Friday, May 20, 2011

Gone with the Wind--Scarlet O'Hara

Okay.  So I think I have fallen off the face of the world with finishing up at SMU and trying to get the end of my teaching year finished as well.  I went to a jewelry party last night with some old teaching friends and made some new ones as well.  It was fun times by all and I got a new recipe out of this.

This recipe comes from Darla who I worked with my first year at Houston and was my team leader.  She has since moved on to another school in the district, but is still a great colleague.  Here is her recipe for a killer cocktail!

Scarlet O'Hara

Ingredients:
Southern Comfort
Dash of Lime
Lime wedge for garnish
Cranberry Juice
Ice

Directions:
1.  Mix one part Southern Comfort to two parts Cranberry Juice in a shaker with ice.
2.  Add a dash of lime.
3.  Serve in a Martini Glass.
4. Garnish with Lime
3. Pour

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Brownies

I have been trying for a while to start cooking more from scratch when I have time.  Here is a great brownie recipe from scratch.  Enjoy!

Scratch Brownies

  • 1 cup butter or margarine (melted)
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla flavoring
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup cocoa
  • 2 cups plain flour
  • optional - nuts, raisins, chocolate chunks, caramel pieces
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cream margarine and sugar. This works well with a mixer, but you can do it by hand.
  3. After the creaming stage, do switch to a spoon for mixing. Brownies tend to get tough if worked too much.
  4. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix just until smooth.
  5. Pour in cocoa and flour. Again, mix until smooth and lumps are broken up. But, don't go to wild on the mixing.
  6. If you want to add extras, just fold those in easily.
  7. Bake for 18-20 minutes in 2 pans size 8 inches by 8 inches. You can use a larger pan like the 9 x 9 and cook for a little longer-25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. If you use a single pan, then the Scratch Brownies are thicker.