zebra squares

These are my 'grandmother's favorite!' No, really. They are. I would say I had proof but I don't. You'll just have to take my word for it, it is my Indiana Nonna's favorite, except for lemon bars sugar cream pie, and several others. And THAT is where I got my sweet tooth. While making this, I confess that I got to lick the spatulas of both the cream cheese part AND the chocolate part. They were so good. But the best part by far was (other than, of course the eating) was the swirling around of the two frostings. Be careful though: do not get carried away and turn the frosting grey, as that kind of makes the name pointless.

Zebra Squares

1 package fudge brownie mix (see, Grandma's favorite!)
8 oz cream cheese, cut up
1/2 a cup sugar
1 egg
and then whatever the ingredients are on the brownie mix

Begin by following the instructions for the brownie mix as on the package,but DO NOT COOK. Instead, spread half of the mixture in a pan sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
While doing this, beat the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue beating to combine it. Pour this mixture over the partially baked bottom layer. Then spoon the remaining brownie mixture over this and swirl carefully, making sure not to touch the Bottom layer. It should be marbled.
Return to the oven for 30 to 35 minutes until the brownies test done. Cool. Makes 24 small bars.

These were a huge hit, especially good with vanilla ice cream.

lemon bars

I love these lemon bars, they are rich and sweet with a citrusy undertone. The recipe is simple and easy, or, as Elsa would put it, "So easy even a cat could make it!" These are another of 'grandmas favorites'. We were requested to make these and I am glad we did! Jane, my cousin, shrieked when she first tried these and trotted in to see me and insist that I try them. I was playing with a kitten at the time, but these lemon bars made me put the kitten down promptly and go get more. So do enjoy these!

Lemon Bars
(makes 24 bars)

1 box lemon cake mix
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter, melted
1 cup unrefined sugar
zest and juice of 2 lemons
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs

Mix lemon cake mix and melted butter and press into a 9-inch square pan that you've sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 20 minutes at 350F.

With an electric mixer or (as I had to) just whipping really REALLY hard with a whisk, mix all remaining ingredients. When the crust comes out of the oven, when it's still hot, pour this mixture over the crust and then bake again for 25 minutes. Chewy, tart, buttery delight. Delight. I mean what I say- it was delightful!!!!!

kittens!

I am going to warn you: this blog will have few posts for some time as we are now host to TWO KITTENS!!!!!!!!!! We are fostering them from the wonderful DAWS, and they are lovely little black kittens! So please excuse me if this blog seems lonely for a while.

avery

elsa and avery's chocolate oat crunchies

When we first made these, our parents were out. I was at Elsa's house, and her siblings Georgia and Fred were upstairs. We had been on the Internet, and were playing a maze game. To our immense shock and surprise, it was a 'scary' maze game! At the end, a horrific face popped up and screamed! Elsa and I were scared out of our WITS. So we made chocolate oat crunchies to stop ourselves from shrieking at every noise.

Chocolate oat crunchies

1/2 of a bar of dark chocolate
14 of a bar of white chocolate
A splash of milk
Brown Sugar
A cup and 1/2 of Oat Flakes
Marshmallows ( for melting)
Raspberries ( to go on top)
Powdered sugar

Melt the dark chocolate in a glass bowl inside of a saucepan slowly over low heat. Mix in the white chocolate and a bit of milk. Stir so that the chocolate is even. Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and the oats. Mix well. Melt the marshmallows in another glass bowl, then pour them into the mixture. Stir well and spoon into paper muffin cups. Let cool until it is completely hard. Place a raspberry on each one and sprinkle powdered sugar over them. Mmmmmmmmm!

I am not sure how many crunchies this makes, or how accurate the amounts are. If you make it and it doesn't work out, please comment and tell me how I could improve this recipe. Elsa and I first made this in winter, and we didn't write it down so I only remember the ingredients. But try this recipe- no mater if the amounts are slightly off it will taste absolutely delicious!