Adrienne's Brownies

My mother-in-law left a brownie recipe behind that only listed ingredients and an oven temperature. I hope I've filled in all the right details to replicate her wonderful brownies.

Adrienne's Brownies

Ingredients

• ½ cup Butter, melted
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 2 Eggs
• 2 squares baking Chocolate melted (or ½ cup Cocoa)
• ¾ cup Flour
• ½ tsp Baking Powder
• ¼ tsp Salt
• ¾ cup chopped Walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch square baking pan.
2. Stir together butter, sugar and vanilla in bowl. Add eggs; beat well with spoon.
3. Stir in chocolate (if melted) now, or if cocoa powder, see next step.
4. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt (and cocoa powder if used); gradually add to egg mixture, beating until well blended.
5. Stir in nuts, if desired.
6. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.
7. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan.
8. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

cc image courtesy of Terriko

Banana-Cherry-Chocolate Muffins

I was inspired to find/create this recipe when I noticed our bananas were brown next to the cherries in our fruit basket.

Dried cherries or cranberries can be substituted for the fresh cherries out of season.

Banana-Cherry-Chocolate Muffins

Wet ingredients

• 2 Tbsp melted butter
• 1/3 cup (or more) Vermont maple syrup
• 2-3 large, rip bananas
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Dry Ingredients

• 2/3 cup cherries, pitted and chopped
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 2 Tsbp chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (King Arthur Flour recommended)
• 1 tsp. backing soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg (fresh if possible)

Directions

1. Preheat over to 425 degrees F.
2. Grease muffin tin.
3. Combine wet ingredients; letting butter cool before mixing it with beaten egg. Set aside.
4. Chop cherries and nuts. 
5. Combine all dry ingredients (except cherries, chocolate & nuts.) Then add excepted ingredients and toss to coat.
6. Add wet to dry ingredients. Combine just enough to moisten. Do not overwork.
7. Spoon into greased muffin tin.
8. Put in oven, and lower heat to 350 degrees F. Cook for 20 minutes.
9. Cool muffins on a wire rack.

cc2.0 image courtesy of jessicafm, and see her associated vegan muffin recipe.

Oven-Roasted Rosemary Potatoes

A tasty and easy accompaniment to Pepper-encrusted Steak. I prefer to use Garlic Maple Pepper, in place of the ground black pepper, for that special Vermont touch.

Oven-Roasted Rosemary Potatoes

Ingredients

• 18 fingerling potatoes
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Wash potatoes and pat dry. Cut into 1 inch pieces to ensure even cooking.
3. Place potatoes in a single layer on baking sheet. Coat with remaining ingredients.
4. Stir once during cooking. Cook until golden brown and tender, about 30 minutes.
5. Allow potatoes to cool 5 minutes before serving.

cc2.0 image courtesy of Furey and the Feast, and see her recipe here.

Fabu Mac and Cheese

This is my best attempt at recreating my sister-in-laws fabulous macaroni and cheese recipe. The key ingredients are farm-fresh gouda (Taylor Farm Gouda is our favorite), Vermont cheddar, cream cheese and 3 drops of hot sauce. Not to worry; there is no kick to this dish. The tabasco only enhances the flavor of the cheese. We also prefer pasta shells; they cup the cheese so nicely. Enjoy!

Fabu Mac-n-Cheese

Ingredients

• 2 cups/16 oz Macaroni or orecchiette/shells
• 2 tsp Kosher Salt
  
• 4 TBSP Butter
• 3 TBSP Flour
• Pinch pepper
• 1/2 tsp Paprika
  
• 2 cups Milk
• 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
• 1.5 cups or 12 oz grated Cheddar Cheese
• 1 cup or 8 oz. cubed Gouda (or Fontina if preferred)
• 4 oz Neufchatel or cream cheese, cubed
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)
  
• 4 TBSP melted Butter
• 1 cup cubed bread slices or 1 sleeve Ritz crackers
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 TBSP Parsley

Directions

1. Cook pasta in salted, boiling water then drain (pasta should NOT be fully cooked).
2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
3. Preheat oven to 350.
4. Add the flour, pepper, paprika and stir with a whisk, constantly, for about a minute. (flour should not brown).
5. Mix in milk and cream and stir continuously until steaming, but not boiling.
6. Add cheeses, slowly, until they melt.
7. Add hot sauce and stir in pasta.
8. Mix and turn into greased, large casserole dish.
9. Mix bread crumbs/crackers, melted butter, parmesan cheese and parsley and sprinkle on top.
10. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

cc2.0 image by robjtak