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Roni

Food, Sweet

Butterfinger Brownies

butterfinger brownies

 

The sweet tooth fairy attacked today. Seems I was craving not only chocolate, but also something extremely sweet. I told myself that if I made it myself that it couldn’t be as bad as eating a candy bar.

Yeah, that went over well. Particularly the moment when I put a candy bar into the brownie batter that I made. Guess I just came up with my own version of Butterfinger brownies. Super simple, super sweet, and probably gave myself a cavity just by inhaling the chocolate fumes coming from the oven.

So… we’re starting that diet next week, right?

Butterfinger Brownies

Gather:
1 10.25 oz Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
2 tablespoons of water
1 egg
2 Butterfinger minis

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl, combine brownie mix, oil, water, and egg. Take a rolling pin, and while Butterfingers are still in their package, lightly tap until broken into small bits. Add one of the mini Butterfingers to the mix. Stir.

Pour brownie batter into a greased baking pan, preferably an 8×8 pan. Smooth and the evenly sprinkle the remaining Butterfinger on the top of the batter. Place pan in oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until you can stick a toothpick in the brownies and it comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes. Remove from pan, slice, and serve.

For more sweet recipes, visit my Recipe Index.
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April 4, 2014 by
Food, Savory

Recipe: Easy Herbed Pasta and Shrimp

I love shrimp. I especially love pasta and shrimp. I love shrimp stuffed in wonton wrappers and often tossed in a taco for a more seafood-inspired Mexican dish. Living 15 minutes from the ocean, you’d think I would eat it more often.

I have memories of shrimp, that quite honestly, might frighten some people. You see, when I was younger and visiting my grandparents in Florida, I remember going to the fish market to get fresh shrimp for dinner. Now, when I say fresh shrimp, I don’t just mean it was pulled out of the ocean that day, I mean they still had their heads on and were nowhere close to looking like those curled pink gems you find on a Sunday brunch buffet. I blame my grandmother for the next part. Mostly because she had the confidence in me not to freak out and needed a kitchen assistant when no one else would aid her. I would cut the heads off the shrimp, then, as swift as a samurai, I’d devein the little devils.

At least I knew my food was fresh, right?

So the other night I was hungry, and to be honest, I didn’t want to spend too much time making anything, so I went to the seafood counter, purchased a quarter pound of shrimp and a box of Pasta-Roni Angel Hair Pasta and Herbs and started my pasta and shrimp mea.

I sauteed the shrimp in garlic and butter, made up the Past-a-Roni and voila, dinner was served in less than 15 minutes!.

Easy Herbed Pasta and Shrimp

Gather
1 box of Pasta-Roni Angel Hair Pasta and Herbs (plus 1 and 1/3 cup of water, 2/3 cups of milk, and 2 tablespoons of margarine)

For shrimp:
1/4 pound of medium size shrimp
1 tablespoon of butter
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
Black pepper to taste

Prepare Pasta-Roni according to box.

Unshell and devein shrimp. In a small skillet, melt butter. Add shrimp and garlic powder. Let shrimp cook on either side until pink, should take about a minute on each side. Remove from pan and add to pasta. Sprinkle with black pepper.

Serve.

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April 2, 2014 by
Food, Savory

Chicken and Green Pepper Tacos

pepper tacos

“Why don’t we just order something?”

It’s the daily dinner call I get and the question I am always trying to battle.

I hate that argument. That one of, “It would just be quicker.”

Why is quicker better? I’d rather not forgo good food for fast food. Plus, by the time I made it to the restaurant, picked up the food, and came home, I’d probably already be done cooking. It’s the illusion of “faster food” sometimes.

“Well, it’s too much effort.” That’s the other complaint I get. My response, “But it’s not.” Not for you anyway. And for me? Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but I actually enjoy cooking. Like the other day when Andy came over and said he was hungry. He was ready to call in Chinese food when I went to the kitchen, grabbed a few things out of the fridge and started making tacos.

In less than 10 minutes, I had three ready for him. And I have to admit, he might have only had two-and-a-half by the time he started to eat. I might have snagged one of them for myself. The saving grace? Chicken sausage that all I had to do was reheat with some peppers and onions. Voila! Lunch is served!

Chicken and Green Pepper Tacos

3 small flour tortillas
1 link of Al Fresco Jalapeno Chicken Sausage, minced
1/4 green pepper, diced
1/4 of a sweet onion, diced
Shredded Cheddar cheese
1 Roma tomato, diced

Heat green peppers, onions, and chicken sausage in a skillet until chicken is browned. Microwave tortillas to soften. Sprinkle cheese inside, then fill with chicken, peppers, and onions. Fold in half and place in medium-high heat skillet.

Cook on either side until cheese is melted and tortilla is browned, slightly crunchy. Remove from pan, open and fill with diced tomatoes, and enjoy.

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March 31, 2014 by
Health, Technology

Put Down Your Phone And Save Lives

UNICEF

 

Just give me a minute… gotta step up on my soapbox here…. Okay, all set.

Now, anyone who knows me, knows I’m a little bit addicted to my cell phone. Okay, okay, a lot bit. From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed, it’s well within reach. Like many reading this, I, too, use it as a watch, a grocery list, updated Gameboy, email checking device, and yes, sometimes as a phone. As I write this, it’s sitting next to me and I’ve already checked it, sadly, twice.

The problem is that I’m so attached to it, that there’s never really any moments anymore to just step back and say, “Let’s take some ME time.” And that is clearly needed.

So when I heard about the UNICEF Tap Challenge, I not only was selfishly happy that I could use this to get away from my phone, but was also ecstatic that I could do some good while putting down my phone.

The UNICEF Tap Challenge, is this: put down your phone and they’ll help people around the world get clean drinking water. In Africa alone, people spend 40 billion hours walking just to collect clean drinking water. Around the world, 1,400 children die from diseases due to unsafe water or not having sanitary facilities.

All you have to do is this: Open up UNICEFTAPPROJECT.ORG on your smartphone, then put down your phone, don’t touch it. (Also, you might want to plug it in, because this drains your battery.) For every 10 minutes that you don’t touch your phone, UNICEF partners will donate a day of water to a child in need.

Companies like Giorgio Armani Fragrances have banned together, donating and sponsoring people who are putting down their phones.

So instead of uploading another selfie of you and your cat, why not help others (and yourself) by putting down your phone. Visit their site for more information (http://tap.unicefusa.org/), but I’m challenging you all to test it out and see how long you can go. Post in the comments how long you’ve gone and let’s save some kids!

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March 30, 2014 by