Blond Brownies

I was craving something sweet.  When I want something sweet, I want a baked good.  Candy or ice cream is okay, but I love anything warm and gooey.  That probably explains why you find a plethora ("Would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?") of desert items on this blog.  I come by it honestly.  When I was organizing the family recipes for our cookbook, there was a ridiculously disproportionate amount of desserts. 
This is one of my favorites (of course my favorites probably number in the triple digits... don't judge me).  It is my mom's recipe.  I don't see too many people making blond brownies, so I thought I would share it with you.  Motivate you to be more accepting of other types of brownies.  Expand your horizons.  Try them.  Now.

Blond Brownies

Ingredients

2/3 c. melted shortening (I used butter, surprising, right?)

2 c. packed brown sugar

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs, beaten slightly

2 tsp. vanilla

1 c. chocolate chips

1/3 c. chopped nuts (I used all chocolate chips)

Directions

Cream sugar and shortening (or butter). 

Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside.

Mix together the eggs and vanilla and add the mixture to the butter/sugar and blend.

Mix in the dry ingredients then stir in the chips and/or nuts.

Spread into a greased 9"x13" baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes then enjoy your ooey gooey baked good!





Dakota Hills Breakfast Bake

I am lucky enough to come from a family full of good cooks.  My grandmother had seven kids, so she really didn't have any other option than to make dinner every night.  I grew up listening to stories about the food my grandma made while my mom and aunts and uncle were growing up.  Even twenty and thirty years later, they still remember the meals their mom made.
These stories shaped the way I feed my own family.  They made me realize how very important dinner was to kids.  Because of this, I do my best to make sure we sit down to dinner every night.  I also try to incorporate some of my family's recipes in my dinner repertoires.  Luckily, we put together a family cookbook last Christmas, so I have some of the best of the bunch at my fingertips and because I am so generous, I have decided to post some of my favorites to share!
This recipe is from my Aunt Anne.  It is a staple at our brunch get-togethers.  It is a one dish breakfast and it makes a 13"x9" pan so it is great to feed a crowd.  Add toast or biscuits and you have yourself a hearty and homey meal.

Dakota Hills Breakfast Bake

Ingredients

1 lb. breakfast sausage, browned and drained

1/2 bag frozen, shredded hash browns

10 eggs

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 to 1-1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Dump the hash browns in a non-stick sprayed 13"x9" baking dish.

Spread the sausage over the hash browns.

Combine the soup, cheese and eggs in a bowl and stir well.

Pour the egg mixture over the sausage and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour until bubbly and spotty brown on top.



Butt Wipin'

So apparently I am not with the program.  I have been using store bought baby wipes.  I was clearly not on the list of people who were told how INCREDIBLY easy it is to make your own.  My best friend has been making these "like, forever" but I guess didn't feel like sharing the know how until now.  This is her recipe.  It takes 5 minutes, faster if you have some anger to take out with the knife. 
I will say the best part was not the ease in which they are created, but the look of confusion and fear on my husbands face when he came into the kitchen to find me with a 10" serrated knife and a severed roll of paper towels.  Here is how it went:
"What are you doing?"
"Cutting a roll of paper towels in half."
"Oh." long pause "Why?"

I wish I could think of all those smart ass things I could have said like:
"It looked at me wrong."
"It didn't take out the trash." (he may have considered that one a threat)
"It will make it easier to hide the body."
or
"What do you mean?" (insinuating HE was the stupid one)

But I didn't.  I said I was making baby wipes.  Oh well.  Next time I will be ready.

Baby Wipes

What you need:
1/2 roll paper towels
2 Tbsp. baby oil
1-1/2 Tbsp. baby soap
1-3/4 c. hot water
gallon size Ziploc bag

What you do:

Here is what you need.  Easy right?

Cut the paper towels in half.  If your husband questions your motives, you are prepared.

Add the oil and soap to the hot water and mix well.

Put one of the paper towel halves in a gallon bag and pour the hot water mixture over the top.  Let this sit for a few hours.  Check it to see if it needs flipped over so all the water will be absorbed.

After a few hours the cardboard center will be soft and you can pull it right out of the middle.  Pull the center towel up and throw away the first one (it has glue on it).  Pull the wipes from the center as you use them. 

*Two things I learned.

1. Viva paper towels seem like they would be great, but they pill up.
2. Cutting paper towels in half is surprisingly hard.  Try an electric knife.  I am looking for a yard sale one for this purpose.