Baklava Bars

I have found heaven.. These bars are AMAZING.. If you like Baklava or Honey, you will LOVE these bars. Oh ... in heaven, these bars would contain no calories.. But here on earth, they are not diet friendly. They are perfect for Valentine's day for that non chocolate person. (whomever that may be)

I made these for the first time at Christmas, they were a HUGE hit, and I loved them. I always wonder why I need to work out everyday... I had two trays in January that also requested them. So these will also be perfect for Valentines. Nothing says love like some "honey" honey.

These lovely delights could sit next to any cookie any day

and they are perfect all year round

This recipe does come together fairly quickly.. The steps are just spelled out to make things easier. This recipe will impress your family and friends. And you will have kicked it up a notch. 

Baklava Bars
hugely modified from Bettycrocker.com
Ingredients
Cookie Base
1 stick of butter, softened
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Filling
1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 package frozen mini fillo shells

Glaze
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup 1/2 stick) butter
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with tin foil. Spray well with cooking spray.

In a large bowl of a mixer with a paddle attachment, mix butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix and then add vanilla extract. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix. A soft dough will form. Press dough into baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

While crust is baking, in a medium bowl, stir walnuts, granulated sugar, butter and cinnamon with a fork until mixture is well mixed and crumbly.

Sprinkle nut mixture evenly over partially baked base. With your hands, crumble frozen fillo shells evenly over nut mixture. Bake for 18-20 minutes longer or until golden brown.

While that is baking, in a small microwaveable bowl, microwave honey, butter, brown sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon on high for 1 minute or until bubbly. Stir in vanilla. Drizzle this mixture over your cooked fillo bar evenly. cool completely about 2 hours.

Store covered at room temperature, if the are not totally devoured.

A soft dough. Gently spread out, using your fingers

into your baking pan. Cover surface evenly

Baked for 15 minutes.

Edges are "just" starting to brown

Nuts, sugar, butter, cinnamon topping

ready to go next

These shells are in the freezer dept.

Usually near the frozen pie shells and cool whip area

I decided that I will buy these again.

There are "countless" different things I can make with them

Breaking it up into small pieces

Baked for the second time and drizzled with a Honey mixture

This was from my January trays. 

Everyone loved them ... and the pizelles also

Taking an old Greek dessert and making it easier.

Baklava is fussy and labor intensive. 

With a bit of knowledge, any baker can whip these up 

for a special event... or a Wednesday..

Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Dump Cake

Ok, Ok, OK, I know, I have totally fallen off the face of the earth. Not really. Just my blog..I am still baking and cooking all the time. I just have not written at all... Last year I started with a bang and just keep blasting through, well, at least towards the end of the year. Total peter out...

I really think I need to make writing my blog a New years resolution..

There are still tons of new recipes for me to try out. And at Christmas time, I added new cookie recipes to my repertoire. Sorry, one day, I will post them..In the new year, we have not started our hard core diet yet. There is no new junk food in the house. We are eating more clean and not buying Fried chicken from the local grocery store as convenience. (IT does taste great) I made my first turkey over the weekend. My Husband was quite surprised that I had never made a full fledged turkey. I had to call my Mom and sister for some pointers. One of our vendors gave me a 20 lb bird for Christmas. Shoved it in the freezer and waited until January. This baby took about a day and a half of thawing out. Hung out in the kitchen sink. On Sunday, I removed the insides, basted with butter and spiced it up. 4 and 1/2 hours later, we had turkey. I let it sit for about one hour. Covered it with foil. Then I started carving. That bird was still hot... Carving is not something I am very good at.. Those skills need LOADS of work.

Probably should have covered it with foil sooner.

So while the turkey was cooking, I decided to whip up a tasty dessert using my crock pot. I am trying to use my appliances. I like the crock pot, but I rarely use it.. I did make a ham in it last week.. Tasted fantastic.

Back to my dessert..  Apples have on hand. Still drinking my cranberry smoothies, fresh cranberries on hand, and who does not have a yellow cake mix on hand....This lovely dessert was quick to whip up, the house smell simply amazing.. Between a turkey and baking apples, who would not want to be a my house on a Sunday afternoon.

This was delicious, BUT it could have used some Vanilla Ice Cream

Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Dump Cake
modified from Cooking.com
Ingredients
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup fresh Cranberries (fresh or frozen)
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1/2 of a Yellow Cake mix. (use the other half another day)
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
4 tablespoons Butter, melted
1/2 chopped Pecans

Directions
Lightly spray or grease the slow cooker insert. Add all 4 apples and the 1 cup of cranberries to the insert. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the fruit. Evenly pour your cake mix over the apples and cranberries. Gently sprinkle the brown sugar over the cake mix. Slowly pour the melted butter over the brown sugar. Drop in your chopped pecans all over the mixture. Add a dash of cinnamon all over the top.

Put lid on crock. set on high setting for 2 1/2 hours. When completed, gently remove lid. Wipe off lid.

Remember to peel your apples before you start chopping.

It is loads more work this way to peel

I made this for my Husband and I with some left overs.
You can always double the recipe for a larger group

Photo skills are not doing this dessert justice.
I liked eating it the next day cold.
Warm or Cold, It was Husband Approved

Salted Caramel Scotch Blondies

Holy cow... where have I been. My Dentist asked if I had been on a vacation. NO.. just at home. Working outside, going to the beach and a very few motorcycle rides. I have been busy making very cool cakes, neat cupcakes and the same old delicious cookies. I am still drinking the same types of green drinks. Creature of habit. Hardly outside the box for me. No new recipes.

I have went to a wedding and catered two. Meet some old friends of my Husbands for the first time. I have went to two graduation parties and one birthday party. Good lord. The cash just keeps flying out the window. My weight loss plan has also flown out the window. Party food is so very bad and taste so very good. 

My Husband and I are my wonderful friend Mary's sons wedding.

The bride was beautiful and the groom was handsome as ever.

My Friend Mary was just stunning. Her radiating personality was 

all over the wedding and reception. It was just a lovely event.

So one day I can across this recipe. Salted caramel scotch blondies. They screamed at me.. MAKE ME!!

The only problem I have with blondies, they have a very short shelf life. Brownies will last a few days, not these. By the end of two days, I think they are done. You cannot over mix them, over bake them or not leave them wrapped well. Hockey season is over, you do not want pucks.

These blondies are very good though. NOT diet friendly, but o so delicious. Melt in your mouth, and commingle with flavors. There are several reasons for a wow factor. Brown Butter. Caramel Chips and Butterscotch Chips and last, Sea Salt. WOW. I made them for a party and they were gone. Everyone loved them. I made these for a 9 x 13 pan. You can cut them in half and make an 8 inch pan. They will taste great either way

Salted Caramel Scotch Blondies

adapted from chelseasmessyapron.com

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup caramel chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil. Spray for cooking spray and set aside

Heat your skillet to medium heat. Add butter and watch until melted. The butter will foam, stir regularly, to keep from boiling over. The butter will gradually start to brown. DO NOT let it burn. Or you will be starting over. Yummy brown bits will form, when you smell a nutty flavor, it will be done. 

Pour the brown butter into your mixing bowl. Add your brown sugar and mix. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Slowly add your flour, baking soda and sea salt until just incorporated. 

Spread about two cups of the mixture into your prepared pan. Sprinkle with the caramel chips. Then sprinkle with the butterscotch chips. Gently spread the REMAINING batter over the chips. The mixture will spread. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Until just slightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut and serve

The browned butter batter will be a nice light blondie color

Add your caramel chips and then the butterscotch chips next

Cool and cut into pieces. 

The combination of flavors will rock any one's world and melt a sour heart

Soft tidbits of pure heaven.

Heavenly Brownies

Healthy ~~ Absolutely NOT

Delicious ~~ Absolutely YES

If people think brownies are just some same old dessert, these brownies will knock them out of the ball park. Oh my goodness. Can brownies be sent from Heaven. I believe so. AND these are a snap to make. 

DISCLAIMER: 

You will not lose weight eating these brownies

You may get a sugar buzz eating these brownies

And though there are several food groups involved in these brownies, they do not fit any meal plan

What you will find though, these sinfully delicious brownies may make your spouse love you more, your friends will want to hang out with you more and they will plain and simple, bring a smile to your face as you eat them. I like a lot of different sweets, but these are just really good. These are a current favorite. 

Heavenly Brownies

These nuggets of love contain a brownie on the bottom, marshmallow middle and a cocoa krispies, chocolate, peanut butter topping. WOW... a combo platter to make anyone smile. This recipe makes an 8 x 8 pan, for a regular family or friends, this is good. If you were making them for a tray or large group, please double the recipe and use a 9 x 13 pan.

Heavenly Brownies
adapted from chocolatemoosey.com
Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips (divided - 1/2 cup & 1 cup)
20 large marshmallows
1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup cocoa krispies

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8 x 8 pan with tin foil and spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, add the butter and the unsweetened chocolate. Place in microwave for 1-2 minutes until melted. Check and stir after 1 minute. Remove from microwave, stir in sugar. Mix in the eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and flour and mix together. Batter will be thick, stir in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.

Spread batter into pan and bake for 22 minutes. The brownies will not be completely done, but remove from the oven and place the marshmallows on top. Return back to the oven and bake for another 6 minutes. The marshmallows will be soft and smashable. Spread the marshmallows over the brownies.

As your brownies start to cool, using the same bowl, gently melt the remaining 1 cup of chocolate chips and peanut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir together until melted, add cocoa krispies and spread over the brownies. Let the chocolate layer harden before cutting. 

Brownie batter in ONE bowl.

 20 large marshmallows place on top

slightly baked and ready to be smashed down

Just use your spatula to smash the marshmallows out

Chocolate and Peanut butter for the topping

Mix together and melt in the microwave. Then add the cocoa krispies

This is what the topping looks like

 Totally cooled and chilled brownies

Look at the marshmallow screaming EAT ME!!!

These cut so nice and tasted amazing

TAKE ME.....