DIY Brownie Mix

 I love a good ole boxed browie mix.  Aldi does a fine job with theirs.  You can make your own brownie mix to keep on hand. It's super easy!  This would make a good gift for kids to make for teachers.

DIY Brownie Mix

1 cup granulated sugar

⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

½ cup all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

Mix together and store in a container until ready to use.

When ready, add "wet ingredients"

½ cup (1 stick) melted butter, cooled

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray an 8×8-inch pan with non-stick spray.

Sift (or whisk) together granulated sugar, cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl.

Melt butter and set aside to cool.

In a medium bowl, beat two eggs and vanilla extract with a hand-held mixer.

Add the egg mixture and melted butter to the dry ingredients. Stir until just incorporated.

Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes.

 

HOW TO GIFT BROWNIE MIX

Sift together all dry ingredients. Place into a jar or airtight container.

On a gift tag or label write the wet ingredients and quantities and then directions. “Melt butter and set aside to cool slightly. In a medium bowl, beat two eggs with the vanilla. Add in and gently stir dry ingredients. Pour the melted butter into brownie mixture and mix until just incorporated. Spread batter in a prepared 8-inch square pan and bake for 20-22 minutes at 350 degrees.”

Moose Farts

 I'm from Minnesota. Of course, I have a recipe for Moose Farts. These are nobake and super rich. Enjoy!

Moose Farts

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup (half stick) melted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups dried coconut flakes

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

Additional graham cracker crumbs for rolling balls.

Directions:

Melt the butter and and combine it with the sweetened condensed milk & vanilla extract until well blended.

Add the graham crumbs, coconut and chocolate chips. Mix to combine well.

Refrigerate for an hour or so before rolling the mixture into 1 1/4 inch balls. You want to make these on the smallish side as they are quite rich.

Roll the balls in additional graham crumbs and once again chill until firm.

Refrigerate in a sealed container to store.

Cris' Favorite Salad Dressing

 My college bestie Cris makes the best salad dressing. It's light, flavorful, and comes together quickly. 

Cris' Favorite Salad Dressing

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar

2/4 tsp lemon pepper

1/2-3/4 tsp dried basic

1 tsp Dijon (country if you have it)

Dash of garlic powder

1 Tbsp honey

salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to a jar and shake.  Yum!

Cuban Style Sloppy Joes make with Ground Pork

 Ok, I may like these better than the original.  My husband and I bought a whole hog this year, so we're constantly on the lookout for pork recipes.  This one was excellent!  It takes inspiration from a Cuban sandwich and is served with Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard (I used Trader Joe's pickle mustard). Made it last night for my sister and we both agreed that it was delicious. I will definitely make again!

Cuban Style Sloppy Joes

2 tablespoons canola oil (seemed excessive, I'd cut back to 1 tablespoon)

1 1/2 pounds ground pork

2 garlic cloves minced

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground allspice

2 teaspoons ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

2 teaspoons paprika

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 lime zested and juiced

1 cup chicken stock

1 cup tomato sauce

4 brioche buns

8 slices Swiss cheese

1/2 cup sliced pickles

Mustard (I like Trader Joe's Pickle Mustard)

Instructions:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat then add in the pork, crumbling it up with a spatula as it cooks for 5-7 minutes.

Lower the heat to medium and add in the garlic, brown sugar, allspice, coriander, kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice and lime zest, stirring and cooking for 2-3 minutes. and lime zest and juice.

Add in the stock and tomato sauce stirring well then letting reduce for 5-7 minutes.

Scoop onto toasted buns, top with Swiss cheese and another spoonful of the pork mixture with pickles and mustard on top.

Game Changer: Frozen Shrimp in the Air Fryer

 So this is all over my Insta feed.  You can cook FROZEN shrimp in the air fryer in just 6 minutes!

Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp

Raw frozen shrimp (Argentinian from Trader Joe's or Costco)

Butter sauce:

4 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic

Juice of 1 lemon

Red pepper flakes to taste

Spread FROZEN shrimp on tray of air fryer.  Cook at 375 for 6 minutes (check for doneness...don't want to overcook).

Melt together all the butter sauce recipe.  Pour over shrimp.

Korean Tuna Rice

I purchased DongWon Korean Hot Pepper Tuna after seeing numerous videos about it on TikTok about this recipe (yes, TikTok made me do it).  I order my tuna on Amazon, it's a little pricy, but to me totally worth it.  There are other flavor options, but I always get the Hot Pepper flavor.  Unlike other canned tuna, this fish comes in a sauce with diced potatoes and carrots.  DO NOT DRAIN.  Here's my go-to recipe.  I hope you like it too!

PS - If you don't already have a rice cooker, get one. I got a small (2 cup) one at Aldi that I love and use all the time. 

Korean Tuna Rice

1 cup cooked rice

1 3.5 oz can DongWon Korean hot pepper tuna 

2 tbsp Furikake rice seasoning (can buy at Trader Joe's or any Asian market)

2 tbsp Kewpie Mayo or American mayo

1 tbsp sesame oil

Directions:

Combine all ingredients together and mix well. Do not drain the liquids from the tuna- use everything in the can. Measurements provided are a good place to start, but you can adjust according to your taste.

Can also top with a cooked egg or pickled ginger, if desired. 

Viral Costco Asian Chicken Hack

 Viral Costco Asian Chicken

1 rotisserie chicken

2 cups Jasmine rice, cooked

3 1/2 TBSP soy sauce

1 1/2 tsp Sesame oil

1 1/2 TBSP chili crisp

2 green onions, chopped

1 TBSP Furikake

2 TBSP Kewpie mayo

1 1/2 TBSP Sriracha

Seaweed snacks

Take chicken out of the bag, but don't drain the juices.  Add warm rice to the bag of juices and shake well. Debone and chop up chicken and add back to container. Add the rest of the seasonings with green onions and shake well. Top with mayo and sriracha. Serve with roasted seaweed snacks.