Pecan Sandie Brownies

The motto when entering our new state was "Discover Beautiful Rhode Island." And that was exactly what I intended to do. Being a new north-easterner, I was warned that the beautiful warm summer weather would be short lived, and that I should probably start exploring right way. The first place we wanted to find was a dog park for Ninja. After all, our dog park in Texas was amazing, lots of space to run around and wonderful friends, human and furry. We really miss them and I know Ninja does too! But, when I took Ninja to the nearest dog park ... saying it was a hole ... sadly, is an understatement. So, I decided to make Ninja the center of this new journey, creating an album called "Ninja Discovers Rhode Island...and a little bit of Massachusetts" [so I am not the most creative person]. We started with the coolest doormat that we could find:

During this hunt for new, fun places to enjoy with Ninja, I stumbled on my favorite place in all of Rhode Island. Chase Farm. It's a beautiful little piece of serenity and my go to when I had a stressful day or week. It isn't technically supposed to be an off-leash dog park, but about 99% of the people there have dogs that run around off leash. So we decided to join the party.

Another fun first here in Rhode Island, was Ninja's fist time at the beach! Being born and raised in Texas, Ninja has gotten to nurture his cowboy, outdoor side -- but not so much his beach bum side. Ninja wasn't into swimming and splashing around in the water for fun, but he was great at attempting to "rescue" people. There was this one nice woman in particular who was trying to back swim, only for Ninja to think she was drowning. Least to say, he bothered her, A LOT.

A few months ago, I had a department picnic to go to. My last department get together before heading to Rhode Island. I signed up to bring a dessert but that day, I got behind with moving stuff. I needed something quick and EASY. I couldn't have my last dish there be something store bought! They say that a great cook or baker is able to look into their cupboards and improvise. That's what I did. I saw some pecan sandies and a box of brownie mix. And there you have it -- pecan sandie brownies! What I didn't expect was how big of a hit it was at the picnic! Gone in just a few minutes and everyone was wondering what was in them ... if I told them I would have had to kill them ;) Just kidding! I told them, they would have to stay tuned to my blog :)

PECAN SANDIE BROWNIES

A For the Love of Dessert Original Recipe 

INGREDIENTS

Preheat Oven to 325F Degrees

Pillsbury Family Size Fudge Brownie Mix (plus ingredients listed below)
2/3 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. water
2 eggs, room temperature
1 package Keebler Sandies, pecan shortbread

DIRECTIONS

Mix brownies according to package directions. Grease a 8x8 baking dish. Pour slightly less than half of the batter into the baking dish. Then line sandies on top of the batter, pressing down very slightly. For me, the last row only fit cookies cut in half. I used about 18 cookies. Then cover the sandies with the remaining batter. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow brownies to cool before cutting, with each square containing 1 cookie.

Note: When I made these brownies, my sandies were more to the top then I intended. So I adjusted how much batter you pour before and on top of the sandies in the recipe above, so that the sandie layer would be more towards the middle.

Enjoy,

Cornflake, Pecan, and Marshmallow Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Next stop after Granada was Seville. This was my favorite city that we visited! It was also perfect timing as the hubby and I got to celebrate our anniversary in one of the top 10 most romantic cities in the world. And when you visit this city, you will instantly know why....it is just so sweet :) The hubby and I spent most of our time just holding hands, wandering around and enjoying the beauty!

It was in Seville that we got to see the COOLEST site ever! We visited the Catedral de Sevilla which was, yes beautiful BUT it housed the TOMB OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS! Yes, I said Chistopher Columbus....the 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue...guy. I was so excited and oddly star struck! It was crazy! To be able to stand next to and see his tomb was a history pseudo-nerd's dream :)

We went on a walking tour of the city which was really great but A LOT of walking. We got to see the Plaza de Torros where the bull fighting occurs, Alcazar (which had this gorgeous bath house in it), and old tobacco plantation house and commerce center, and Seville's colorful neighborhood.

Seville is where the hubby and  I had some of our favorite dishes while in Spain. Just another reason why I loved the city so much. Everything about the food was beautiful and delicious. I am drooling now, just thinking of the food that I enjoyed there.

And it was the only place I have seen cupcakes on a stick. Okay...not technically cupcakes, more like peep cupcakes...but still pretty darn nifty!

Spain was definitely not the hubby's favorite. He loved Southeast Asia so much more. And I agree, but I am so glad we got to experience Seville. It is definitely a gem in Spain. Also, when you think Spain, tourists always go to the major cities (Barcelona and Madrid), which don't get me wrong, the hubby and I went to also. But it was always the small cities that the hubby and I enjoyed the most.

Happy Day 2 in the countdown to Turkey Day! I thought I would mix up our savory with some sweet (with one of the longest titles everrrrr): cornflake, pecan, and marshmallow topped sweet potato casserole. And its the first post which I did not technically make, one of my Thanksgiving guests made it. Since they are not a culinary genius or one that enjoys cooking, I can only guess that this recipe is easy peasy to make :) I do know that everyone enjoyed this casserole and it was eaten up quickly!

One note: in the picture, we had marshmallows which melted a bit during baking so I added fresh marshmallows. Though looking back, I do wish I toasted the tops a bit. 

CORNFLAKE, PECAN, AND MARSHMALLOW TOPPED SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Adapted slightly from My Recipes

INGREDIENTS

Preheat Oven to 400F Degrees

FOR THE SWEET POTATO LAYER
2 1/2 pounds of sweet potatoes or about 5 medium sweet potatoes
2 tbsp. butter, softened
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. of milk
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

FOR THE TOPPINGS
1 1/4 c. cornflakes, crushed
1/2 chopped pecans
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. melted butter
1 1/4 c. mini marshmallows

DIRECTIONS

Bake sweet potatoes on a lined and greased baking sheet for 1 hour or until tender. Allow to cool. Then peel and mash sweet potatoes. Reduce the oven heat to 350F degrees.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix on medium speed, sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, milk, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Grease an 8x8 or 7x11 baking dish with cooking spray and spoon sweet potato mixture into baking dish. Set aside.

In a medium bowl combine cornflakes, pecans, brown sugar and melted butter. Sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture in diagonal rows about 2 inches apart. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow the casserole to cool for 15-20 minutes. Then sprinkle mini marshmallows in the alternate rows between cornflakes and bake until marshmallows are slightly toasted and golden brown on the top. Watch carefully as marshmallows can overcook quickly. 

Enjoy,

Cinnamon Pecan Pudding Cookies

Welcome to the 12th Day of Christmas recipe! Only I would share my last Christmas recipe 6 days after Christmas. In all fairness, Christmas with my in-laws was on the 29th and I am sure we were not the only family to have a delayed holiday party. Plus, we can blame it on my Indian Standard Time (yes, I'm Sri Lankan, but it still works)...and yes, I did say that and yes, that is so a real thing :) I really wanted to post this recipe before the year ended because each December (and by each the last two years my blog as been "alive") the hubby and I pick our favorite recipes of the year. Well...spoiler alert...this recipe was on the hubby's list and it would be really awkward to have a recipe on his list that I did not even post yet. Sadly I have yet to post my Thanksgiving recipes, but I'll just have to do a Thanksgiving recap in 2014...I ask that you still love me.

And since I am still in holiday mode, I wanted to share two extra holiday gifts I got. The first was from Ashely. She was so sweet and got me things I could use for baking and blogging. I got these adorable penguin measuring cups and a penguin spatula :) I love, love, love penguins. For one they are adorable...they are like black and white sea otters. Second, they remind me of Stephanie. In high school she used to do this adorable penguin impression by flapping her arms which used to crack Paulina and I up. Ashely also got me cookie tins for next year's 12 days of Christmas countdown. I'm excited! The second gift I got, was this gorgeous hand, knitted blanket that my grandmother-in-law got me. It was perfect, because the weather just got really cold, and by cold -- I mean Texas cold. So now I have this warm blanket to cuddle up with Ninja....okay and the hubby ;)

These cookies are so holiday yet so everyday. The hubby describes them as eating a cinna-bun, topped with pecans. And who doesn't love cinna-buns -- which you can also eat anytime of the year. Since the hubby loved them so much, I picked up some extra cinnamon chips during the after Christmas holiday sale at the grocery store. The hubby was like a cookie pusher at the party with my in-laws getting everyone to try these cookies, because he loved them so much. It was great because my in-law all really loved it, which made me smile :) They also thought it tasted like cinna-buns. They are soft with delicious bursts of cinnamon and a wonderful pecan crunch. Plus, cookies are always so easy to whip up and I am convinced that there is now way to ruin a pudding cookie...NO WAY...

CINNAMON PECAN PUDDING COOKIES

A For the Love of Dessert Original Recipe

INGREDIENTS

Preheat Oven to 350F Degrees

2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 (3.4-3.56 oz) box of vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp. cinnamon 
1 1/2 stick of butter, softened
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. of cinnamon chips + extra for garnish
1 c. chopped pecans + extra for garnish

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, vanilla pudding, and cinnamon- set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with paddle attachment, cream together (on medium speed) butter and both sugars until fluffy (about 5 minutes). Then add eggs, one at time, followed by vanilla. Scrape down sides. Then reduce to low speed and add dry ingredients. Combine until just incorporated. Remove from stand mixer and fold in 1 c. of cinnamon chips and 1 c. of pecans (use the remaining cinnamon chips and pecans to press into the top of the cookie dough balls).

Line baking sheet with baking mat, aluminum foil, parchment or wax paper. Scoop out 1 1/2-2 inch, cookie dough balls onto sheet (roll between the palm of your hands for a nice round shape). Space the cookies 2 inches apart. Slightly flatten the cookies using the palm of your hand. Press remaining cinnamon chips and pecans onto the top of the cookies. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Enjoy,
Chika

Praline Cookies

I will never complain about Christmas in Texas because it is generally quite warm and do-able. If you are a snow person, then you will not be a fan. I am a fan of snow- when I get to see it and leave when I want :) I was born in Hawaii, lived most of my life in California and am now in Texas so I think it is obvious that I am a huge fan of warmth! Sadly- the warm AC days of Texas winter has come to an end as the temperatures of have dropped :( How am I rewarded? With o working hot water!?! Well- after a few hours- of the maintenance man coming in and out--working up Ninja who does not like strangers in the house-- my hot water was back on.

Alrighty- you read right...Praline Cookies. Have you ever had a praline? The traditional praline is a caramel tastey confection with pecans BUT if you have ever been to a Praline Shop you will know that they now make different types- one with walnuts, chocolate pralines, coconut pralines, etc. Since the hubby is from Louisiana, he is a HUGE fan of pralines (as he as taught me is pronounced Prah-lene and not Pray-lene, he gets very annoyed when people say the later). If you remember, last year I went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans with my sister and cousins. Well while there we went to Southern Candymakers-- by far the most well known, and skilled at Praline Candy making. 

So when I stumbled upon this recipe, I just had to make it. And when I told the hubby I found this recipe he got pretty excited. He definitely gets excited with all treats but this one got him pretty happy. This recipe was by far one of the easiest cookie recipes I have ever made. SUPER DUPER EASY. If you need to make a delicious dessert in like an hour or less- this is it! I made them two ways- dusted and not dusted...and technically I made them another two ways-- chewy/soft and crunchy (I like soft and chewy, hubby likes crunchy). 

PRALINE COOKIES

Adapted from Plain Chicken

INGREDIENTS

Preheat Oven to 375F degrees 

1 stick of butter, melted

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 3/4 c. flour

1 1/2 c. chopped pecans

Powdered sugar for dusting 

DIRECTIONS

Combine melted butter, sugars, eggs, flour and vanilla in bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with paddled attachment and mix well. Then add pecans and mix until just incorporated. Using a small cookie scoop, drop dough 2 inches apart onto cookie sheet lined (I use the cephalon baking mat). Bake 8-10 minute (8 minutes for soft/chewy and 10 minutes for crunchy). Allow to completely cool. Using a sifter, dust half or all, of cookies with powdered sugar.

Enjoy,

Chika