Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts

minimally adapted from Bon Appetit

Ingredients:
10 Tbsp butter, cut in pieces
1 1/4c sugar
3/4c unsweetened baking cocoa, sifted
2 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/3c flour
1c walnuts, chopped

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Continue to cook until foam decreases and browned bits form at the bottom of the pan, about 5-8 minutes. The butter will look almost caramel-y.

Remove from heat and immediately stir in sugar, cocoa, milk, vanilla, and salt. Stir 1-2 minutes. Allow to cool 1-2 minutes longer, then beat in eggs, one at a time until well incorporated.

Sift in flour and stir until flour is completely stirred in. Add walnuts and stir another 10 or so strokes to mix them in. Pour mixture into an 8×8″ metal baking dish that has been buttered or sprayed with nonstick spray.

Bake at 325 degrees for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean (a few moist crumbs are okay, you just don’t want batter). Allow to cool, then slice into 12-16 brownies.

Chicken Parmesan Soup

yourhomebasedmom.com


4 Tbsp olive oil

2 chicken breasts, skinless, boneless, pounded thin and cut into bite size pieces

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

1 qt. chicken broth

salt and pepper

1 C fresh basil, chopped

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 large onion, thinly sliced

8 slices of crusty artisan bread

3 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 whole clove of garlic

1/2 C freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Season chicken with salt and pepper and cook in 2 Tbsp. olive oil. Cook until just cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.

Add remaining olive oil and saute chopped garlic, onions and red pepper flakes. Cook until onions are beginning to soften. Add tomatoes and chicken broth and bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes. Put the chicken back in and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the chopped basil and stir.

While soup is cooking, drizzle the sliced bread with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet under the broiler in the oven and toast until lightly golden. Watch closely. Remove from oven and rub each slice with the whole clove of garlic. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Place back under broiler for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted.

Place one slice of toast in bottom of bowl and pour soup over the top. Add a second toast on top. Enjoy!

Original recipe from Rachel Ray

Beef Fajitas

yourhomebasedmom.com

1/2 C canola oil
1/3 C soy sauce
1/4 C balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp fresh lime or lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds flank steak

Combination of peppers - red, yellow, orange, green and onion, sliced.

Olive oil
Salt


Using a medium bowl,combine the oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lemon or lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, and ground black pepper. Place meat in a large zip loc baggie and pour marinade over the steak. Turning meat to coat thoroughly. Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours or overnight.

Preheat grill for medium-high heat.

Place steaks on the grill, and discard the marinade. Grill meat for 5 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.

While meat is grilling, saute onions and peppers in olive oil and salt until tender.

Serve with meat on a tortilla. Add sour cream, guacamole and or salsa.

Chicken Pasta Salad

cjaneinthekitchen.blogspot.com

1 lb. cooked, shredded chicken (or 1can of Costco chicken)
1 lb. cooked rotini or bowtie noodles


2 heads broccoli, finely chopped


1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1/3 onion, chopped
1 can sliced olives
1 cup shredded cheese


1/3 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing (don't skip this--it's what holds it all together)

Dressing:
2 envelopes dry Italian dressing mix
6 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
4-1/2 Tbs. water
1/2 cup olive oil
Combine cooled chicken, chopped vegetables, and olives. Set aside. Whisk together dressing ingredients and pour over vegetables and chicken. Mix together. Add ranch dressing and cheese and fold together. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving Serves 8 - 10.