Cranberry Bliss Bars

Original recipe found here.

In case you were wondering, yes, these are like the bars from Starbucks!  For some reason I thought about these bars the other morning on my way to work and looked online to see if I could find the recipe.  You have to love the internet....there it was, the complete recipe!  I could not wait to make these for the Holidays.  These bars are delicious!

Ingredients:

Bars

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks, melted and cooled)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons orange extract or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, I used vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 cup craisins
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Frosting:

• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon orange extract or vanilla 
• 1 teaspoon milk 

Topping:

• 1/3 cup craisins, chopped
• 1 -2 tablespoon grated orange rind
• 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon canola oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, 325 if it is a glass pan.  Spray a 10x15" pan or line with parchment paper.  Mine turned out a little thicker because I used a 9x13" pan.

For the bars, melt the butter and cool slightly.  With an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugars, until light. Gently blend in eggs and extract.  Add the flour, baking powder, and ginger, beat briefly.  Add the cranberries and chips, stirring just until mixed throughout.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan.  Bake for about 25 minutes, until firm.  Let it cool completely.

For the frosting, blend the cream cheese and butter, until fluffy.  Add extract and powder sugar.  Once combined, add milk.  Spread over bars evenly.

For the topping, use a zester to remove rind from orange, sprinkle over frosted bars.  Chop up the craisins and chocolate chips coarsely; sprinkle over frosted bars.

Chicken Artichoke Casserole

I threw this together the other night after look at another recipe that was comparable, I just didn't have all the ingredients!    Go ahead and add and remove whatever you would like.  I love artichoke hearts, so I had to add a lot of them! 

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 can cream of chicken
1 cup milk
1/2 package of frozen spinach, defrosted and strained
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and cut up
1 tablespoon pesto (optional)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, save 2 tablespoons to the side
1/2 cup sour cream
1 package pasta,cooked al dente I used Rotini

Topping:
1/2 cup bread crumps
2 tablespoons cheese from above

Cook pasta as directed for al dente.  Combine all ingredients and put into a greased 9x13 pan.  Mix ingredients of topping together and add to casserole.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, or until browned.

Peppermint Brownie Bites

Original recipe found here.

Thanksgiving is over!  Now on to my favorite Holiday, Christmas.  Here is the first baking recipe.  I hope you like it.  Peppermint and chocolate is my favorite combination!  I wanted to try something new, so I decided on these.  Gets me away from the peppermint bark!  I ended up freezing these, and they taste the best as they are defrosting.  This is an easy, great tasting Christmas baking recipe that you will love!  Feel free to just make a pan of brownies with icing as well.

Ingredients:
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate squares
1/3 cup butter 
2 eggs, beaten 
3/4 cup sugar 
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 
1/3 cup flour 
1/4 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powder sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
 
Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan and slowly add sugar stirring constantly until blended.  Add beaten eggs and stir in peppermint extract.  Remove from heat and add flour and salt.  Use a small ice cream scooper with a wiper  and fill a mini cupcake pan with one scoop each.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until each bite is firm when touched. Top with peppermint butter cream frosting.

Beat butter and extracts.  Add in powder and combine.  Add in milk. 

Makes about 36 brownie bites.