Cookie Brownies

All I have to say is, wow.  You need to try these.  Jer saw a cookie brownie mix at the store and we both thought that was a delicious idea.  I decided to find a scratch recipe to make it at home.  I did have to give them my own twist and add some malt mix to the cookie part - don't skip that step it makes them so irresistible!

Cookie Brownies

Brownie Layer
2 stick butter - melted
2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Cookie Layer
1.5 stick butter - softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 T malt mix
1 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

For the brownie layer, melt butter, stir in sugar and vanilla.  Add eggs, stirring after each addition. Stir in cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt.  Pour into a lightly greased 9x13" baking dish.  For the cookie layer, cream together butter and sugars, mix in eggs and vanilla.  Add flour, baking soda, salt, and malt mix and mix until a soft dough forms.  Stir in chocolate chips and spoon onto brownie layer.  Smooth out and bake at 350° for 40 minutes.  The top will be slightly browned, and the brownies will still be slightly gooey.

Raisin Bran Muffins

After I had Leila, my sister in law Sue made the BEST raisin bran muffins and brought them to me.  I am passing on the recipe to you.  I added the raw sugar, it gives it a bakery muffin feel.  You can also make them without the raisins by using regular bran flakes cereal and omitting the raisins.

Raisin Bran Muffins

1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 quart buttermilk (see alternative below)
15 oz cereal - raisin bran
5 cup flour
3 cup sugar
5 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts - chopped (optional)
raw sugar

Mix together oil, eggs, buttermilk, and raisin bran (about 7.5 cups). Set aside. Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Pour oil mixture over flour mixture and stir until combined. Add raisins and walnuts. Let batter sit for a couple of hours in the refrigerator. Spoon into muffin cups and bake at 400° for 20 minutes.  Sprinkle with raw sugar. For jumbo muffins, bake for 30 minutes.  For mini muffins, bake for 15 minutes.

Buttermilk Alternative for Baking
(replaces 1 cup buttermilk)

1 T vinegar
milk

Add vinegar to a measuring cup and then add milk until there is a total of 1 cup of liquid.  For the recipe above, you need 1/4 cup vinegar and enough milk for 4 cups.

Salsa Chicken

This was a super easy allergy free recipe that everyone liked!

Salsa Chicken

1 bag chicken
1 jar salsa

Alternate chicken and salsa in a crock pot.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  You can eat the chicken as a main dish or shred it and serve it on tacos.