Anyway, family homelessness is a sour subject, but maybe we can add a little sweetness with:

Peppermint Brownie Trifle

Now, I realize technically my picture is a parfait, but you know, this is my blog and I get to make the rules!  And yes, I don’t own a trifle glass so I can’t really make a trifle.  But the concept is the same.  Take delicious Dancing Deer peppermint brownies (for which my wife pines during the year since they only sell them in Kansas City during the Christmas season), add layers of peppermint whipped cream, and crushed peppermint candies and you have dessert.

Constructing your Peppermint Brownie Trifle

As befitting my skillz as a baker, this dessert requires no baking.  Just premade Dancing Deer peppermint brownies and a little stirring.  W00t!

You will need:

1. 1 Dancing Deer peppermint brownie
2. 1/2 cup (about 4 heaping spoonfuls) of whipped cream
3. 3-4 drops peppermint extract
4. 4 peppermint candies

Break the brownie up into 8 pieces.  In a bowl, gently mix the whipped cream and the peppermint extract.  (Come to think of it, sometimes they just sell peppermint whipped cream.)  Next, put the candies in a bag without their wrappers and beat them mercilessly with a mallet or rolling pin.  I find it helps to envision coworkers when I do this.

Next, produce a tall glass of some sort.  A champagne flute, martini glass, or even a brandy snifter will do.  All you need to do is alternate layers of brownie, whipped cream, and candy until you have reached the top.  Sprinkle with a little peppermint candy and grab a spoon.

Now, if you are doing this actual trifle style, you would probably need 2 packs of brownies, 2 full containers of whipped cream, maybe 12-16 drops of peppermint extract, and a good handful of candies.  However, the process is exactly the same.

However you do it, enjoy!

And Now For Some Indigestion

Like yesterday, I wanted to share a brief fact on Family Homelessness.  Again, according to The National Center on Family Homelessness, 34% of the total homeless population consists of families trying to stay together.  Makes me thankful for what I have.

Related posts:

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Caramel Brownie Phyllo Cups

So me, the master un-baker, really got excited about this recipe since it was a way to use that oven thingy to make a dessert without actually having to bake.  Yay science!  I also got to use the little decorative phyllo cups you can find in the freezer section at your local grocer, which I think look cool.  (BTW, we’re not done with phyllo.  Not by a long shot!)

Now, for this recipe, I used the peanut butter brownies because I like peanut butter and caramel.  My wife (who ate about 8 of the cups) said she would have preferred caramel or chocolate chunk brownies, but obviously she wasn’t too concerned. 

Making Caramel Brownie Phyllo Cups

This recipe should be easy, but if you don’t have phyllo cups, use wonton wrappers.  Just poke them into greased muffin tins, brush them with butter and sugar like the recipe says, and bake until they are crispy.  These will produce substantially larger cups, but that just means you get to eat more brownie!!!

You will need:

• 1 container phyllo cups (mine had 20 cups in it)
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 3 Dancing Deer peanut butter brownies
• 10 tablespoons caramel sauce (I used squeeze bottle caramel ‘cuz that’s how I roll.)

Follow the directions for heating the cups on the back of the package.  Mine said to preheat the oven to 350 and bake 5-8 minutes.

However, before baking, brush the metled butter liberally on the cups and sprinkle about 1/4 tablespoon of sugar on them.  Don’t shake off the excess.  This is a dessert…that would be silly!

Once the shells are out of the oven, put half a tablespoon of caramel sauce on the bottom of each cup, then put a small piece of brownie in them, and add more caramel to the top.

You can also add chocolate sauce, whip cream, or anything else sweet.  The sky’s the limit!

Enjoy!

And Now For Some Indigestion

Given what Ms. Karter’s trying to do, I thought I might share a small fact about family homelessness each day.  Hopefully, it doesn’t make the recipes any less sweet.

According to The National Center on Family Homelessness, 1.35 million children will experience homelessness over the course of a year.  In any one day, over 200,000 children are homeless.  Fun, huh?

Related posts:

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As you probably know, the Dead are an American icon for their great music, the era in which they made it, and for certain herbal and/or chemical activities in which they partook.  And sang about.

So if you’re looking to capture the spirit of the Grateful Dead, but maybe without all the “extras,” here’s a few sweets that are sure to get you Truckin’ this Valentine’s Day.

“Pot” Brownies and Vitamin C, ‘Rettes and “Cocaine”

So, in other words, what I have done is in no way family friendly, but I do love me a good pun every now and then and couldn’t resist the chance to employ my punning ability for evil.

Ready for the recipes?

Pot Brownies

Okay, so the Grateful Dead, they happened to enjoy herbs, so why not treat your guests to brownies baked in a terra cotta pot… you know, pot brownies?

You will need:

• The ingredients for your favorite brownies or go with the ol’ standby and get some Duncan Hines.  Have enough to double or triple a normal recipe.  Whatever you do, add another teaspoon of oil per pot to the brownie mix to keep it moist.
• If you are so inclined, add a tablespoon of parsley per pot.

Only use shallow terra cotta pots, no taller than 4 inches or so.

Clean them very well with soap and water.  If they have been used for growing plants, coat them in oil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Let them cool before using.

Pour brownie mix into the pots so that they are 2/3 of the way full.

Bake according to the package or recipe instructions.

Vitamin C, ‘Rettes, and Cocaine

A line from the song “Truckin’” inspired the following recipe.

You will need:

• 1 sheet of phyllo pastry
• 5 tablespoon butter, divided
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup ginger ale
• Juice of 3 oranges
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• Powdered sugar for baggies

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter.

Using a pasty brush, spread the melted butter over the sheet of phyllo.  Cut in half lengthwise and then cut it into 1 inch sections.  Working quickly, roll each section tightly so that it resembles a hand rolled cigarette and put on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake in the oven for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown.

While baking, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a saucepan.  Add the sugar, ginger ale, and stir until dissolved.  Then add the orange and lemon juice and salt.  Add the corn starch and stir until thick.

Arrange the cigarettes on a platter, serve with the dipping sauce, and individualized baggies of powered sugar for the full Grateful Dead experience.

Grateful Dead image taken from Dead.net.

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