Bean Dip

It seems as though football season is upon us - and there's no stopping it. Not in this household anyway. My husband pretty much becomes obsessed with all things football this time of year: The Madden Video Game (did you know there's actually a petition to make the day the game comes out a legal holiday so that men can take the day off from work and play it all day? Crazy!), Fantasy Football (2 different leagues!), tons of web browsing to check scores, stats, WHATEVER it is that he checks, the TV is ALWAYS on ESPN (that's not really anything new though, it always is anyway), and of course last but not least - ALL day Sunday, and Monday nights - that's where you can find him, in front of the TV, watching like a hawk. Sometimes, especially for the first game of the year, I like to make him treats to have during the game. Usually it's appetizer type finger foods. What's better with a football game? I remember when I was younger that my mom had this bean dip that she used to make for several "events", and I loved every part of it, except for the re-fried beans. EW! Nope, not for me! Well, not the case now that I'm grown up and living in the land of Tex-Mex. Re-fried beans seem to ALWAYS be on the side of any dish at all the Tex-Mex restaurants here. It took me awhile to warm up to any of the cuisine, let alone re-fried beans. Now I love them. Usually you see them warm, but the beans in this dip are cold, the whole dip is. If you think you wouldn't like cold re-fried beans, or if you don't like sour cream, PLEASE give this dip a chance! My sour cream fearing husband was pretty mortified when I told him how the dip was made..but I told him he just has to try it. Verdict? He loves it! Usually he takes pretty baby scoops of any kind of dip, to where it is barely even noticeable on his chip, he was eating this up, taking big boy size dips of it. I'm so glad he liked it. You've got to give it a try! Also, DON'T skip the scallions, PLEASE!

Ingredients:

1 Can Re-Fried Beans

4 Scallions, just barely cut into the green part

8 oz. Mozzarella Cheese

3/4 Cup Sour Cream

Tortilla Chips, Crackers, Pita Bread, or whatever you'd like to serve it with

Directions:

Take a platter (or somewhat flat plate), and layer the re-fried beans in an even layer, then do the same with the sour cream. Sprinkle cheese evenly over top, then sprinkle the scallions over entire dip. Serve chilled.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Brownies

Hey everyone! I've got a yummy new recipe to share! These were awesome. They really do have the texture of a brownie, even though they're not your typical all chocolate brownie. I used chunky peanut butter, which gave them the addition of peanuts, which was great along with the chocolate chips. You can use regular, it's whatever you prefer. They're not only yummy, but they are also super easy to make! They are one of my favorite kinds of recipes: ONE BOWL! Who's with me there? Next time you're looking for an easy treat, whip these up! Yum Yum!

Ingredients:

1 1/3 Cups Packed Brown Sugar

1/4 Cup Butter or Margarine, melted

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3 Eggs

1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions:

In large bowl, beat brown sugar, butter or margarine, peanut butter, vanilla, and eggs until well blended. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Spread batter into a greased pan and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.

Snickerdoodle Bars

Hello! It's really late but I wanted to get a post in before I head to bed. These were so good, we really liked them. They were nice and cakey and cinnamoney and sugarey..eyeyey :o) If you like all of those things, give these a try!

Ingredients:
2 Sticks Butter, softened

1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2 Eggs

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon-Sugar, to sprinkle on top (2 parts sugar, 1 part cinnamon)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Take out a nonstick 13-by-9-inch metal baking pan and set aside.
Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer at high speed until fluffy. Add baking soda, cinnamon and salt, then mix at low speed to blend. Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat at medium until just incorporated. Add flour and mix on low speed until blended. Scrape dough into pan, smoothing it in an even layer. Bake until lightly golden and set in center, about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack, and if desired, sprinkle cinnamon-sugar over warm bars, and then let cool completely.