Homemade Brownies

Who doesn't love a good brownie :) This one is super easy and waaaay yummy!! You could even bake a pan or two of these and take them to your neighbors for a Christmas gift all wrapped up cutsie like with a red bow.



Brownies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or oil (butter is better)
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
2.In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
3.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares

If doubling, bake longer- check every 5 to 10 minutes. I also reduce the cocoa just a bit. I use 1/3c and half of a 1/3 cup.

Christmas Crack

Have you ever heard of Christmas Crack?? I am sure it has other names but this stuff is addicting!!! It is so good we don't just make it for Christmas we make it for road trips (because we like sticky fingers in our car, I know dumb huh but hey what's any different from any other sticky candy), baseball games, camping, family get togethers. This also makes great neighbor gifts or home teacher gifts etc.




1 (12.8 oz.) box Rice Chex cereal
1 (12 oz.) box Golden Grahams cereal
1 (7 oz.) bag shredded coconut
1 (4 oz.) bag slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks)
2 cups sugar
2 cups corn syrup

Combine Rice Chex and Golden Grahams, coconut, and almonds in a large bowl. Stir to combine. In a large sauce pan cook butter, sugar, and corn syrup to the "soft ball" stage about 234 degrees on a candy thermometer. Pour over cereal mix and stir until well coated. Pour mixture out onto a large cookie sheet to cool. Stir it occasionally to prevent clumping. Store in a airtight container (I never have to worry about storing it, its gone before I know it).