Chocolate Toffee Bars

February 5, 2010

Chocolate Toffee Bars We’ve had a change of plans tonight.

We were going to some friends to enjoy homemade pizza – but since the snow plow hasn’t been by yet, and the snow keeps falling, we’ll  stay at home.

It’s going to be another one of those snowy – stay – in – and watch a movie – kind of family nights.

Perfect for cuddling, and quilts, and of course – chocolate!

But then – every night is perfect for chocolate!

These yummy treats were fast and easy to make – and won’t last long!

Chocolate Toffee Bars

Crust:

1 cup flour
1/2 packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened)

Topping;

1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts (we used walnuts)

For the crust: Mix together the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter until crumbs are formed. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Let the crust cool slightly while mixing up the topping.

Mix the brown sugar, flour, eggs, and baking powder until well-blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and the nuts.

Pour the topping evenly over the crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 18 – 20 minutes longer or until it is a deep golden brown and the center is set.

Cool completely before cutting and indulging!

Enjoy!

By Country Gal | Posted in Chocolate, Cookies and Bars, Cooking and Food | Tagged , | Comment (1)

Chocolate – Chocolate Chip Cookies

January 15, 2010

Double Chocolate chip cookies What’s more wonderful than a chocolate chop cookie?

A double chocolate chip cookie of course!

My sister Sandy made these as part of her Christmas baking this year and shared some with me. (You’d think she liked me or something!)

You really don’t want to know how many I ate. To be honest – I think I lost count. But at least I didn’t hide them from the children! :)

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 3/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter or margarine (softened)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup baking cocoa
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup pecans or walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine flour and baking soda and set aside.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars until fluffy. Add vanilla. Beat in the egg.

At low speed beat in cocoa followed by the milk.

Carefully stir in the dry ingredients with a spoon until just blended. Stir in the chips and nuts.

Drop by rounded teaspoonful on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-13 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before removing to wire racks.

Enjoy!

By Country Gal | Posted in Chocolate, Cookies and Bars, Cooking and Food | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

Banana Split Muffins

January 11, 2010

Banana Split Muffins I love it whenever I can sneak chocolate into the breakfast menu – and these muffins are a great way to do it!

This recipe came from my mom – it’s on page 57 of the family cookbook she put together for us several years ago. I think it’s the most stained and well-used page in my cookbook. (The Liver Creole page looks pristine however!)

When bananas are cheap, I buy a bunch and freeze them. Then I thaw out the number I need to make these and treat us all to these family favorites.

If your kids don’t like the cherries or nuts – or if you don’t have them – just leave them out.  I’ve made the basic recipe with just chocolate chips and it was wonderful!

Personally I love the extras, and it does taste a little like my favorite banana splits!

Banana Split Muffins

1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2)
1/2 cup maraschino cherries (snipped)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup nuts, chopped (I’ve used peanuts, walnuts, and pecans)

Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, blending completely. Add flour, soda, salt, bananas, and mix well.

Mix in the cherries, chocolate chips, and nuts.

Pour into greased or lined muffin tins.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

By Country Gal | Posted in Chocolate, Cooking and Food, Muffins & Scones | Tagged , | Comment (1)

Chocolate Chip Banana Cake

October 22, 2009

Chocolate Chip Banana CakeTwo lonely over ripe bananas sitting on my counter were the inspiration for this yummy cake.

The original recipe came from my sister. She had brought one of these freshly baked cakes over after the birth of one of my children, and my husband loved it!

Over the years I have served it with either a burnt sugar frosting or a cream cheese frosting – both were very good. But since I had some left-over chocolate frosting, I decided this recipe needed a little Chocolate Lady make-over!

Some mini chocolate chips and a layer of rich chocolate frosting made this yummy cake a hit for both my banana loving husband and his chocolate loving wife!

Chocolate Chip Banana Cake

2/3 cup milk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2-1/3 c. flour
1-2/3 c. sugar
1-1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2/3 cup shortening (I used margarine)
2/3 cup mashed bananas
2 eggs
2/3 cup chopped nuts (optional – I used walnuts)
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Put 2 tsp. lemon juice in measuring cup. Add milk to make 2/3 c. Set aside.

In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt.

Add the shortening,  mashed banana and sour milk. Beat 2 minutes.

Add 2 eggs. Beat another 2 minutes. Add the chopped nuts and chocolate chips. Bake in 2 greased and floured 9 inch round pans or a 9 X 13 pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

If baking in two round pans, cool 10 minutes and remove.  Cool completely before frost with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

1 stick butter (softened)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat the butter and cocoa until smooth, then add the sugar 1 cup at a time beating with each addition. Add milk and vanilla and beat for 3 minutes. Spread on cooled cake.

Enjoy!

By Country Gal | Posted in Cakes, Chocolate, Cooking and Food | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

June 30, 2009

Chocolate ICe Cream LogAngel girl shares a June birthday with one of her friends. So when our families enjoyed a meal together this weekend – I knew a special dessert was in order.

Since we were enduring some intense heat and I didn’t really want to turn the oven on – I decided that an ice cream cake would be perfect!

I found a yummy recipe for a peanut butter ice cream cake – but Angel Girl is not on the peanut butter kick that her older sister is – so I made some chocolate alterations.

The final result -

Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Crust :

2 cups oreo cookie crumbs
1/2 cup melted margarine or butter

Filling:

6 cups of vanilla ice cream (divided)
4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces Cool Whip

Line the bottom and sides of a 9 inch x 5 inch 3 inch bread pan with aluminum foil.

Mix together the Oreo cookie crumbs and melted margarine. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared bread pan.  Freeze for 30 minutes. Set aside the remaining crumbs.

Spread half of the ice cream over the crust and freeze for one hour or until firm.

Put the chocolate chips and milk in a microwave proof container and microwave until melted, stirring till smooth. Cool.

Beat cream cheese with the powdered sugar. Add the melted chocolate chips and mix well. Stir in the Cool Whip.

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the vanilla ice cream layer and freeze for one hour or until set.

Carefully spread the remaining ice cream over the cream cheese layer and freeze for one hour.

Press the reserved cookie crumbs on top of the ice cream and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze at least one hour before serving.

To serve, use the foil to carefully remove the ice cream cake from the pan. Slice with a serrated knife.

What a cool and yummy treat to celebrate the birthdays of two special 11 year old girls!

By Country Gal | Posted in Cakes, Chocolate, Cooking and Food, Desserts | Tagged , , , , , | Comment (1)