Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts

Ingredients

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (spooned into cup to measure, then leveled)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, chilled
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup walnut pieces

Directions

Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 325°F. Line 8x8x2-inch metal baking pan with foil, pressing foil firmly against pan sides and leaving 2-inch overhang. Coat foil with nonstick spray. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking until butter stops foaming and browned bits form at bottom of pan, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; immediately add sugar, cocoa, 2 teaspoons water, vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon (generous) salt. Stir to blend. Let cool 5 minutes (mixture will still be hot). Add eggs to hot mixture 1 at a time, beating vigorously to blend after each addition. When mixture looks thick and shiny, add flour and stir until blended. Beat vigorously 60 strokes. Stir in nuts. Transfer batter to prepared pan.

Bake brownies until toothpick inserted into center comes out almost clean (with a few moist crumbs attached), about 25 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Cut into 4 strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 4 brownies.

DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Source

Banana Walnut Muffins

Ingredients

3/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3)

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. Grease muffin tins or line with paper cups.

2) Spread nuts on a tray and toast in pven 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.

3) In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.

4) In another bowl, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla ubtil smooth and creamy. beat in eggs one at a time. Add mashed bananas and beat until combined.

5) Sti dry ingredients into banana minxture just until flour disappears. Lightly stir in nuts.

6) Spoon batter into muffin cups to the top. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

Source: Totally Muffins Cookbook, Celestial Arts, 1995.

We added green food coloring for St. Patrick's Day!

Dromedary Date Bars

Now this recipe is famous since 1912, which is what the package said. I was bored and I felt like baking so I decided to make them. I should of napped like I wanted to because I was going out but I baked. Since they are bars I figured they would be granola bar texture but they are more like a cake or cookie texture, a soft cookie. Either way they are really good.

Ingredients

3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup Dromedary Dates chopped
1 cup shredded coconut or 1/2 cup chopped nuts
2 whole eggs
1 cup brown sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in the chopped dates and the coconut or nuts. In separate bowl beat the eggs until foamy, gradually beating in the brown sugar. Add the flour mixture and stir. Spread in a well greased 13 x 9 cake pan to a depth of approximately one half inch. Place in the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. When finished cut in four inch by one inch bars, makes approximately 20 bars. Remove from pan while still warm. You'll like them and so will the whole family!

Source- back of Dromedary pitted dates package

Refreshing Fruit 'Cereal'

Again, with my obsession with Silk Milk, I got this recipe on the side of the carton. I had to buy the apricots, dates, and walnuts but it was well worth it because it was a delicious, nutritious, balanced breakfast.

Ingredients

1/4 cup walnuts
1 banana
1 apple
4 dates
2 tbs. raisins
2 dried apricots
1 1/2 cups Silk Light Vanilla
cinnamon

Directions

1. Chop nuts and fruit and layer in two bowls.
2. Pour cold or gently heated Silk in each bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Source- side of Silk Vanilla Light carton