsp salt

¾ cups chopped nuts

Mix and roll into balls.  Bake for 10 - 12 minutes at 400 degrees.  Roll in or sprinkle with powdered sugar. 

For Ambrosia Balls, omit nuts and add orange peel and coconut instead of nuts.

Gingersnaps

1½ cubes margarine or spread

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

½ cup molasses or honey

½ Tbsp vinegar

3 ¾ cups flour

½ Tbsp baking soda

½ Tbsp ginger

½ tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

Mix together and roll into 3/4" balls or scoop with small cookie scoop.  Bake @325 degrees for 12 minutes.  Makes 4 - 5 dozen.

Peanut Blossoms

1 cups sugar

½ cup peanut butter

½ cup margarine

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

2 Tbsp milk

Chocolate kisses

Combine all ingredients. Chill 30 minutes. Shape into balls and roll in sugar. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 375 degrees. Press a chocolate kiss into the center of the cookie while still hot. Makes about 3 dozen.

Fall Apple Recipes

Toffee Apple Dip
1  8 ounce package of cream cheese
1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup toffee chips (or chopped up Heath Bar)
Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth and fluffy. Stir in the toffee chips by hand. Serve with sliced apples.

Fruit Crisp Topping

Spread sliced apples or pears in a 9x13 pan and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Microwave 7 minutes while you make the topping.

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup softened margarine

Stir fruit and sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.(You can just skip the microwave step and bake longer-about 45 to 60 minutes, but we are usually wanting it faster).

A Few Cookies

Jenni’s Oat-Flour Cookies

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter or margarine(2 cubes)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp soda

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

2 cups flour (whole wheat or white)

2 ½ cups rolled oats, blended in blender to make flour

2 cups chocolate chips (12 oz)

Cream butter and sugar, then beat in eggs. Mix in remaining ingredients. Drop teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Fruit Bars

1 ½ cups flour (whole wheat or white)

½ cup brown or white sugar

¾ cup margarine (1 ½ cube)

1 tsp baking powder

1 ½ cup rolled oats

1 cup jam or applesauce

Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, and oats. Cut in margarine until crumbly. Spread 2/3 of the mixture into a 9x13 pan. Spread with jam and sprinkle with the remaining crumb mixture. Gently pat down and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Chewy Choco-Coconut Bars

1 ½ cups flour (whole wheat or white)

½ cup sugar

½ cup butter or margarine (1 cube)

1 cup chocolate chips (6 oz)

2 eggs

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp flour

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 ½ cups shredded coconut

Combine the first three ingredients, work with pastry blender or wire whip until crumbly. Pat evenly into an ungreased 7x12 pan. Bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the chocolate chips. Return to the oven for 2 minutes to soften the chocolate. Remove from the oven and spread the chocolate evenly across the top. Beat the eggs with the brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in the flour and baking powder, then the coconut. Spread over the chocolate layer. Bake at 375 degrees for 14 minutes. Cool and cut into 32 bars. (Note: These are much sweeter than Dad likes, but then lots of cookies are)