Oreo Cookie Brownies

Hey everyone! Long time no post! Things have been hectic around here lately, we are moving in 2 weeks! Same town, we're just moving up from a townhouse into a house..we are really excited. So between looking for a place that suited us, and the start of the packing process, plus our busy everyday lives, there hasn't been much time to blog! Can I just say that I always forgot how much I HATE packing? Don't we all? I wish things could just magically appear in the new house! I always think "oh, it would be that bad" but it is! I guess it's sort of my own fault though..you see I sort of have an obsession with home decor, especially all things wrought iron. I will probably have 3 moving boxes full of wrought iron decorations by the time I'm done packing, and I already have 1 completely stuffed with candles, and that's just the downstairs..minus a few that are out of my reach that my husband will have to get down for me. Anyway, Oreo Brownies anyone? Get a load of these babies! So good, you must try them!
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Ingredients:
1 1/2 Sticks Butter, melted
1 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
3 Eggs
3/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Cocoa
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, divided
13 Oreo Cookies, cut into medium sized pieces, divided
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Directions:
Combine butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Add eggs, and beat well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Add in 1 cup of the chocolate chips, and all but 1/2 Cup of the Oreo's. Spread batter evenly into a prepared 9x12 dish. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Set brownies aside to cool, in the meantime, place the rest of your chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until they are completely melted. Sprinkle the rest of the Oreo's over the brownies, then pour your melted chocolate into a sandwich bag, snip off the corner, and drizzle all over brownies. Let cool completely before cutting.

Sauteed Asparagus with Parmesan Lemon Butter Cream Sauce

Hi there! How's everybody been? Just great here! Okay, let's get right to it: Asparagus. It is not something I would have used to touch with a 10 foot pole. I've never been into many vegetables as side dished other than potatoes, corn and carrots..I think that's it. I didn't like peas, green beans, broccoli, etc. Now I love it all. I can thank green bean casserole for my new found love of green beans, and it's funny..I loved them covered in all that creamy, crunchy oniony goodness, but I was sure I would still hate them on their own, and nope, love 'em! I was someone who never thought my tastes would change as I grow up, I thought if it's gross then, it will always be gross. I have definitely been proven wrong as I love so many things I hated when I was younger. The one thing I still can't seem to stand, is any sort of fish/seafood..whatever! I really just hate it all. It's a bummer too, because it all looks so good, like coconut shrimp, grilled shrimp, salmon or beer battered anything..but no..I can't stand any of it! I've also always disliked donuts. I've tried to like them, I still try to like them to this day, there's just something about them that doesn't taste good to me at all. I can sorta stand to eat them, but I really don't enjoy them what-so-ever. Okay, enough about my taste in food..back to the point of this all...I love asparagus! It is so good and has such a great flavor. I'm trying to incorporate it more and more into our diet, so it's a good thing my husband loves it as much as I do! I forgot to put the Parmesan in with the ingredients in the pic, but just pretend it's there! Ciao everyone!

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Ingredients:

1 Bunch Asparagus

3 Tablespoons Butter

Small Lemon or Half of a normal size Lemon

3/4 Cup Half & Half

2/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese, finely grated

Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste

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Directions:

In a large fry pan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter on medium heat. Was your asparagus and snap near the end until it breaks off itself, or line them up and with a knife, cut about 2-3 inches off to get rid of the tough ends. Lay your asparagus in the fry pan over the melted butter and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Let saute for 10-12 minutes, or until just tender. Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a smaller pan and once it's melted, add your cream, then your Parmesan, then squeeze in your lemon, and season to taste with salt & pepper, making sure to whisk to evenly incorporate everything. Drizzle lemon sauce over asparagus.