One-Pot Soutwest Chicken and Rice

{recipe & pic from} Melskitchencafe.com


One-Pot Soutwest Chicken and Rice


4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 yello onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (10-ounce) package frozen corn
4 ounces cheese (used a combination of Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar)
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
Salsa and sour cream for serving

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper on both sides. In a large pot, heat the canola oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the chicken and cook until golden, about 3 minutes on each side. The chicken will cook more in a subsequent step. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

To the pot, add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom, until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook until fragrant, stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Add the rice and cook until the edges are just slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring the mixture to a simmer.

Return the chicken to the pot. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook at a simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender, about 25 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter or plate. Stir the black beans and corn into the pot. Add the cheese and cilantro. Season the rice mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the rice with the chicken, adding salsa and sour cream, if desired.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie n’ Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar

OH WOW!!!!

{Recipe & pic from} kevinandamanda.com

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie n’ Oreo
Fudge Brownie Bar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips
1 pkg Double Stuffed Oreos
1 Family Size (9×13) Brownie mix
1/4 cup hot fudge topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream the butter and both sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well to thoroughly combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt, then slowly incorporate into the mixer until the flour is just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread the cookie dough in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish that’s been lined with wax paper and sprayed with cooking spray. Top with a layer of Oreos. Mix together brownie mix, adding an optional 1/4 cup of hot fudge topping to the mix. Pour the brownie batter over the cookie dough and Oreos. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-55 minutes.

To half this recipe for an 8×8 brownie mix, just half the chocolate chip cookie dough ingredients. Enjoy!

Chocolate-Frosted Peanut Butter Bars

{Recipe & pic From} Our Best Bites

Chocolate-Frosted Peanut Butter Bars 

Cookie Base
1 cup real butter (2 sticks) at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
1  1/2 cups peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoons table salt
3 cups all purpose flour
3 cups quick oats

Fudge Frosting
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a large rimmed cookie sheet lightly with non-stick spray and set aside.

Cream butter and sugars for 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy.  Add  peanut butter and vanilla and beat until combined.  Add eggs, one at a time and beat between each addition. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt and add mixture to dough.  Beat to combine.  Add oats and mix until incorporated.  Press dough into prepared pan into a flat layer.  Bake for about 10-12 minutes.  The center should be puffed and set, but still soft.

While crust is baking, prepare frosting.  Whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt.  Add butter (make sure it’s soft!), boiling water, and vanilla.  Beat until smooth and glossy.

When cookie crust is done baking, if desired drizzle about 3/4 cups melted (just nuke it in the microwave) peanut butter on top and then spread on frosting.  Let cool (or leave slightly warm) and cut into squares to serve.  If also desired (and what’s not to be desired here?) serve with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge.  Moan while eating.

Gooey Cookies & Cream Double Chocolate Dream bars

{Recipe &  pic from} Picky Palate

Gooey Cookie & Cream Cake Bars

1 Devils Food Cake Mix

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

14 Oreo Cookies, broken into bite size pieces

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with tin foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Place cake mix, butter and egg into a large bowl, mixing to combine. Use your hands, it works much quicker Press into prepared baking pan. Top with broken pieces of cookies.

3. Pour sweetened condensed milk over cookies and top with chocolate chips. Bake for 23-25 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from oven.

4.  After 5 minutes of cooling, run a plastic knife around edges to loosen, this makes it much easier to remove from foil.  Let cool completely, remove foil from pan, then cut into squares.  I cut off all of the edges before cutting into squares (makes for neater squares), but do whatever you’d like!!

Makes 12 bars

Cookies and Cream Brownies

{recipe & pic from} the girl who ate everything

Cookies and Cream Brownies

Source: brownies adapted from My Baking Addiction; frosting adapted from How Sweet It Is

Brownies:

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate; coarsely chopped

3/4 cup butter
1 ½ cups white sugar
3 eggs; lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
8 Oreo cookies, crumbled

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 9×9 inch baking pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Microwave chocolate and butter or margarine in large bowl for 3-4 minutes or until butter is melted.

3. Whisk mixture until chocolate is melted. Stir in sugar. Add in eggs, extract and salt. Gradually add in flour and stir until just combined. Fold in crushed Oreo cookies.

4. Bake for 28-32 minutes; do not over bake. These taste completely different if they are overbaked!

5. Remove to cooling rack.

Cookies and Cream Frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk
5 Oreo cookies, crumbled

1. Beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy with a mixer.

2. Add the powdered sugar slowly, mixing together until combined. Add vanilla and mix until combined.

3. Add milk to desired consistency. If your frosting is too thick add more milk and if it's too thin add some more powdered sugar.

4. Crush Oreos and fold them into the frosting.

5. Frost cooled brownies. Makes enough frosting for a 9X9 pan of brownies.  Makes around 12 brownies.

Mmmm..cupcakes

{recipe & pic from} Your homebased mom

Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

Printable Recipe

from Better Homes and Gardens

1 3 oz. package orange flavored gelatin

1 2 layer size white cake mix

1 small box of cheesecake instant pudding and pie filling mix

1 1/4 C orange juice

4 eggs

1/3 C vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners (makes about 24-27 cupcakes).  Set aside 2 tsp of the orange gelatin for frosting.

In a bowl mix together the remaining gelatin, cake mix, pudding mix, orange juice, eggs, oil and vanilla.

Fill muffin cups with batter – about 2/3 full.  Bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.  Cool cupcakes before frosting.

Frosting:

1 8 oz package cream cheese

1/2 C butter

2 tsp vanilla

5-6 C powdered sugar

Reserved orange gelatin

1 tsp finely shredded orange peel

orange food coloring if desired

Soften cream cheese and butter at room temperature for at least 30minutes.  In a large bowl beat butter, cream cheese, reserved gelatin, orange peel and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Add in powdered sugar until desired consistency is achieved. Add in orange food coloring if desired.

Cake Batter Rice Crispy Treats

CAKE BATTER RICE CRISPY TREATS:

3 T Butter

1/2 cup yellow cake mix

10 oz mini marshmallows

6 cups rice crispy cereal

white chocolate melts

sprinkles

Melt butter, stir in cake mix, melt in marshmallows, add rice cereal. Pat into 9x13 glass dish. Cool. Melt chocolate + pour on. Sprinkle the sprinkles.