Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate Brownies

It has been about two weeks since my last blog post. I have been pretty busy with everything lately from coaching lacrosse, school, and my boyfriend just recently graduated college! This weekend (Memorial Day Weekend) is also going to be pretty busy so that's why this weeks recipe is super simple, but can be a sweet treat to bring on a picnic or family get together for this busy weekend! So after this weekend it will be back to baking and more complicated recipes! 

Yields: About 12 brownies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions for Brownies:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. 
3. In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired.
   
4. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

I recently found this recipe on Pinterest and had to make my own pop tarts right away! They taste a lot better than what you get in a box from the grocery store. Its easy to make and doesn't take up a whole afternoon like some recipes I have recently made. This is definitely a recipe you want to try! 

Yield: 6-7 Pop Tarts

Ingredients:

For the Pie Crust:

1 1/2 cups sifted flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup shortening OR 1/4 cup unsalted butter

4 tablespoons cold water

Strawberry Jam

For the Glaze:

1 cup powder sugar

3 tablespoons milk

Sprinkles

Ingredients for Pie Crust

Directions for Pie Crust:

1. Combine flour and salt in bowl. Add shortening OR butter and blend with fork, or your fingers until mixture is fairly coarse.
2. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time. Gently mixing the dough after each addition until dough forms a ball.
3. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle. Cut out long strips about 2 inches wide, and 3 inches long.
4. Repeat until you run out of dough.
5. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
6. Take one pie crust rectangle and fill with a teaspoon of jam. Cover with another piece of pie crust. Crip all four edges
7. Repeat step 6 until you run out of pie crust.
8. Bake for 7-8 minutes or until slightly brown.

   

   Allow for Pop Tarts to cool before glazing them.

Directions for Glaze:

1. Place powdered sugar in bowl. Pour milk slowly until it has a consistency of really thick syrup. (About 3 tablespoons)
2. Once Pop Tarts are cooled pour glaze onto Pop Tarts and decorate with sprinkles.