We were at a playdate last week and DD loved the dessert the mom served at lunch--butterscotch brownies. I'm not much for butterscotch but these were good (DD ate hers and DS's and wanted another). So, the kind mom gave us a bag of butterscotch chips--she had several because these are her father-in-law's favorite treats. The next day, realizing we needed both a morning activity and something to take to playgroup in the afternoon, we made butterscotch brownies too. They loved watching my "cement" mixer make short work of the ingredients, which they'd helped me count as I measured. DD was even able to predict that we'd need flour and sugar. As usual, they loved the dough. But the brownies were good too. And since I'm much more partial to chocolate than butterscotch, I wasn't tempted to eat all the extras.
But DD was.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened (we used our substitute butter sticks)
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Butterscotch Morsels, divided
1 cup chopped nuts (not for us)
PREHEAT oven to 350° F.
COMBINE flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 cup morsels and nuts. Spread into ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining morsels.
BAKE for 30 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.
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We went to a Winter Babies party yesterday and the kids had a marvelous time hanging out with new, older kids. They got to play in the dark with flashlights and try out a lot of games that we don't have (one had bees and a hive, one had "cooties", another had dominos and little trains--I didn't think it was game time yet but perhaps it is). Oh, and DD got to play with a Diego toy and DS got to do a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle. They both liked all the musical instruments. Heaven. DD's favorite part of the party (after playing with the flashing hand soap dispenser in the bathroom) was the host, the husband Mr. K, whom she likes a lot (we know them from church)--he is fun, and connects with kids on this special, intuitive level (he has 2 girls of his own and one baby on the way)--she made sure he got some of the cookies we made. But I think DS's favorite thing was the punch. And I had a favorite punch too, recipes below.
DS's Favorite Punch, a.k.a. How He Ate 2 Pints of Blueberries
1 bottle sparkling cider
1 container lemon sorbet
1 can of pineapple rings
1 pint of blueberries
Combine. Yum.
My Favorite Coffee Punch
1 pot of coffee (hot or cold)
cream to taste
1 container of coffee ice cream
Combine. Yum.
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At some point in the last few weeks, DP saw a show on tv about Louisiana cooking. She was half asleep while watching (I think this is when we were sick) but recalled this "seven steak" (and she's not sure of the title, the chef had a true Louisisana accent) recipe, with the holy trinity of ingredients--bell pepper, onion, and celery. My mom starts almost every dish she makes by sauteeing those three items. Anyway, she made us sandwiches with the meat today and it was incredible, almost reminiscent of the "debris" sandwiches we'd get at Mother's in New Orleans.
1 round roast, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch "steaks" (this is because we bought the wrong roast to make Swiss Steak and needed to use it somehow)
1 box of celery
1 bell pepper
1 onion
salt, pepper
bay leaf
garlic
Finely chop vegetables--the trinity--in food processor. Saute.
Sear steaks on high a few at a time. Deglaze with water between batches and put steaks and drippings in slow cooker.
Add sauteed vegetables to slow cooker. Also add bay leaf, salt, pepper, and minced garlic to taste. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
Towards the end, season to taste with all-purpose seasoning, a tad of sugar, more water.
Shred cooked beef with fork. Spoon onto hard rolls. Devour.
(P.S. I just found the real recipe online and DP, in her ill haze, still managed to get the name, and most of the recipe, fairly right.)
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