Best of 2023

 Best of 2023---Before January 2024 ends!!!

Buttermilk Brownies

2 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. shortening

1 c. water

1/4 c. cocoa

1/2 c. buttermilk or 1/2 c. milk with 2 t. vinegar or lemon juice (Let sit 5 minutes) 

2 eggs

1 t. baking soda

1 t. vanilla

In mixing bowl combine the flour and sugar and set aside.

Combine in a saucepan, butter, shortening, water and cocoa.  Stir and heat to boiling.  Pour over the dry flour and sugar mixture and stir.  Add the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla.  Stir or beat well.  

Pour into a greased cookie sheet (18x11inches).  Bake at 400 for 15 to 18 minutes.  

Frost with Chocolate Frosting while slightly warm. 

Easy Chocolate Frosting

6 T. butter

1/2 c. chocolate chips

1/4 c. milk

2 c. powdered sugar

Combine butter, chocolate chips and milk in a bowl. Microwave for 40 to 60 seconds. Beat in powdered sugar.  Spread frosting over warm brownies. Let cool to set.

I used to have a great stroganoff recipe that hasn't resurfaced since our fire.  I wanted an Instant Pot version so I tried to remember what was in my old favorite recipe and came up with this.....

Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff

1/2 c. water

1 lb. hamburger

1 c. diced onion

2 t. granulated garlic or 2 minced garlic cloves

2 t. season salt

1/2 t. pepper

10.5 oz. cream of mushroom soup

4 to 6 c. beef broth or water

1 T. worchestershire sauce

1 T. beef bouillon

1 T. parsley flakes

6 to 8 c. egg noodles

1 1/2 to 2 c. sour cream 

Press Saute and add 1/2 c. water and hamburger and cooked until browned.  

Add onion, garlic and seasonings and saute a few minutes more.  

Add soup, broth, worchestershire sauce, bouillon, parsley and noodles.  Make sure all the noodles are covered with liquid, if they aren't add some more.  

Press cancel to turn off Saute and then press manual and set for 4 minutes.  Do a quick release.  Stir in the sour cream and serve.  If it is too liquidy, return to saute for a few minutes until it thickens up. 

I combined a few recipes and came up with this recipe at Brody's request.  

Oreo Pizza

Cookie layer

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 1/4 c. flour

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat together butter, brown sugar and sugar.  

Beat in eggs and vanilla.

Beat in the dry ingredients.  

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Press onto a sprayed pizza pan.  Bake at 350 for 10 to 12  minutes.  Cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting 

1/4 c. butter, softened

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 to 2 c. powdered sugar

2 T. water 

1 t. vanilla

1/4 t. salt

12 to 15 Oreo Cookies, crushed

Beat together all the ingredients except the crushed cookies.  Add more water or powdered sugar as needed for desired consistency.  Spread over cooled cookie layer.  Sprinkle with crushed Oreo Cookies.  Add a few broken pieces of Oreo Cookies if desired for contrast.