Tempting Tuesdays ~ Top 10 of 2014

As 2014 comes to a close, we look back on the top 10 recipes of the year. Thanks so much for reading, sharing, and pinning these posts. We have a lot of fun recipes on deck for 2015, so keep coming back for more.

Saturday Snapshots: 12-27-14

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Times Square - NYC - New Year's Eve

 

Photo credit: http://newyorkguest.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/tsq.jpg

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Christmas Magic Cookie Bars

Christmas is almost here! I had to give a Christmas twist to an old favorite. I used to make these all the time because they were so easy and most of the time I had all I needed in the cabinet. To give these a twist, I added a few Christmasy items. Enjoy some Christmas Magic Cookie Bars!

Recipe adapted from In Katrina's Kitchen.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup Nestle Toll House Winter Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels or Chocolate Chips (divided into 1/2 cup portions)
1 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
1 cup Holiday Mint or Regular M&M's (divided into 1/2 cup portions)
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

Unwrap butter and place in 9x13 inch pan. Place pan in oven and preheat to 350 degrees.

When butter is melted, remove from oven and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the bottom of the pan. Press lightly into the bottom of the pan.

Pour Sweetened Condensed Milk evenly over graham cracker layer.

Layer 1/2 cup chips, 1/2 cup M&M's, and 1 cup nuts.

Add coconut.

Add remaining chips and M&M's.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges and coconut is lightly browned. Enjoy!

Saturday Snapshots: 12-20-14

Saturday Snapshots is a picture prompt brought to you by Author to Author, meant to inspire the creative genius within you.

Maybe you'll be moved to write flash fiction for it, perhaps it will kick start an old idea for a novel, or it may inspire a new short story. Whatever it does, we hope you'll enjoy these images around the web.

If inspiration does hit, we hope you'll post a snippet in the comments.

Today's image: Pac Man Christmas Tree

 

Photo credit: http://media.techeblog.com/images/christmas-trees.jpg

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Mint Chocolate Brownies

This week, I wanted to give a holiday flair to a fantastic favorite. I found this recipes for Mint Chocolate brownies on Jamie Cooks It Up.


Ingredients

Brownies

1 cup butter
2 cups cugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips


Mint Filling

(for extra thick layer, double these ingredients)

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp mint extract
2-3 drops of green food coloring
3 tbsp whipping cream
dash of salt

Chocolate Topping

(for extra thick layer, double these ingredients)

1/3 cup whipping cream
1 1/3 cups chocolate chips
1/3 cup butter

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place 1 cup melted butter, 2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder and 2 teaspoons vanilla into your stand mixer or large mixing bowl. Mix on low-speed until combined and smooth, should take about 1 minute.

Add 4 eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one.

In a small bowl place 1 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Toss the two together with a fork to combine. Add these dry ingredients to the brownie batter and mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips.

Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and spread the batter out into it. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes. Be sure not to over bake these babies. Remove the pan from the oven and let the brownies cool completely.

While your brownies cool go ahead and make the chocolate topping. Toss 1/3 cup whipping cream, 1 1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips and 1/3 cup butter into a medium-sized sauce pan. Heat the ingredients up over medium high heat, stirring constantly until everything is melted and well combined. Should just take a few minutes. Set the pan aside to cool. You want this mixture to be lukewarm when you pour it over the mint filling.

To make the heavenly mint filling of wonder and bliss, grab a medium-sized mixing bowl or use your stand mixer. To the bowl add 2 1/2 C powdered sugar, 2 T softened butter,
4 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/2 t mint extract, 2-3 drops green food coloring ad 3 T whipping cream. Beat the ingredients for 2-3 minutes or until everything is well combined.

When the brownies are completely cool spread the mint filling over the top. Pop the pan into the fridge and allow it to set up for about 20 minutes.

When the filling has had a chance to set pour the chocolate topping all over the top. Then spread it around with a knife.

Place the pan back in the fridge for an hour, or until the chocolate layer is set. When you are ready to serve slice them with a sharp knife. Top with a dollop of flavored whipped cream for an extra kick. Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.

Sneak Peek Sunday - Jeanne McDonald

Indulgence

by: Jeanne McDonald

Genre: Erotica/Erotic Romance

Release date: TBD

One night of indulging in her carnal nature will unlock a world of mystery and desire she never dreamed existed.

A year has passed since Addison George was left at the altar after her husband-to-be announced he was gay. Still friends despite what happened, she secretly harbors hope that all of this was a phase and he will come crawling back to her. That dream is shattered when he announces that he’s engaged to the man he left her for.

Spiraling out of control, Addison agrees to accompany her best friend to the sex party of the year. Hosted by world-renowned erotic romance author, Sebastian Hawk, exposed anonymity is the name of the game. The rules are simple: all guests are required to remain nude for the duration of the event, except for a mask to hide one’s identity, and everyone must partake in at least one salacious delight.

Out of her sexual league, Addison spends the evening with a certain clothed employee who explains to her the world in which the enigmatic author lives. While she wishes to understand more about the strange novelist, Addison can’t help but feel drawn to the handsome and mysterious employee who has introduced her to the sensual realm of Indulgence.

Lost in a world of secrets and passion, Addison will unmask the man behind the mystery while exploring her carnal nature. Through it all, she’ll discover that not everything is as it seems, and to never judge a book solely by its cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXHxSQ8nHDw

Jeanne McDonald began telling stories at the ripe young age of five, when her mother considered the truth to be a lie due to her extensive embellishment to the retelling of an event. She wrote her first short story when she was twelve years old, and at the age of sixteen she tried her hand at poetry. She reconnected with her love for writing in 2010 thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend.

Her passions include a "mild" Starbucks addiction, music, reading, quotes, movies, and romance. When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, chatting with her friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in Literature. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.

Want to join Jeanne's street team? New members are being accepted at this time.