Buckeye Brownies

It is pretty tough to find a better dessert combination than chocolate and peanut butter. This dessert is no exception! These brownies are one of my most requested desserts. They are very tasty!

Buckeye brownies

I did change the topping layer a tiny bit: I use a whole stick of butter and 12 oz of chocolate chips, instead of the smaller amount called for. I just don't have a lot of recipes that call for 6 oz of chocolate chips, so I don't want them to sit around and expire. Plus, a little extra ganache never killed anyone.

Bottom line: If you like chocolate and peanut butter, try these! They are super rich, so take them to feed a crowd. I like to store them in the fridge, but let them sit out about 30 minutes before you'd like to dig in. That way, the middle layer softens up and the ganache is no longer crunchy. I have eaten them cold, of course, and they are still good, but I like the gooey room temperature ones even better!

No Fuss Pumpkin Cake

Nothing says fall like pumpkin. I love this time of year, and I love that this dessert starts with a cake mix!
No fuss pumpkin cake recipe

The only thing I changed was to make my own cream cheese frosting, instead of mixing a can of pre-made with some cream cheese. My frosting recipe is super easy, very rich, and makes a ton! If you are gonna frost something, I say pile it on. Mix together 1 stick softened butter, 8 oz. softened cream cheese, and 1 pound of powdered sugar. If you feel it is too thick, add a couple tablespoons of milk. Voila!

Bottom line: this is really easy, and really good! The pumpkin makes it very moist, and the spice makes it taste just perfect for fall. The frosting is awesome, of course! I have made this in the recommended 15x10 pan and in a 13x9, they both work fine. I have found the cooking time stays the same at about 28 minutes. Nobody will guess this started from a mix, and you don't need to volunteer that information!

Crunch Top Ham and Potato Casserole

Oh, the deliciousness! This is one of Nate's favorites, and it is not hard to see why: ham, cheese, potatoes, butter! It comes together in about 5 minutes, so it is great for busy days.

Crunch top casserole recipe

Bottom line: This is seriously delicious. No, it is definitely not healthy, but it is wonderful! I have used different cream soups before, and it always turns out fine. You could get away with using about half the butter called for in the actual casserole (not the topping), but why on earth would you want to do that?! I think mozzarella or Swiss cheese would be great, but I have yet to try that out. It usually takes a few days for us to finish the leftovers, and they taste even better after sitting up in the fridge!

Chess Squares

Any recipe that is also known as "gooey butter cake" has a special place in my heart. This is so simple and so good!

Chess Squares Recipe

Bottom line: Yummy! Sweet, but not hurt-your-teeth sweet. Definitely very gooey. The edges get a tiny bit crispy, but the center is a glob of goodness! Soon after I took the above picture, I ate the rest of the row...they are that addictive. I only had a white cake mix on hand, and these tasted wonderful. I am not so sure the flavor of the cake mix matters, and it would be fun to experiment with different flavors. I imagine spice cake mix would be fabulous, as would funfetti.

Golden Chicken Pot Pies

Truly a perfect meal in itself! Creamy, comforting, and very satisfying. Plus, the make one, freeze one option lets you cook two meals in the same time it takes to cook one!

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Bottom line: Go make this recipe...and soon! You can add cheese, change up the cream soups, add a bottom crust, or pretty much whatever else you want. I like to add corn and onions, but that is purely personal. Nate likes to have a top and bottom crust, so I sometimes add a bottom crust without changing the cook time or temp. That's only when I am feeling generous, though. The recipe is great as-is, and it is quick and easy, to boot!

Pizza Pasta Casserole

All the goodness of pizza baked up into a casserole! I have made this many times, and we love it. This time, I just made one (for freezing), so I halved the recipe.

Pizza Pasta Casserole

Bottom line: You really can't go wrong with this one. You can add all your favorite pizza toppings (olives, peppers, sausage, etc). I have also made this with spaghetti noodles and it works just as well. This is so perfect to make when you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen!

Chicken Tater Bake

Seriously, how can you not want to try this just based on the name?!  Chicken, veggies, tots...yum!

Chicken Tater Bake

Bottom line: So homey! I really can't imagine anyone not liking this. I don't want to say it is bland, but it isn't spicy by any means. If you don't like peas and carrots, use whatever veggies you desire. I used a generic bag of mixed veggies that also included corn. I also think you could use any cream soup you like, or mix two different ones for the heck of it! This reminds me of a chicken pot pie without the crust. It is very good, and I am pumped to take the extra out of the freezer in a few weeks!

Cheddar Beef Enchiladas

Mmmmm...cheesy, beefy, creamy goodness! Very hearty, and super easy to customize.

Cheddar Beef Enchiladas

Bottom line: These are yummy! I did make a change- I added a can of Rotel to the topping, just because I really like the spice and the extra sauce. I like refried beans, but black beans would also be really good in these. Also, a zippier cheese blend would be a nice change, too. As is, they are very good, but it is nice to know you can change them to your liking! Another plus? These are very inexpensive to put together, and make enough to freeze the extras for later! Enjoy.

Ground Beef Spiral Pasta Bake

I am trying to stock up on freezer meals before the baby comes, so I have one less thing to do in my sleep deprived, zombie state. This one sounded simple and yummy: beef, pasta, and spaghetti sauce. Oh, and cheese...lots of cheese.
Ground Beef Spiral Bake Recipe

This makes a double recipe-one to eat and one to freeze. I stocked up on foil 13x9 pans, so expect a lot more of these recipes in the near future!

Bottom line: Just okay. Don't get me wrong, it was by no means awful, it was just kind of bland. It could have definitely used some garlic salt or even a spicy marinara instead of the plain jane spaghetti  sauce. I don't think I would make it again, but the hubby likes it, so it will get eaten!

Bruggies

What, pray tell, is a Bruggie? It is a brownie made for one, in a mug. In the microwave. In about 3 minutes start to finish. Semi-dangerous yumminess!

Bruggies recipe

So...I don't have a picture because I ate the brownie too quickly. On a side note here, let me say I plan on getting back to the blog more often, but this pregnancy has zapped me completely of all energy...and is also the reason I uncontrollably inhaled this brownie. Back to the food at hand: it was gooey and yummy, but it certainly didn't have the same texture as a brownie cooked in a pan in the oven. No chewiness here.

Bottom line: I will make this again when I am in desperate need of a sweet treat and don't have eggs on hand, which is why I made this particular recipe in the first place. It wasn't as sweet as a traditional brownie, but the ice cream I put on top really helped in that respect!