Brownie Milkshake

Don't ask me how these things happen...why there would be two left over brownies sitting in our fridge for a little longer than necessary. Have no fear, there is always a way to use food items that are on their last leg! In this case, just throw two old (or not so old brownies) into a blender with some milk and ice cream and within minutes, you'll be downing a most supreme milkshake. Your welcome ^.^

Pork and Lentil Stew - Remake

Leftover Pork and Lentil stew + Pasta + Cheese = a whole new Easy Pasta Bake

Peanut Butter and Oreo Crumb Cookies

Take your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe, add 1 cup of Peanut Butter Oreo crumbs. Bake as per directions, enjoy with a glass of milk and/or good friends!

Butter Beer!

There is absolutely no reason one should avoid trying out this fabulous beverage! Even while living in South Korea where Cream Soda does not exist, we took action, made our own cream soda and I would do it again, and again, and again...because this. was. phenomenal.

Thanks to Pinterest, I came across this recipe which supported my own creation of Butterbeer.

Ingredients/Directions:

In a saucepan melt together 1 cup of Brown Sugar and 2 Tbsp. of Water (if you have a candy thermometer it should be at 240 F -- otherwise, bring it to a boil and hope for the best). Stir in 6 Tbsp. of Butter, 1/2 tsp. Salt, 1/2 tsp. Cider Vinegar,  and 1/4 c. Heavy Cream, let set and reach room temperature...or not. In a bowl or tall measuring cup mix 1/2 c. Heavy Cream and 2 Tbsp. of the Brown Sugar mixture until not quite whipped cream. Split the rest of the Brown Sugar mixture between 4 glasses (or however many servings worth you desire - we did 10 small cups), fill with a bit of cream soda (nearly to the top) and spoon some whip topping onto the top before sitting down to watch Harry Potter #7 pt. 1 in anticipation for pt. 2! You'll definitely come back for more!

Slow-cooker Pork and Lentil Soup

Monsoon season = LOTS of Rain (obviously)

Even though it's not particularly cold during Monsoon Season, the rain makes me crave soups and stews. And, when we opt for inviting friends over pre-Harry Potter, crock-pot soups are the best answer to ensure all mouths are adequately fed.

Using a recipe for Hamburger Lentil Soup from my handy-dandy Fix-It and Forget It Cookbook, I threw this together in a jiffy and came home to some fabulous smelling and tasting Pork and Lentil Soup.

Ingredients/Directions:

Brown 1lb. of ground or finely chopped Pork and 1 chopped onion in a skillet, drain off the fat. In slow cooker, combine Beef, Onions, 3 Carrots diced, 1 cup of mushrooms diced, 2-3 cloves of minced garlic, 1 cup of marinara sauce, 4 cups (or more) of water/broth, 2 cups dry lentils, 1 Tbsp. brown sugar and cook on low for 8-10 hours (high 4-6 hours). During the last hour or 30 minutes chop up some pumpkin kid or summer squash and throw into the mix. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Enjoy with good company and a glass of ButterBeer prior to watching Harry Potter (#7 pt. 2 - to be exact) for a screaming good time!

Bacon, Mushroom and Onion Calzones

My most recent batch of Basic Bread from Jamie Oliver was used to make two loaves of Baguettes for the Lemon-Thyme spread and then a few days later to make these calzones. (Regarding the bread recipe, I split it into fours, baked two fourths as bread, used one fourth for these calzones and froze the other fourth! Huu-zah!)

Anyway, these were simple and absolutely delicious!

Ingredients/Directions:

Saute in a touch olive oil a clove of garlic, 4-6 slices of bacon, one or two handfuls of chopped mushrooms and a small chopped onion. Roll out a bit of Basic Bread dough. Spoon in some marinara sauce of choice, top with sauteed mixture and mozzarella cheese, fold dough into a semi-circle/moon shape, brush with olive oil and make a few slits for steam to escape. Bake 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees (200 Celsius) and enjoy in the company of the most fabulous man you can snag ;)

Creamy Fig French Toast Sandwich

Breakfast doesn't get much simpler with a touch of gourmet than this:

One piece of bread spread with Cream Cheese

One piece of bread spread with choice of preserve (I used Fig)

Sandwiched.

Dipped in egg whisked with milk and sprinkled with cinnamon.

Set in hot, oiled frying pan, cooked til done on two sides.

Smothered with honey.

Enjoyed.