"Melt in Your Mouth" Pecan Toffee Cookies

I found this wonderful recipe at Just a Pinch online

VERY easy....the recipe uses a cake mix and a few simple ingredients.

If you know me at all, you'll know I'm all about delicious and easy!

Hope you'll consider adding this to your list for holiday baking.

UPDATE:  Since companies have started reducing the amount of mix in their boxes, I have found it works to add 5-6 Tb. all purpose flour or add that much from another mix that you use just for 'additional' amounts for whatever you are making. 

 PECAN TOFFEE COOKIES

1/2 c butter, softened

1 (18 ozs) box yellow cake mix
(If you have a 15 ozs. size mix, add 5-6 Tb. flour)

2 lg eggs

1 Tbsp water

1 pkg heath toffee bits

1/2 c pecans, chopped fine

Preheat oven to 350. Mix butter, add cake mix, eggs & water. Mix well. Add toffee bits and pecans, mix by hand. Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack.

Try 'em...you'll like 'em!

Linked to Made it on Monday
             Full Plate Thursday
                     Sweets for a Saturday
                    The Farmer's Wife Cookie Swap

Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies

I plan to have a few 'extra' posts in the upcoming weeks.  I've had many cookie recipes in my drafts, and figure now is the very best time to share them.  Plus, I have apple dishes, side dishes and more, so please stay tuned.  There may even be a few days when I 'double up' on recipes.

This recipe is definitely a MOST FAVORITE!! 

If you haven't realized it yet...I am a definite Cookie Monster!

In my humble opinion, these cookies are the ultimate in cookies!

The original recipe was an actual prize winner, (a friend shared it with me after finding this recipe in a magazine) and my family has declared them a prize winner too!

 When I make them, I have to be sure there are going to be other folks expecting to get some too, otherwise I'll eat far too many.

They're like a buckeye candy, only in cookie form, with crunch.

Anytime I can use a mix to make it easier, I go for it.

This uses a brownie mix and it also has my favorite ingredient, cream cheese, mixed into the dough. 

And a 'peanut butter cup' filling!!!

HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY GO WRONG???

PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIE COOKIES

(From The Better Baker)

1 - 19 ozs. box fudge brownie mix

4 ozs. cream cheese, room temperature

1/4 c. butter or margarine, melted

1 egg

1 c. powdered sugar

1 c. creamy peanut butter

1/2 (16 ozs) tub ready-made chocolate fudge frosting

sprinkles, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Beat brownie mix, cream cheese, butter and egg until well blended.  Drop dough by rounded Tablespoonsful 2" apart onto UNgreased baking sheets.  Smooth edges of each to form round cookies. (I love using my medium scoop to make rounded, evenly sized cookies).

Stir together powdered sugar and peanut butter with spoon until mixture forms a ball.  With hands, roll rounded teaspoonsful of peanut butter mixture into 24 balls.

Lightly press 1 ball into center of each cookies.  Bake 10 - 14 minutes or until edges are set.  Cool 3 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.

When completely cooled, spread thin layer of frosting over peanut butter portion of each cookie. (I omit this step because they're plenty rich without the frosting).  If desired, garnish with sprinkles.

Linked to Sweets for a Saturday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Recipe of the Week
Weekend Potluck  

Help for Money-Wise Meals

Christmas is just around the corner and soon, we'll all busier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, so....

I want to share some ideas to inspire you to help you with your food 'management'/meal planning. I will be sharing some awesome recipes soon too, but for now...

 

Coupon, coupon, coupon! If you've followed my blog for long, you'll know I LOVE coupons, and often get to save 60%+ of the total price I spend, because I stick with purchasing sale items, and use coupons also. Clip weekly from the newspaper (hint: some of the coupons in the file that I always carry in my purse - will be thrown out if I don't find the item on sale). Ask a friend who doesn't use coupons, if they'd be willing to share theirs with you. It's a great way to save big $$.

 

Shop your pantry - use what you have. If you stock up on weekly sales, you can learn to cook with what you already have. Keep vegetables, soups, broths, beans, etc. on hand - and have a system in your pantry so everything doesn't get lost, and you don't know what you really have. Ex: keep soups together with labels facing the front - use tubs to group some items and/or smaller items together.

 

Shop bulk sections - Go for grains, nuts, dried fruit, cereal and more. You can buy as much, or as little, as you want, and prices tend to be more reasonable because you're not having to pay for name brands or fancy packaging. I love to buy powdered milk there, as it isn't something I use often, or much of, but it's so handy to have a little bit when I want it.

Make your own 100-calorie packs - It's so much more economical to make your own. Separate chips, cookies, etc. into resealable plastic bags and it'll be easy for kids to grab a quick snack and you'll have things ready and on hand to pack in lunches.

 

HAPPY SHOPPING & COOKING TOO!!!!

Crockpot Beans 'n' Kraut Stew

Some of you have been waiting for this recipe...

WAIT NO MORE!!

Oh I think you're gonna love this dish. 

(even if you're one of those people who thinks they don't like sauerkraut!)

It's very simple to put together and is deliciously wonderful.

A good friend, Joan, brought her crockpot full of this delectable dish to a recent Sunday School Class potluck.

Joan got there late because she had a plumbing problem, Everyone had finished eating, but still they all had to have some of Joan's stew because the first taste testers were raving!

This recipe is very similar to my own Kraut 'n' Beans recipe here at my blog.  This is just a little different with potatoes and pork and beans added. 

And since I had everything on hand, I made it a day later. 

CROCKPOT BEAN N KRAUT STEW

2 cups diced raw potatoes

2# sauerkraut, undrained

1# kielbasa, sliced or diced

1/4 c. water

1 - 15 ozs. can northern beans, slightly drained

1 - 15 ozs. can pork and beans, undrained

2 Tb. brown sugar

(or more if desired)

In 4 or 5 qt. crockpot, layer potatoes, sauerkraut, water, kielbasa, then beans. Sprinkle brown sugar over all.

Cover; cook on high for 3 - 4 hours, or until potatoes are done. Stir a few times during cooking.

DEEEE-LISH-OUS!!

(Trust me on this one Brandie=)

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Octoberfest
Ingredient Spotlight

Meet Penny - Beans & Rice Foodie Friends Friday   Keep Calm & Cook On: Crockpot Recipes Weekend Potluck  Whatcha Crockin Wednesday  Meal Plan Monday

Painting the World PINK for a Day...

My blogging buddy, Lark, of Lark's Country Heart shared this idea with me and I'm 'Paying it Forward'.....

Today is a single day project dedicated to Breast Cancer. A Fun Day Of PINK. A host of bloggers dedicating the day to this cause(ALL PINK ACROSS THE BOARD!)  A day simply dedicated to the cause will totally be more than enough. Every inch adds on to milestones of helping spread awareness and standing to fight for this cause. I know everyone’s knee deep in Halloween projects, but I thought it’ll be fun to switch off a day and see PINK EVERYWHERE!!!

 COME ON GIRLS --- LETS ROCK THIS TOGETHER!!!

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I am proud to be participating in the Part of Being the Best is Doing Good program, helping to spread the word about the Eggland's Best Eggs/Susan G. Komen partnership and “pink ribbon” eggs.

On Friday I went to our local high school (where I graduated...oh what emotions run through me to walk those halls again!) and gave presentations to two high school Home Ec (Healthy Foods) classes.

I shared this info about EBE's...

Eggland's Best Eggs have, when compared to 'ordinary' eggs, 25% less Saturated Fat, 10 times more Vitamin E, and double the amount of Omega 3s (for more related nutrition facts, click here).

And also read facts about Breast Cancer Awareness shared at the Susan G. Komen website.

I did a scrambled egg demonstration and made breakfast quesadillas, with the help of a student in each class.  A simple, but versatile recipe they can make themselves. The kids seemed to love them. I also gave them copies of 3 easy egg recipes to take home. 

I also served them PINK Poke Cake, inspired by Lisa at
Flour Me With Love.

The teens LOVED it!

One gal said it was the best cake she'd ever eaten! =)
That's always nice to hear.
I was thrilled when another said she was going to find my Facebook page & "like" me.  Yahoooie!

Many dressed up for Halloween...the kid in the orange was a 'pumpkin pie'! Clever huh?  It was nice to see him smiling at me during the presentation.

I HAD to take a closeup of the gal with the pink wig...after all, we ARE  "Painting the World PINK" today! She was doing that on Friday.


The kids were pleased with their coupons from Eggland Eggs for a free dozen eggs.  We also had a giveaway in each class - one teen from each group received an EBE apron and whisk, provided by Eggland's Best Eggs. 

THANK YOU EGGLAND'S BEST FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT SUSAN G. KOMEN AND BREAST CANCER AWARENESS!