pumpkin fudge brownies

this simple recipe uses canned pumpkin in the place of vegetable oil and eggs for making brownies. you can use low calorie brownie mix and peanut butter to make this even healthier. 

the consistency is fudge-like but soo good!  

you will need:

1 box of brownie mix [your choice!]

2-4 tablespoons of peanut butter [also your choice, i prefer the Peter Pan honey roast creamy]

15-ounces canned pure pumpkin [for some reason i always buy the 20-something ounce can and use about half]

get a large bowl and put the brownie mix in

then the pumpkin...

stir together until blended

pour the mixture into a baking pan, i used an 8x8 glass dish.  use a little butter to grease the inside of the dish to help with sticking.

now the good stuff..

put a few spoonfuls onto the mix, you can do however much you like

swirl it around..  bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 30-45 minutes.  i can tell when its done by putting a knife in the middle and it comes out nearly clean.  and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the dish.

i usually let mine chill for at least 1-2 hours before serving. they are even better the next day.

^_^

 store leftovers in refrigerator!

tater tot casserole

Tater Tot Casserole.    

This is a versatile dish that is easy to make and is quite tasty.  I've made it many times and have made it many different ways.  I think the way I am about to show you is the best.

I used:

1 bag Ore Ida tater tots

2.25 pounds of ground chuck beef [you dont have to use exactly 2.25 pounds, that's just how its sold at the store I shop at]

some Kraft sharp cheddar cheese [I didn't measure.  See pictures.]

 1 onion

1 can Campbells Cream of Mushroom soup

about 3 tablespoons of Daisy sour cream

First of all, I like to cook the tater tots in the oven before cooking them again in the dish.  This saves time and trouble.  Cook them about 20-25 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

begin to brown your hamburger while the tater tots bake..

 when it begins to brown, stir it up some making sure it cooks evenly.

dice 1 onion by slicing this way

turn it around and slice it this way again

 turn it over and slice again

 yay, diced onion!

add the onion to the meat and let them cook together for a while

add some garlic powder..

and soul food seasoning, i love this stuff!   You can use whatever spices and seasonings you prefer though.

After the meat has finished cooking you should drain it...

for this I just put a plate under my colander 

............

Return the meat and onions to the skillet and turn the heat down to low.  Add the Cream of Mushroom soup...

and about 2-3 tablespoons of sour cream

stir.

let it cook together for a little bit..

tater tots should be golden brown and fully cooked by now...

line some in a baking dish.  

After you've placed the tots, begin to put the meat mixture on top of them..

even it out..

add some cheese!  add however much looks right to you

arrange the remaining tots on top and bake for about 20-30 minutes on around 350. 

after you've baked the casserole for a while and its heated throughout you should add some ketchup on top.  It makes it even better.  I always use Heinz.

ketchupppp.

After you finish putting ketchup on it, turn your oven on broil and put the casserole back in.  Let the ketchup cook a little bit, I usually take it out after the ketchup isn't shiny but isn't burnt.  Up to you, I just like the ketchup cooked.

done!  :D

spinach stuff

I don't know why I buy the bagged fresh spinach.  I like it instead of lettuce in salads but for cooking reasons I should probably buy frozen or canned.  The bag they put this stuff in is ridiculous.  It is so thin, crackly and loud.  It rips so easily too.  That is why I made spinach stuff tonight.  The bag had ripped and so the spinach needed to be cooked asap before it got all weird. 

I usually just make regular Popeye spinach with some old school pepper sauce.  But this was different and turned out pretty good.

I used:

1 10-ounce bag of fresh spinach leaf

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

fresh grated parmesan cheese

ricotta cheese

1 jar of mushrooms

some garlic powder

After getting the spinach out of the already ripped annoying spinach bag, I put it all on a plate.  Which was way too small for all of it but whatever, it worked. :P

 Melt the butter in a non-stick skillet and tear the spinach leaf up in bunches

add the mushrooms, make sure you drain all the nasty mushroom juice off of them first though.

some garlic powder..

now, let the spinach and mushrooms cook down...

this looks about right to me.

add 2-3 tablespoons of ricotta cheese.  

stir..

its going to look a little weird

add the fresh Parmesan cheese to the top

stir the cheese into the spinach mixture

be careful not to burn the cheese up.

<3