Chunky Monkey Brownies

I know you are probably tired of me raving about the richness and decadence of a specific dessert. I just can’t help it. Chunky Monkey Brownies are so sensational you will drool while you’re eating them. No kidding. Instead of using regular chocolate chips I used Hershey’s new baking melts in the brownie and then used chocolate chips on top. Oh, my. Chocolate just explodes in your mouth with every bite. The Baking Melts are much larger than chocolate chips so it’s like having miniature chocolate candies inside. Loved ’em!
I had an overabundance of bananas on my hands last month. John was out of town for a week and, before he left, he purchased several big batches of bananas. I think I had about 15-20 bananas I needed to get rid of. So, I started checking out Pinterest for ideas on goodies I could make using overripe bananas. I found several recipes I decided to make, including this one based on a Mark Bittman Recipe.
While I normally would have made this recipe with chocolate chips, I had these baking melts that I purchased before the holidays that I wanted to use up, so I thought this would be a good recipe to do that. I wasn’t disappointed. Chunky (really chunky) Monkey Brownies turned out terrific. My heavens, it was hard to keep my hands out of these goodies! If you have a hard time finding baking melts, you can substitute chocolate chunks.
If you’re looking for a rich, gooey and, yes, decadent brownie recipe, than look no farther than Chunky Monkey Brownies with baking melts. Y-U-M. Yes, of course, you can use chocolate chips. But for a richer, deep chocolate flavor, try the baking melts. They’re awesome!

Chunky Monkey Brownies will have you salivating in no time.

The combination of bananas and chocolate is awesome!

Better taste a quick bite before they’re all gone!

Here’s what I did.

Source: http://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com/2015/05/27/chunky-monkey-brownies/ 

2013 – Gluten Free Living Taco Bake

Taco Bake

2013 – Gluten Free Living

Years ago I found this really simple Taco Bake recipe from allrecipes.com with very few ingredients. It’s so quick and easy to assemble and in about 15 minutes you can have this casserole ready to put in the oven. It’s quite adaptable too if you want to add a few other ingredients, such as green onions or olives. I made this recipe last week for a young family who just had a newborn. If you’re family is into anything Tex-Mex they will adore this wonderful, comforting main dish. It is a little like eating nachos in casserole form.
Taco Bake has tortilla chips on the bottom, then a layer of ground beef mixed with taco seasoning, sour cream and green chilies, followed by a layer of shredded cheese. The layers are repeated a time or two ending with more cheese on top. It is SOOOOO easy. Choose a gluten free, MSG free taco seasoning or make up my Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe from scratch for healthier options.
If you need a quick and easy main dish recipe to throw together quickly because you are at ball practices, doctor’s appointments, or other venues late in the day, consider having these ingredients on hand and whip up this easy casserole. You can be ready to eat in about an hour! This is a great recipe to teach your kids how to cook, too. It has so few steps and turns out so wonderfully–they will be greatly encouraged in cooking after making this tasty entree for dinner. This only has seven ingredients so it is an easy recipe even for a novice cook!
When I initially posted this recipe in June 2012, I had just begun my blog. I made Taco Bake a second time that year and retook the pictures, but they were taken with a small iPhone camera so the pictures were not of the quality I would have liked. Plus, I had baked the recipe in foil pans which are so hard to photograph because of the glare. I’ve been remaking all my first year pictures as a result, and reshooting pictures that are more pleasing. I remade Taco Bake in October 2015 for a church potluck and it again was a real winner with everyone. I believe you’ll think so too.

Taco Bake is not only quick and easy, it’s a sumptuous feast! Add some cornbread and a side salad and you have a really tasty meal.

Taco Bake is a delightful Tex-Mex dish.

Taco Bake is a great Tex-Mex casserole you’re sure to love.

Here’s what I did.

I used these ingredients. I made up my own Homemade Taco Seasoning in the plastic bowl.

Brown ground beef. Drain if necessary. Add a can of undrained diced tomatoes and chilies, taco seasoning, sour cream and water.

Stir together and heat through about 5-10 minutes.

Awesome Texas Tornado Cake

What a delicious and easy sheet cake to make! Texas Tornado Cake is made with a can of fruit cocktail in the batter, then before you bake the cake you sprinkle a streusel topping with nuts over the top. After the cake comes out of the oven you add a boiled coconut topping and pour it on the cake while hot. Oh, soooo scrumptious! This wonderfully quick and easy recipe is also quite economical as you get 15 or so servings out of the cake for less than $10. If you have coconut and nuts on hand all the time like I do, it will cost even less. I was trying to use up some half-and-half in my refrigerator and I even had a can of fruit cocktail in my pantry so I didn’t need to go to the store for any ingredients when I made this tasty cake recipe.
Years ago, in the early 1980s when our children were infants, Sandi Weikel brought this cake to a Sunday school fellowship our class  was having. Granted, I have a sweet anyway so it’s rare when I don’t like something sweet, but I took one bite of this sweet cake and knew I had to have the recipe. I have made this recipe so many times over the years for two basic reasons–okay, three! 1) I almost always have all the ingredients on hand so I can make it on the fly. 2) It really is so inexpensive to make. 3) It tastes great!  I love all the peaches and pears in the fruit cocktail. I love coconut. I love walnuts or pecans (any kind of nut for that matter), so this has always been a win-win for me. It’s a win-win for my husband, too, because he hates dry desserts, and quite frankly, he rarely touches any dessert that doesn’t have fruit in it. He would much rather eat a dessert with fruit than chocolate. (Go figure!) So this tasty cake recipe has been on our “to-make” list lots of times over the years.
I’m not sure how the recipe got it’s name. The Weikels and our family were both living in Florida at the time and neither of us had ever been to Texas! I assume that Sandy got this recipe from her mom and it was passed down in some way. The cake doesn’t actually look like a tornado hit it (at least I don’t think it does!) Be that as it may, I present to you Texas Tornado Cake–lovely, delicious, moist, and sumptuous.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy dessert for your family, Texas Tornado Cake should top your list! It’s really a fabulous recipe. Dollop some vanilla or Snickerdoodle Ice Cream over the top and you will be in seventh heaven! You and your family will savor each mouthful, all the while vanilla ice cream dribbles down your chin!

Texas Tornado Cake is so moist and delicious!

This side view shows how ooey and gooey the cake is on the inside. It’s wonderful!

Texas Tornado Cake is just heavenly! We’ve always loved the fruitiness of this delicious cake.

Texas Tornado Cake is so quick and easy to make. You don’t have to spend a lot of time piping frosting over the top. You can whip this cake up without a lot of effort! All the fruit, nuts and coconut topping make this one enjoyable dining experience!

Here’s what I did.

Source: http://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com/2013/09/06/texas-tornado-cake/