Julie and Julia

Sunday night I started watching the movie Julie and Julia. I thought it was good! It is all about cooking and blogging (2 things I also enjoy). I also really like Meryl Streep. Anyways, watching the movie was keeping Nick awake, so I turned it off and went to bed. Monday morning, after Nick left for work, I finished the movie while drinking coffee in bed (my Christmas vacation had officially begun)! Like I said before, I really like this movie! It inspired me to cook and blog about what I was cooking. Well, I was already planning on cooking several things (for other people and for a Christmas party). However, almost everything I cooked has already been blogged about.

So here we go. These are all the items I cooked yesterday.


1. Cranberry Tea- recipe on SB's blog

Lately, I have been drinking this tea over ice, but it also really good hot.

2. Black Russian Cake- my friend Dorothy's blog

This cake was very easy to make, and it is very good!
Mixing the cake ingredients. I thought it made a very pretty color.

The final product! I have two pictures of this because I am still working on my photography, and I couldn't decide which picture looks better. What do you think?

3. The Pioneer Woman's Brisket

This was very easy to do, and it is very good!

4. Hash brown Casserole-I couldn't find this on any blog, but it is your basic hash brown casserole: hash browns, butter, cheese, sour cream, onion

5. Brownies-I made 2 different types of brownies. Both Paula Deen recipes.

First type of brownie: Symphony Brownies.

1. Mix your favorite brownie mix (from the box).

2. Pour half of the batter into a greased pan.

3. Put a Chocolate Symphony Bar down and pour the rest of the batter on top.

These are better if you get the Symphony Bar with almonds and toffee.

4. Then bake following the directions on the box.

The picture below is what was left after I transferred these brownies into a Christmas dish. You can see the melted candy bar in the middle. Yum!!

Second type of brownies: Creme De Menthe Brownies

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 (10 oz) package Creme de Menthe baking chips (recommended: Andes)

Frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1/3 cup cocoa

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk

Because I was cooking so much today, I was trying to be as neat and organized as possible. I laid all of the ingredients out before I began. This prevented me from running around a messy kitchen searching for the next ingredient. All of you may already be this organized, but sometimes I'll just start cooking and grab things as I go. This sometimes causes me to be slowed down, put something in at the wrong time, or leave out an ingredient. Last time I made these I forgot the mints! The main ingredient! Laying it out before hand is something I must continue to do first.

Using an electric mixer, combine butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl;beat at medium speed until creamy.

Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, mixing well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking powder.

Gradually stir into butter mixture. Fold in mint chips, but save some to top brownies.

Spoon into greased pan. Bake for 35 minutes in a 350 degree preheated oven.
Allow brownies to cool before frosting.

To make frosting: combing butter, cocoa, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until dry ingredients are moistened. Beat at high speed until spreading consistency. Top with shaved mints.

Here is all the food wrapped up and ready to go to its different locations.
If you haven't watched Julie and Julia, rent it, enjoy, and cook something. Bon appetit!