Aunt Foo's Bestest Brownies EVER.......

I know what you're thinking.......

Who.......or WHAT is an Aunt Foo?

Well, that would be me!

When my sweet niece Macy was little,

she called to wish me a happy birthday.  When she tried to say "Aunt Sue", it came out as "Aunt Foo", so my happy birthday message was Macy singing "Happy Birthday Aunt Foo." :)

Absolutely made my day!!!!!  

She probably doesn't even remember that but I sure do!

My girls know that it is a special memory to me because she sounded so darn cute!

I used to joke that I was going to name my blog Aunt Foo or something.

Hey.......it could still happen;)

But on to the brownies, right?

Everyone has their favorite brownie so it's hard to say one is "the best".......

which is why i call these "the bestest":)

I do know my grammar, but eating these makes you forget all about things like that.

At least they make me forget!  They're chewy, fudgy, just the right amount of cakey, sweet but not sickening sweet.......simply the BESTEST!

AUNT FOO'S BESTEST BROWNIES

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CHOCOLATE FROSTING

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup milk ( I use 2%)

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups powdered sugar

BROWNIE INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with foil and spray foil with non-stick spray. I don't know why exactly but it works.  So do it:)  

If you have an electric stand-mixer, add the melted butter and cocoa powder and use the paddle attachment, blending until smooth.

Add the flour and sugar. Beat together then add the eggs and vanilla. Mix just until combined. The batter will be thick but remember not to over mix. 

Pour batter into prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove brownies from oven and let stand 15 minutes before frosting.  The brownies will still be slightly warm when you frost them but that's a good thing:)

 FROSTING INSTRUCTIONS: 

Beat together all the frosting ingredients until smooth. 

Pour and spread over warm brownies. 

Let cool completely before cutting and serving.

Makes 12 large brownies or 24 small brownies

*These brownies were adapted from Saltbox House Creations with a few minor changes such as the omission of nuts.

So there you have it!  Now, if y'all make these and decide your own are better, that's cool. We each have our own preferences.  For me.....it's Aunt Foo's Bestest Brownies all the way:)

Banana Pudding in Mason Jars!!!!!

Banana Pudding in a MASON JAR??? Oh. HECK!!!!!

I just put this on my facebook page, www.facebook.com/shabbychicksnaples  and thought i should share it with you, too:)

Okay, back to the pudding...

As if the stuff wasn't good in any ol' dish, these brilliant people thought of putting it in mason jars, to make it even better! (cause everything tastes better in a mason jar. Just sayin;) And now, since I've shown you the pictures, the least I can do is share one of my MANY favorite recipes for this crack-like substance:) 

NOT YO MAMA'S BANANA PUDDING...from Paula Deen 

(and say what y'all want, but this lady knows her puddin:)

INGREDIENTS:

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies (you can also use vanilla wafers)

6 to 8 bananas, sliced

2 cups milk

1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

DIRECTIONS:

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.

In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Enjoy!!!!!

XOXOXO

Suzanne

#southern #bananapudding #masonjars#masonjarbananapudding #thisisaddicting#lovethisstuff

Apple Fritter Cake, Cute Quilts, and Shark Cupcakes. . .Good Stuff!

well my goodness...

even i don't know what to say after this latest absence!

sooooo much has happened in the past few months

that i want to write about.

one of these days i'll play catch up.

i have to...because i use my blog as a yearly memory album and there

are a few things i want included.

and i'm so sorry i haven't visited my special friend's blogs to

keep in touch.

i will...promise!

in the meantime, i have a shabby chicks facebook page 

that i post a lot of fun stuff on.

pop on over and like my page so you can follow along!

facebook.com/shabbychicksnaples

but for now, how about a light, kinda random post

to get me back in the groove.

ready?

let's do this:)

first off,

with school getting out, summer fun around the corner...

and shark week on TV,

how about some 

shark cupcakes?

awesome, don't ya think?

go to joanns.com for a supply list and info on the wilton shark cupcake kit.

summer decorating calls for a lighter hand, 

maybe a fresh new color or fun carefree accessory.

these pillows are just the ticket to lighten things up...

and you can find them at Pottery Barn Teen of all places!

speaking of teens (and the rest of us).......

great advice!

usually i make you wait till the end for the YUMMY recipe. . . . .

but not this time.

APPLE FRITTER CAKE. . . .

melt in your mouth goodness:)

Apple Fritter Cake

original recipe: http://nerdybaker.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/apple-fritter-cake-and-ufos/

Ingredients:

For Filling:

1 heaping cup of sliced apples (I cored and quartered and then sliced)

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

small pinch freshly grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons water

Plus

1/2 cup brown sugar (I used a 1/4 cup each of dark and light)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

For Cake:

1/3 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup greek yogurt (you could use plain yogurt as well or sour cream)

For Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

6 tablespoons milk

Instructions:

For filling: 

Make your filling by combining apples, sugar, water, cinnamon and cornstarch in a small saucepan.  Cook on low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickend and the apples are a bit soft.  Set aside to cool.  In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together until well combined and set aside.

For Cake: 

Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease and flour a 9×13 baking dish.  Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Add applesauce and vanilla and mix till combined.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift the dry ingredients together.  Add the dry ingredients to the batter in three parts alternating with the yogurt in two parts, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Beat until just combined.

Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan.  Spoon the cooled apple mixture over the batter carefully and spread as evenly as possible.  Sprinkle 2/3 of brown sugar cinnamon mixture over apples and cover with the rest of the batter.  Sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar cinnamon mixture over the top.

Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

For Glaze: 

While the cake is baking, make the glaze.  In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until the glaze is desired consistency.  When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately but carefully pour onto hot cake.  Try to pour as evenly as possible.  You might have to pick up the cake and tilt it to spread the glaze evenly.  I even poured some out that pooled at the corners and repoured that over the top.  Let the cake sit for awhile for the glaze to set.

beware...it's reallllly good:)

 awwwww.....

how about some mini munchies. . . . .

don't you love these ideas?

last, i really love this quilt!

so plush looking with the velvet squares and the pom poms:)

okay, that's all for now:)  

hope everyone is happy and healthy!

xoxoxo

Suzanne

Cool Stuff. . . .Like Vintage Jewelry and Lemon Merengue Pie Dip!

so guess what?

i actually made the vintage jewelry project i'm going to show you!

i didn't just stalk other blogs but made them myself:)

baby steps folks, baby steps!

i love collecting vintage jewelry to re-purpose into

cool jewelry for today.

and not just vintage. . . .there are great pieces of

 vintage-like costume jewelry out there

just begging to be made into something unique.

but this time, i didn't make repurposed jewelry,

but something way simpler. . . . .

 magnets!

(these can be made with cool buttons or scrapbook goodies too:)

all you need is a magnet back and E6000 glue
 and about 15 minutes (plus drying time)

and TADA. . . . .
you have a set of awesome magnets!

well, what do you think?

Okay. . . .next, i could use some help.
i have a bunch of these flower cabachons and could make
so many cool things,
but what do you call the gold filigree backs they are glued on,
and do you know where I can get them?
if you know, please email me or comment.
thank you!!!

now, i just don't seem to have it in me to NOT leave you with something
amazingly yummy
(fattening)
to eat.
(or devour:)
so when i saw this lemon merengue dip from
Ashton at Something Swanky,
i had to share it!


and. . . .if you gain weight, you can blame her, not me.
i'm just the messenger;)
mmm. . . .mmm. . . .mmmmmmm

if i were you,

i'd hightail it over to her and grab the recipe!

bye for now. . . .

Suzanne

How To Be The COOLEST Mom EVER.....FUN FOOD edition

okay, some of you may or may not know i have another blog,

confessions of a cool mom.

SERIOUSLY!

i love that little blog because being a fun, cool, down to earth mom

is hard in this world.

being a christian mom trying to raise her children with

FAITH, values and morals is even tougher sometimes.

it's a subject that means a lot to me.

mine are teens now.....and it STILL means a lot to me.  

maybe even more.

ONE of these days i'm going to get that blog going again.

you can visit it if you like:)

but for NOW, i'll share some COOL MOM ideas

i found recently, right here on this blog.

hope you like them and take the time to try just one.

kids love this stuff:)

 here are some FUN food ideas,

starting with one of my favorites.....

cause i LOVE giraffes:)

now i THINK this is a PBJ with a little extra detail but i could be wrong.

still.....SOOOO cute!

 for a fun way to eat fruit.....

just make a tiny slit in the rind and VOILA.....

WATERMELON POPS!

or how about some apple cars?

about those pancakes.....

you could be BORING i mean traditional, and make them the usual way.....

or you could start your child's day with RAINBOWS.....

bears.....

snowmen.....

mr. potato head.....

and a good ol pumpkin!

if you're not too worn out.....

maybe you could pack a lunch like this.....

next time you make pasta,

add a bit of food coloring to make this.....

and for dessert, 

how about PAINT BRUSH rice krispie treats?

see.....pretty cool!

now, it wouldn't surprise me if these are so YESTERDAY.....

because I'm always a bit behind:)

but maybe this served as a refresher course.

until next time, when i share a few cool PARTY ideas!

Be Blessed,

Suzanne

p.s.  don't you just love this?

chicken, cheese, coconut, caramel...

and if THAT didn't get your attention, 

nothing will:)

i found a photo on pinterest for Crispy Cheddar Chicken, 

which led me to the most AMAZING food blog i've found yet.

it also led me to a recipe for

Coconut Carmel Cake.

seriously, every single recipe i have looked at on her blog and tried myself have been DELICIOUS!!
my family was crazy about the dinner i made, thanks to her.

her name is Jamie and the blog is Jamie Cooks It Up.

rather than post the actual recipes here, I am sending you straight to her blog.

Just click on each recipe and it will take you to the directions.

while you are there,

 look around for other yummy dishes to try.

trust me...

you're going to LOVE Jamie's recipe blog.
your family will too!!!
~Bon Appetit~

you know you're getting old when...

you can't remember how old you are!

this just happened to me.

we finally decided that i am 48...

but i seriously thought i was 49. 

maybe i went through my 47th year thinking i was 48!

when i was younger, i couldn't understand when my mom

 would ask me how old she was.

seriously...how can you NOT know your age???

well, it's pretty easy.

i see that now mom:)

but trying to figure it out the other day was priceless!

kind of like "Who's on first...

no WHO is on second..."

so in case i forget again,

i AM 48 years old!  in 2012 i will BE 49!

GEEZ!!!!!

anyway, this got me thinking...

does this happen to everyone?

I know i've forgotten a lot of things i used to know...i think:)

so i've started looking around for advice on aging.

someone told me that you get really talented when you age...

you can even do THIS...

can't wait...hahahahaha!

someone told me this and it is happening to me...

i LOVE lettuce, meatloaf and celery...

but i REFUSE to ever eat Broccoli.  (yucky:)

watch...i'll be in a nursing home someday and they'll serve those gross little green things every day...and my girls will say it's good for me and i'll

say there is nothing good about eating little trees so leave me alone already...

then i'll throw the trees at anyone who tries to make me and

they'll say i have dementia and i'll say 

NO...i just HATE broccoli!

GEEZ:)

has this ever happened to you?

it did to me the other day.

but i consider them my EXTRA lucky pennies when this happens...

the older i get, the more i appreciate the book by Robert Fulghum,

All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.

here is what he has to say...

Say you're sorry.

~Wash your hands before you eat.

~Flush.

~Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

~Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

~Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.

~Be aware of wonder. 

~Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

~Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.

~And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

"Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, 

but right there at Sunday School."

Gee...if we learned it all in kindergarten, than why all those years in school?

mom...if only you had let me stay home more,

we could have had SO much fun!:)

i don't mind aging...really.

no plans for plastic surgery.

when i smile, i WANT you to see it...including in my eyes and all those little laugh lines around them:)

i mean, so i've smiled and laughed a few times in my life...is that a bad thing?

don't THINK so!

and when i scowl or raise my eyebrows at something my girls do that i am questioning...

i WANT them to see that in my face...oh yes i do!:)

SO...now that we know how old i am (48)

and how old i will be in 2012 (49)

what can we do to slow down aging?

i have two SIMPLE things you can do.

and you're gonna LOVE them!

Number 1.  Chew Gum...BUBBLEGUM.

did you know, chewing gum can slow down aging?

Nothing ages your heart, brain, kidneys and skin faster that the stress hormone cortisol, says Ronald Klatz, M.D., of the American Academy of anti-Aging Medicine. 

 To the rescue: a piece of gum!

Proof that it works:

In an Australian study, two sets of people were asked to complete the same stressful tasks. The only difference: Half were told to chew sugarless gum, too. Result: Cortisol levels in the gum chewers 16 % lower than in the non-gum chewers! That’s because chewing gum boosts blood flow to the brain, easing the stress response.

so go ahead...chew that gum...

blow that bubble:)

Number 2.  EAT DESSERT!

see...i told you this was good:)

now, i didn't actually research this.

but i DO think that totally denying yourself is not necessary.

having a little dessert now and then...maybe even BEFORE dinner...

makes life a little SWEETER.

nothing wrong with that.

as long as it's a little.

don't lick the spoon, plate and pan like i do.

that's when you have a PROBLEM!  hahaha

so, here's a little something to help you get started...

BUTTERFINGER CAKE!

Directions: Bake a yellow cake, poke holes in it while still warm, pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over, then a jar of smuckers caramel ice cream topping. Cool, spread with Whipped Cream and sprinkle with crushed Butterfinger.

It may not make you younger but it WILL make life a WHOLE lot SWEETER!

ROLL TIDE!

XOXOXOX

Suzanne

Happy Fall, Ya'll...Come on in for some recipes, crafts and...

i've been wanting to say that...

 just kinda makes you smile:)

AND...i've been wanting you to see my blog makeover.
let me know what you think!
goodbye (for now) pale...hello bright, fall color!

okay...

WELCOME TO THE SHABBY CHICKS FALL OPEN HOUSE!

first up... come on in and grab a candy corn tutu...

 it's okay...their cute and fun...

and no one will ever know you wore one:)

great!

now, how about some warm apple pie oatmeal?

oh YUM!!!!!

we're all about quick, easy and delicious food around here...

and this fits the bill perfectly.

simple to make...

slice up apples and place in large ziplock.

shake with brown sugar and cinnamon.

saute in a bit of butter till perfectly tasty and soft.

 make a big batch of your favorite oatmeal...

place a spoonful in the bottom of the bowl and a heaping serving on top.

add milk or heavy cream if desired and go ahead...

devour!

 (that's what we did. hahaha)

let's talk crafts...

and sweaters...

SWEATER CRAFTS!

it seems sweater pumpkins were HUGE last year.

 (they're still pretty popular cause they're so DANG cute!

I even got in on it.

and now we have SWEATER VASES!

they're all over the place and last night we made a few...

what do you think?

 not bad for a quick and simple craft, huh?

okay, i am terrible about doing a tutorial but trust me,

google sweater vases and all kinds of instructions will come up.

 but basically, you go to goodwill or some other thrift store

and grab a few vases and a cable knit sweater for CHEAP.

 have some scissors and a glue gun handy and you're ready to get crafting!

the most important thing is that if WE can do this in a half hour...

i PROMISE you can too...and probably much better!:)

aaaahhh...all this work makes me hungry!

hahahaha...only HALF joking:)

how about dinner?

as in...a warm, cozy comforting FALL menu...

something like low cal LASAGNA SOUP.

 warm soup on a dreary day...can't beat it.

and this soup is YUM-MY!!!!!

add a loaf of warm, crusty bread and voila...a real family please.

Go HERE for the recipe.

(courtesy of Paula Deen's boy's...
they are making over their mom's recipes:):)

The only changes we made were we only used ONE clove of

garlic and red pepper instead of green pepper.

(and please over look the weirdly skinny breadsticks...

don't ask me, I wasn't in the kitchen:)

 let's see, what else, what else...

I KNOW...

a simple decorating tip for seasons/holidays.

if you're like me, your children ARE your works of art.

and if you took a gazillion photos of them like me, 

you have some for all the seasons of the year. 

soooooo...why not dig out a few and replace the photos currently in frames or on the wall

with special memories of seasons past.

so simple, so quick and SO EASY!

just like the above crafts and recipes,

quick and easy is the name of the game:)

and here is a quick photo i snapped of my childhood home recently...

 i used to JUMP in these leaves!!!

MEMORIES.

well my friends,

that's about it for the fall open house

  with the Shabby Chicks for today.

oh wait...you can't leave without a treat!

My chicks made CANDY CORN COOKIES tonight.

 we used the technique from Kathie Cooks blog,

and because i already told you we try to keep things simple,

we BOUGHT the sugar cookie dough in a roll.

divided it into thirds, colored one yellow and one orange (left the other one natural)

cut out candy corn shapes and VOILA...

candy corn cookies!

ENJOY...

and come back soon for more fall fun...
and a GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

XOXOXOXOXO