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Archives for December 2020

3 Ingredient Brownies

Ok these 3 ingredient brownies are a lifesaver! Have you ever been in this situation? You’re invited to a party and offer to bring dessert when all of the sudden you realize you have two hours until the party and no time to bake something from scratch? These brownies fool everyone into thinking you took much longer on them than you actually did.

All you need are three ingredients: Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix, cream cheese frosting, and peppermint chocolate bark. I will swear by the Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownies until the day I die. They are hands down the best box mix brownie out there.

First up, mix up the brownie batter and try to resist eating it all. It’s just as good as the baked brownies in my opinion. I like to buy the bulk pack of multiple mixes they sell at Costco. That way, I always have my favorite brownie mix on hand when the occasion arises that I need to whip up a quick dessert.

Next up, while the brownies are baking, mix up the simplest cream cheese frosting recipe:

1/2 block cream cheese

2 Cups powdered sugar

tray of chocolate brownies with cream cheese frosting

2-4 Tablespoons of heavy whipping cream

I let this whip together for a few minutes until it’s creamy and light and fluffy. Feel free to add more or less heavy whipping cream depending on the consistency you would like. I like mine pretty stiff and thick so it holds its shape on the brownies.

Then, grab a block of peppermint bark and cut it up into very small pieces with a sharp knife. This was much easier than I anticipated because peppermint bark is really crumbly once you dig into it. I used the Trader Joes Peppermint Bark for this recipe. I used less than one square, so it stretches far.

close up of easy holiday brownies

I wait until the brownies are completely cooled and then slice them up and plate them individually before frosting. I find that the frosting looks best this way.

My best frosting tip: if you don’t have piping bags handy, simply put your frosting in a ziploc bag and snip off one corner. Easiest switch ever and works almost exactly the same in my opinion.

I think the combo of peppermint bark on top of the frosting really ups the look of this simple dessert. Another cute and festive idea would be crushed peppermints or candy canes.

Yield: 24 brownies

3 Ingredient Brownies

3 Ingredient Brownies

The easiest last-minute dessert you will ever make! It involves three ingredients and is so simple to put together.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 box of Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1/2 block cream cheese
  • 2 Cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1 large chunk of peppermint bark, chopped fine

Instructions

  1. Mix up the Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie mix and put in a 9x13 pan to bake at 350 for 50 minutes.
  2. While the brownies are baking, mix together the frosting ingredients: cream cheese, powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream.
  3. Chop up a block of peppermint bark finely.
  4. Wait until the brownies are completely cooled and decorate with cream cheese frosting.
  5. Sprinkle crushed peppermint bark on top of the frosting.
  6. Enjoy!

Notes

If you have another boxed brownie mix on hand, feel free to use it or you can always make homemade brownies.

© admin
Cuisine: dessert / Category: Food

December 21, 2020 Leave a Comment

Do’s and Don’ts gifts for babies

When it comes to baby gifts, there are a TON of products out there. It can be overwhelming to browse the thousands of infant items in a store. I put together this list with products that I have loved and used a million times as well as items that I received and put in the closet and never looked at again.

brooke holding Winston with text that says "Do's and Don'ts for baby gifts"

If you are expecting a baby or know someone expecting a baby it is such an exciting time! From the ultrasound photos to setting up the nursery each step is so fun getting ready for a little one to join the family.

Right now I have a 3-year-old and a 4-month-old. I realize that I am in no way an expert on all things baby. Nonetheless, I want to share what has been useful for both of my kids and what I wish I would’ve saved money on.

Let’s go over some of the don’ts first, these, of course, are my personal opinion. You may love these items – I just didn’t find myself using them.

  1. Wipe Warmer: I could barely get the diaper on in the middle of the night changes let alone remember to warm up the wipes! Yes, this is very considerate of your little one’s bum. Kudos to you if you use one. However, I just tried to change them as fast as possible at nighttime and avoid getting peed on.
  2. Tons of newborn clothing. My first baby was 7 lbs 11 ounces baby and my second was 8 lbs 5 ounces. They both blew through their newborn clothing. We were into 0-3 month clothing after about week 3. Don’t stock up on a million newborn diapers or you may never get through them.
  3. Baby food blender. Just use your grown up blender – they work the same! The baby food blender will just take up space in your kitchen.
Brooke with Colugo carrier

Now let’s move onto the Do’s for baby gifts. These again, are my personal preference, but I have found myself reaching for them again and again.

  1. Boppy breastfeeding pillow: This U-shaped pillow has saved my neck and back this time around! I use the Boppy pillow every time I breastfeed or rock Win to sleep. In a short few months, it will be the perfect safety net to use when teaching Winston how to sit up.
  2. Colugo Baby Carrier: This thing is pure magic for babies! From the mesh lining to the magnetic clips it is design perfection. The best part is you can use this baby carrier for little ones from the time they are 7 lbs up until they are 33 lbs, no infant insert is needed. My baby boy Win loves the forward-facing position so he can see everything going on around him. Colugo has a ton of cute styles to choose from – hello animal print! Colugo was started by a mom in New York City who saw a need in the marketplace and created something amazing! The best part is you can find them at Target!
  3. Freshly Picked moccasins: Baby socks are a headache, they can never quite stay on those adorable, puffy feet. Freshly Picked is not only run by an awesome female entrepreneur (Susan Peterson) but she makes a quality product that lasts. My daughter wore her moccasins nonstop and they still look like new.
brooke wearing winston in the Colugo baby carrier

If you are shopping for a new mama-to-be I highly recommend gifting one of these products. They will be used SO much. Having a baby is a huge transition, so having functional products that help with your baby’s day-to-day activities is incredibly helpful.

Britt is expecting her baby boy in a few short months and I am so excited to share these products with her. It has been so fun to have our babies close together (no we didn’t plan it :)). They have built-in best friends and aunties and cousins that love them!

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December 15, 2020 Leave a Comment

Hi! We are identical twins, Brooke & Brittany. We test the latest trends in fashion, beauty, travel and fitness so that you don't have to.

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