Cook Crook Creation: Brownie Awesomeness

Merry Christmas! Unbelievably I am sitting in a quiet house right now on Christmas Eve while my boys are off doing some last minute shopping. I still have some baking, cleaning and cooking left to do, but had to share this fabulous treat recipe for those of you who need some more sweets for your holiday menu or maybe a last minute gift! I created these one night in a panic to make something delicious for my husband's co-workers for Christmas. I had brownie mix but did not just want to make plain old brownies. I stumbled upon a fudge recipe that had a pretzel crust and thought why not a pretzel crusted fudge brownie? And then, not wanting the top to be outdone, decided to make the brownies with a cream cheese swirl. Hubby walked into the kitchen while I was "inventing" and asked me what I was making....my answer was Brownie Awesomeness!

Brownie Awesomeness

Crust:

1 ½ cup crushed pretzels

1 stick (1/2 cup) melted butter

½ cup granulated sugar

Brownie:

1 package fudge brownie mix (I used the Duncan Hines Family size)

¼  water

¾ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

Cream Cheese Swirl:

6 oz. softened cream cheese

1 egg

¼ Tsp vanilla

1 tbsp sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix crushed pretzels, butter and sugar in a medium bowl and then spread into a 13x9 baking dish. Press the “crust” evenly into the bottom of the dish and bake for 8 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes.

Prepare brownie mix according to the package directions for “fudge like” brownies: add the brownie mix, water, oil and eggs into a large bowl and mix well. In another bowl, add the cream cheese, egg, vanilla and sugar and beat well with an electric mixer until smooth.

Gently spread the brownie mix on the pretzel crust. Using a spoon, add dollops of the cream cheese mixture across the surface of the brownies. Then using a knife or small spreader, gently swirl the cream cheese into the brownie batter until all of cream cheese is incorporated. Swirl in opposite directions to get desired look.

Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool for at least one hour on a cooling rack. Slice with a sharp knife into 6 columns and 4 rows.

I wish you and your family the merriest of Christmases and a Happy New Year!

The Simple Things

December has been a crazy month. Work is wrapping up for the year and I finished my last class for school. My last class...ever! Before I knew it, we were a week away from Christmas!

In the last few days, time seems even more precious. I am a food writer, not a social issues one so I will only say that my reaction to the tragedy in Connecticut was akin to the nesting I did when I was late into my pregnancy with my son. I wanted to clean and cook and ...even bake. The holiday time makes that all seem more reasonable of course but I knew I suddenly wanted to squeeze out a million memories and tackle dust bunnies because I felt powerless to do anything else.

Tonight was our yearly tradition of cookie making. My step-daughter will be with her mother until the New Year so we did it tonight and because it was a school night and a work night we did use a mix. But who cares? We made egg yolk paint that I used when I made cookies with my parents. I let them cut their choice of shapes (notice the Star Wars ones) and paint whatever they wanted.

Rebecca's Cookies

Josh's Cookies

Favorites were chosen for lunch boxes and for Santa. My son was covered in flour and when he went to bed my dear girl wanted to help me make candies for my office and wrap gifts for my co-workers. I got a little choked up as I looked at my sleeping boy and said good night to my teenage girl. I am no longer in a rush. Every moment counts. It is the simple things.

'Tis the Season to Be Busy

How has it been a week since my last post? I have been cooking, I have been eating...and yet every time I sit down it is not in front of the computer but instead at the end of a day filled with activities whether they be work, school or Christmas related! As a matter of fact, as I write this my husband is at Christmas play practice and my son is down for a nap and I just pulled the last dozen of four of sausage balls made for my husband's office and once the little guy gets up, we are making cookies for my office. Whew!

But the holidays should also be a time for reflection as we celebrate the wonderful gift the world was given. I look forward to the time with family and friends, the time off of work and the simple pleasure of good food and company. As the year winds down, my posts may be infrequent but I will continue to share what I learn and love about food. Take advantage of the Christmas season to make something for a neighbor or a friend. Break bread with a family member you haven't spent time with in a while. Donate your extra canned goods to your local food bank. There is no mystery as to why the holiday season brings on food...it brings us together.

Merry Christmas in advance dear readers...I look forward to many more holidays and celebrations to share with you!