Bonneville Jr. High School Brownies

I think that Jamie Oliver is on to something about our school lunches, but my experience as a kid was that hot lunch at school was usually pretty good, at least in the earlier grades. So when I found a lunch lady's recipe through Pinterest for brownies I wondered if it would be any good. I've found out the hard way that I have to be wary of Pinterest recipes. Everything is not as good as it looks. But the story that these came from a lunch lady added enough "credibility" to give the recipe a try.

They turned out to be really good. They were soft and the frosting was soft too, so best served from the pan they were made in. (I made another good recipe for brownies that are a little more portable for picnics, here's the recipe.)

Brownies
1 C butter (softened)
1/2 C Cocoa
2 C flour
2 C sugar
4 eggs
4 t vanilla
1 C chopped nuts (optional)

I mixed them as per the blog instructions, but next time I'll mix the wet ingredients with the wet and then add the dry. (I'm more of a "simplify" kind of person.) Combine the ingredients and prepare a 9 x 13 pan with butter/flour. Bake at 350 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. When they're done, cool to lukewarm and frost.

Frosting
1/4 C butter softened
1/4 C milk
1/4 C cocoa
3 C powdered sugar
Dash of salt

Mix together while the brownies are cooling. Use an electric mixer. When it's blended it's ready to go.

Recipe Source: Saltbox House Cooking Exchange: Lunch Lady Brownies (and the Bonneville Junior High Lunch Lady)

Snickerdoodles

My husband's work recently went into what they call "crunch mode." He works in the video game industry and crunch mode means long days and some Saturdays+ for everybody. Today I took in some cookies, his favorite: Oatmeal, and the testing manager's favorite: Snickerdoodles. This recipe has been my go-to for a long time and the cookies are really good. They're a soft buttery cookie rolled in cinnamon-sugar, so they're very much in the "comfort-food" category.

Snickerdoodles
1/2 butter
3/4 C sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 C flour
1/4 t salt
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t cream of tarter

Cream butter and sugar then add the egg and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients and add to the butter mixture. Roll into 1-2 inch balls and coat in cinnamon sugar. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

Recipe Source: Harmons grocery store, from a printed recipe card.

Chocolate Mint Cookies

Recently I came across some yummy looking cookies on Pinterest; Andes Mint cookies. I couldn't find any Andes Mints at the store with the exception of Christmas peppermints, so I grabbed a box of Fernwood's Chocolate Mint Sandwiches and gave the receipe a try. 

Chocolate Mint Cookies
1 box of Devil's Food Cake mix
1/2 C oil
2 eggs

After Baking
1 package Fernwood chocolate mint sandwiches

Combine the cake mix, oil and eggs. Drop by spoonful on to cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about 8 or 9 minutes. The cookies will start to crinkle a bit when they're done. Take the cookies out of the oven when done. In the meantime I cut the mints in half. As soon as the cookies are out of the oven, depending on the size of the cookie, put 1 to 2 mint pieces on each and wait 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes are up take a spoon and spread the now-melted chocolate around.

Recipe Source: Andes Mint Cookies from Six Sisters' Stuff

Pear, Brie & Sliced Almond Grilled Sandwich

Because I'm not a food stylist, I wanted to share some pictures with you of Silver Lake that I took yesterday. It really is a beautiful place.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a wedge of brie with the intent to make some lovely, melty brie and pear sandwiches for my family. So tonight my daughter went out to eat with a friend and my husband was like "why would you mix those ingredients?" So, this scaled down nicely to a serving for one. It was melty and subdued compared to a grilled cheese made with sharp cheddar. The pear slices were perfectly ripe, the almonds that fell into the pan toasted and brought a nutty flavor to the sandwich.

Pear, Brie & Sliced Almond Grilled Sandwich
5-6 slices of Brie (with the rind trimmed off)
1 pear (cut into slices)
1-2 T sliced almonds (optional)
2 slices whole wheat bread
1/2-1 T butter
Toothpicks

Butter one side of one of the pieces of bread and place it butter side down in the frying pan. Cover the bread with slices of pear, then add the slices of brie, and sprinkle with almonds. Butter one side of the remaining piece of bread and place the bread on the sandwich butter side up. Turn the stove on medium low. Allow the bread to brown, then before flipping the sandwich "pin it" together by adding toothpicks, pushed through diagonally from the corners. This will hold the sandwich together. Flip the sandwich to allow it to brown on the other side, and for the cheese to melt.

Recipe Source: I've seen this all over the place. It's just another version of a grilled cheese. :) This is how I made it.

Suzanne

The Chocolate - a dessert cafe

"The Chocolate" cafe is located in a cute old house on 9118 South and Redwood Road in West Jordan, Utah. I've driven past it a few times and have been meaning to stop. Today I ran home to pick up my daughter after school and we went there as a special treat, for after-school snack.

There are pretty gardens, and even a few roses, that lead up to the front door--which has stained glass (a good sign, of "charming"right?) You order at the front desk when you enter, then find a place to sit and they bring you your order.

Charming is a good word to describe this little cafe. There are several rooms, each set up with dining spaces that are cozy and welcoming. I loved the little details like the flowers on the mantle--and how clean it was!

We decided to share an eclair and a piece of cake with a cup of tea. The desserts were very good and it was a nice place to chat and pass a rainy afternoon.

The Chocolate (a dessert cafe)

9118 South Redwood Road

West Jordan, Utah  84088

801 566-5330

Have a nice evening!

Suz