Lovin' From the Oven

Nutella Brownies

by 2 Comments

baking-18

I was cleaning out my kitchen cabinet and just so happened to stumble across a brand new jar of Costco-sized Nutella that remained untouched in the back corner. How did I miss that? My DF had just polished off the matching jar from the two pack and I had an entire jar of Nutella to play with.

baking-17

Since I’m always in the mood for brownies, I made the executive decision on making Nutella brownies. It was the best decision I’ve made all week.

baking

The brownie batter has a nice, deep flavor thanks to Rodelle‘s gourmet baking cocoa.

baking-11

Wouldn’t these brownies be good for a game day snack? I would have loved to have one of these brownies after a volleyball game back in the day when I used to play. Sweet treats would always make me feel like a winner, regardless of the outcome of the game.

baking-16

Brownies are basically a call for celebration whenever they are baked. I know my mouth is celebrating whenever I have one in my hands.

baking-15

baking-14

These brownies are heavy. They’re heavy because they’re loaded with so many good ingredients. Just looking at the picture above makes my arms a little weak. You may or may not have to work out a little bit to carry this 9×13 pan. Thankfully, this Chinet pan stood up to the test with baking and transporting.

baking-12

baking-13

Recipe from Buns in my Oven

Print
Nutella Brownies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
  • 2 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup Nutella
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups dark cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups of chopped dark chocolate (I used Trader Joe's 72% bar)
  • about 1/4 of additional Nutella for swirling (optional)

Directions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9x13 baking pan.
  2. In small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter completely. Stir in sugar and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the Nutella.
  4. Pour butter mixture into a large bowl or stand mixer. Beat in cocoa powder, eggs, salt, baking powder, espresso powder, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
  5. Gently stir in the flour and baking melts until just combined.
  6. Spread into prepared pan. Add spoonfuls of Nutella on top, if using, and use a toothpick to swirl.
  7. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
https://lovintheoven.com/nutella-brownies/

Lunch Lady Brownies

by 5 Comments

dessert-10

Remember those brownies back in elementary school that you would look forward to after lunch? The ones with the magic frosting that would be firm to the touch, but suddenly melt in your mouth? How did they do that? They were the best for packing in lunch boxes since the top wouldn’t smudge if you stacked them on top of something else.

Well, I’ve just recreated them in my kitchen and I’ve got the recipe to share!

dessert-3

Rodelle sent over some seriously awesome baking ingredients to help with this recipe. I’ve used their gourmet european dutch processed baking cocoa for most of the recipes on my blog for the past two years. Did you know that they sell their cocoa and vanilla beans at Costco? It makes my life so much easier since I go through ingredients quite quickly. Obviously, I need the 25 oz can of baking cocoa rather than the little box at the grocery store.

dessert

They sure know how to put together a gift basket over there. I’m still swooning over the cute tote!

I could not stop eating this brownie batter. Something about the cocoa, melted butter, and sugar just gave it the perfect texture. It is by far my favorite raw batter to eat. That’s probably not something I should be encouraging…. Don’t eat raw batter, folks.

dessert-8

Don’t even get me started on the frosting. When I was whipping it up, it was smooth, creamy, and thick. How in the world does this harden? It looks like regular frosting!

dessert-9

This is what the brownies looked like after two minutes of frosting.

dessert-14

See how it just oozes down the side? The top is already getting the nice shiny layer. If I would have waited ten more minutes, all of the frosting becomes that nice shiny layer.

dessert-15

dessert-16

I was trying to debate if I should cut the brownies first prior to frosting them or not. That’s exactly what I ended up doing. The frosting flooded into the cracks, engulfing each brownie piece.

dessert-17

Sometimes the “behind the scenes” picture is just better than the staged one.

Recipe from Saltbox House

Print
Lunch Lady Brownies

Yield: 16 brownies

Ingredients

  • For the brownies:
  • 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup Rodelle's baking cocoa
  • 1 cup of all purpose flour
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 teaspoons Rodelle vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
    • For the frosting:
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons Rodelle baking cocoa
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8 inch pan.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter and baking cocoa. Add in the flour and sugar.
  3. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Stir in the walnuts.
  4. Evenly spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes (no longer!).
  5. When the brownies are done, making the frosting by creaming all ingredients together until smooth. Spread the frosting over the brownies while they are still warm. Let the frosting harden before cutting and serving.
https://lovintheoven.com/lunch-lady-brownies/

I received product from Rodelle, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Chewy Monster Granola Bars

by 3 Comments

monsterbars-9

Folgers has created a program called The Best Part to help you with little pick me ups that’ll not only help you get through the day, but give you a boost of positiveness whenever you need it. In other words, it’s an online community that’s made for sharing your random acts of kindness or words of inspiration. I’ll start out with sharing a bit of my “best part.”

Let’s be real here. There are days at work where you want to pull your hair out, days where you’d rather be anywhere but here. All it takes is one person (or in this case, one kid!) to completely change your outlook and get you out of that negative mood.

At after school day camp the other day, I was walking the kids from their school to the center when one of the boys exclaimed, “We’re almost home!!” Confused, I corrected him, “You mean, we’re almost at day camp, right?” His response just about made me melt into a puddle.
monsterbars

He looked up at me and said, “Oh yeah, but I love day camp here just as much as I love being home.”

monsterbars-2

I realized that camp counselors affect kids a lot more than they realize. Sure, it may be work to some, but to the kids attending the camp, it’s almost as if you’re there for them. You’re there to give kids a place to go after school where they can learn, have fun, and be safe. You’re not there for yourself. A camp counselor should never go to work for themselves because there are so many little eyes on them at all times. Your mood and your behavior affect all of the kids around you, whether you realize it or not. They’ll pick up on your bad days in a second, and they’ll make a comment that can make you laugh just as fast.

monsterbars-3

Here are just a few of my conversations with kids from work:

Kid: But why? You don’t work.
Me: What? I’m working right now! And I also work somewhere else.
Kid: Where?
Me: In the skies.
Kid: YOU WORK IN HEAVEN?! FOR GOD?!?

I walk up to two boys at work and catch the middle of their conversation..
Boy: If they mate, then…
Me: EXCUSE ME?! What are you two talking about?!
Both boys: POKEMON!

monsterbars-4

Kid 1: If you tell me a really funny joke, you’ll be my first best friend.
Kid 2: I already told you a lot of funny jokes, I don’t want to tell you any more.
Me to kid 1: What?! You’ve never had a best friend?
Kid 1: I have a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th best friend, but he’ll be my 1st best friend if he tells me.

Girl: I can’t wait til i’m 18! .. or 12.
Me: What? Why 18.. or 12?
Girl: Because that’s when I can get a dog!
Me: Why can’t you get a dog until you’re 18.. or 12?
Girl: Because that’s when my guinea pig will die. I think they live for like 8 years.

I curled my hair for the day when I usually wear it straight..
Girl: You look like a lion!!!

monsterbars-5

Did any of those make you smile just a little bit? The innocence and honesty of kids are a constant reminder for me of the optimism that still exists in the world. It is so easy to keep a positive outlook around them for me because of their carefree and easygoing personalities.

monsterbars-6

If I could read conversations like that every day, I would. In fact, I’m pretty sure I tell all my friends all the silly conversations with kids as it happens. Now, the only difference is that I can do it online in a community where others have the same kind of stories and photos to share. The Best Part is dedicated to making you smile every day. It’s a place where people can share their heart warming stories and spread happiness. We can all use a little happiness in our lives, right? There’s enough negativity in the news and online that The Best Part will be somewhere where you can escape from it all. Nothing bad, all good.

monsterbars-8

To celebrate how gosh darn cute kids are and spread even more cheer, I’m making a dessert that screams elementary school: chewy monster granola bars. They’ve got peanut butter, chocolate, and oats. It doesn’t get more elementary than that. They’re the perfect sweet surprise to hide in their lunch boxes. The M&M’s peaking out will be sure to make them smile. Pass that smile forward!

Print
Chewy Monster Granola Bars

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups quick rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup Rice Krispies
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup mini M&M candies
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 8x8 pan with foil or parchment paper.
  2. Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.
  3. Press the mixture into the pan and bake for 18 minutes. Cool completely before cutting.
https://lovintheoven.com/chewy-monster-granola-bars/

 

The Best Part is an online community that’s dedicated to brightening your day—every day. How? By spreading optimism, one share at a time. The Best Part posts inspirational stories, encouraging quotes, good news and other upbeat items on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—and encourages fans and followers to share that optimism with their friends. Because when optimism is shared, it grows, making an even more positive impact on our world. Check out what others are sharing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Categories