Brownie Cake

The other day, I made this cake to take to work.

So good!

 

Brownie Cake

(from BD Family Cookbook/ Irene Storms)

 

2 sticks of butter

1 cup water

4 T. cocoa

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup buttermilk

 

Sift flour, sugar, soda and salt together. Bring to boil butter, water and cocoa. Pour hot mixture

over dry ingredients. Mix 2 eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk and 1 tsp. vanilla. Add to mixture; mix well.

Bake 350 / 30-35 minutes.

I used a cream cheese frosting.

snowman bag

(Top 3 Winner!)
The challenge @ Stampin' Celebration this week, is to use red, brown & white to make your project. I LOVE those colors. I took a SU! scalloped paper bag, ran a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock through my Big Shot with the Polka Dot Textured Impressions Folder & tied a piece of Dark Brown & white ribbon around it. I used the "More The Merrier" stamp set on white cardstock & mounted it on a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock. I added some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter & used my SU! markers. Inside the bag is a couple of chocolate mint candy canes & some Chex Cereal Mix that I made.
8 cups Chex cereal
1 cup cashews
1 bag Holiday M&M's
1 pkg vanilla almond bark melted
Mix well to coat. Spread out on waxed paper to cool. Break into bite size chunks. Store in air-tight container.

Sweet Corn Casserole

In case you missed the Holiday Open House/Grand Opening of Schmick's Market, here in town: They had a live Brass Band playing Christmas music, lots of food & a wine tasting! It was quite an experience for this 'ole country girl. After tasting several different wines, I was feeling all warm & fuzzy inside. :) I thought I would share the recipe for "Schmick's Market Sweet Corn Casserole" with you. Yum! Looks like it would be easy to make.

1 can whole kernel corn
1 can cream style corn
1-8oz pkg Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. salted butter, melted
1-1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
preheat oven 350*
In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients except cheese.
Pour into greased casserole dish.
Bake for 45 min. or until golden brown.
Remove from oven & top with cheese.
Return to oven for 5-10 min.
Let stand 5 min before serving. Enjoy!

Make your own clothes soap

Last night while I was watching Dancing With The Stars, I was shaving soap to make a batch of clothes soap. I nearly cut my finger off. Bristol made it. Whoo Hoo! Don't care what you say, I am a big fan of hers. Anyway, I remembered that last year I decorated jars & filled them with this homemade clothes soap. It made a great, useful, practical Christmas present. The recipe came from "The Everyday Cheapskate", Grand Island Independent Newspaper. Here it is:

Grate 6 bars of Fels-Naptha soap
3 cups Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
3 cups 20 Mule Team Borax
All can be found in the clothes soap isle at the grocery store or large discount centers.
Mix up well & store in covered container.

For light loads- 2 tablespoons
For heavy loads- 3 tablespoons

This soap will not make suds in your washer. It is perfect for those new washers that use less water. There are no perfumes, so it is great for those with allergies.

Workshop & cupcakes

Thank you to all of you who attended my Workshop @ ScrapHappens on Tues. night. It was a lot of work for you all but I thought all of your projects turned out fabulous! I'm not sure when the next Workshop will be since the extra rooms @ ScrapHappens have been rented out. I may have to clean my house & invite you to come & play in my craft room. :)

To my sister Anni: Here is the recipe for the cupcakes we had.
From Favorite Recipes from the SandHills cookbook dated 1974

-Surprise Cupcakes- (Kathy Harsh)

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese (softened)
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. sugar
6 oz. pkg chocolate chips

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1/3 c. cocoa
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. soda

2/3 c. salad oil
2 c. water
2 T. vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix cream cheese, egg, 1/2 teas. salt, 1/3 c. sugar & chocolate chips together & set aside. This is for the filling. Sift together all dry ingredients then, add all liquids & mix until smooth. Fill cupcake liners (scant) 2/3 full & then top with heaping tsp. of filling.
350 degrees for 25 min.