Knock You Out Brownies

As most people know, I am a firm supporter of all things Pioneer Woman.

I saw a recipe for brownies that she posted a few months ago on her cooking blog, but hadn't had a chance to try it out until this week.  They're really called "Knock You Naked Brownies," but seeing as I still had all of my clothes on after I ate them, I decided to change the name a little bit!

The ingredients are about as easy as it gets: German chocolate cake mix, caramel squares, evaporated milk, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, and butter.

The strangest thing about this recipe is that it's a brownie recipe made with a boxed cake mix. Wierd? Yes. Delicious? Also, yes.

Mix together the melted butter, nuts, evaporated milk, and cake mix.

Half of the mixture goes in the bottom of a square baking dish. Then you bake the bottom for 10 minutes.

While the bottom is baking, unwrap the caramel squares and place them in a microwave safe bowl with the rest of the evaporated milk.  Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring every time, until the caramel is melted.  Heating the caramels slowly ensures that the sugar won't burn. If the sugar burns, it's bad news bears- you have to start all over!

After the bottom is done baking, pour the caramel sauce over the top, and sprinkle on the chocolate chips. I could have eaten this right then and there! SO yummy looking! BUT, we're not quite done yet!

This next part is where you have to get a little bit creative!  The mixture won't spread over the caramel easily because it's so thick, so we have to improvise! Spray your hands with some cooking spray so the cake mixture won't stick to your hands.  Then take about 2/3 of the remaining mixture and flatten it out in the general shape of the baking dish and place it on top.  It's okay if it doesn't quite cover it, just use the remaining dough to patch up holes until the top is covered, leaving a little space around the edges so the caramel sauce is showing through. 

After baking for 25 minutes at 350 degrees, it should look something like this! But resist the urge to eat it at this point, the caramel will burn your mouth! Let it cool completely, then refridgerate it for about an hour, just so the caramel in the middle has a chance to set up a little bit. 

Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar then cut into 12 pieces! These things are bomb.com! I'm definately going to make them again, they were a huge hit with my friends that I had dinner with that night! And, they were easy for the most part!

Give these brownies a try, they certainly won't disappoint!

-Elise



Here is the link!

Shake and Bake without the box!

I'm really excited to share this with you guys! It's one of the easiest recipes to make and super easy! It's basically a homemade shake and bake that I like to call Cracker Crumb Chicken!

So remember last time when I talked about grill seasoning and freezing chicken? Now you get to use that knowledge! Yay!

So first, you're going to take some thawed chicken breast (I used 4 this time around). If you want, you can cut them into more managable portions, such as in half or fourths.

In the next step, you're going to take a sleeve of crackers, such as Ritz Crackers, and place them in a large plastic zip bag.

Then take a flat bottomed pot or pan and smash the little buggers to pieces! But be careful not to damage the plastic bag, or else crackers will go all over everywhere.

The crackers should look something like this whenever you're done!

Next, we're going to flatten out the chicken so it cooks evenly. Use the same process as the crackers, taking a flat bottomed pan and firmly (but gently at the same time!), pound out the thicker part of the chicken so it is all relatively the same thickness.

Next, set up a station such as the one above, with your pounded out chicken, a few beaten eggs, the cracker crumbs, and a pan to bake the chicken on.  Also at this point you can add a palm full of the grill seasoning to the cracker crumbs to give the finished product a little more flavor! If you don't have grill seasoning, salt and pepper will do just fine!



Coat the chicken in the egg wash, making sure it is completely covered!

Next, completely cover the chicken with the cracker crumbs!

Then place the chicken on a baking sheet, making sure there is room between them.  Add pats of butter on the chicken, this will ensure that it will be golden brown when it's finished!

Being absent minded when I was cooking, I completely forgot to take a picture of the finished product! But, after 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven, the chicken will be golden brown deliciousness! The thing I love about this recipe is that it doesn't dry out the chicken. The outside is crunchy while the inside is juicy!

Enjoy!

-Elise

Cracker Crumb Chicken

-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

-1 sleeve of butter crackers

-3 Tbsp grill seasoning

-3 eggs, beaten

-3 Tbsp butter or margarine