Chocolate Mint Brownies

Have you ever had BYU Mint brownies? These are just like them. I love them! They are to die for! I got this recipe from "My Kitchen Cafe" blog. I made them on Sunday and everyone loved them. My husband even asked me to make some for the youth's fundraising activity next week. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

Bottom layer:

1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

4 large eggs, beaten

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (16-ounce) can chocolate syrup

Mint layer:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

2 drops green food coloring

Glaze:

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons butter

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare bottom layer, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and salt; stir with a whisk. Combine granulated sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons water, vanilla, eggs, and chocolate syrup in a medium bowl; stir until smooth. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring until blended. BATTER WILL BE VERY THIN! Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 23 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
3. To prepare mint layer, combine powdered sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, and next 3 ingredients (through food coloring) in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth. Spread mint mixture over cooled cake. (Kylie prefers the non-mint version: she substitutes vanilla extract for the mint extract.)
4. To prepare the glaze, combine the chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until melted, stirring after 30 seconds. Let stand 2 minutes. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mexican Hot Dogs

Plain hot dogs are ok. But if you want to take it up a notch, this is the way to go! These are street vendor style hot dogs--very common in Mexico. They are wrapped in bacon and topped with any of these favorites: chopped tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, pickles, guacamole, beans, ketchup, mustard. Another favorite for the kids!

Ingredients:
bacon
hot dogs
mayonnaise
any of the above toppings

Wrap the bacon around the hot dog and cook it in a skillet until the bacon is cooked. Spread mayo on the bun and add the hot dog and toppings. Delicious!

Salsa

This is my mom's salsa recipe. You will totally be surprised at how simple it is! I made some yesterday and it's all gone now! It is so good!

1 28 oz can of whole tomatoes
1 can of "El Pato" Sauce
4-5 chopped green onions
1 handful of cilantro, chopped
1/2 lime
salt, to taste


Chop tomatoes in blender until desired consistency. Pour into a bowl and add the El Pato sauce. (This is found in the Latin Section of the grocery store, and most grocery stores carry it. I'll add a picture to the bottom of this post.) Add green onions and cilantro. Squeeze 1/2 lime into it. Add salt to taste and stir.

See! Extremely easy! Even my little brother makes this. I think I'm going to make some more tomorrow. We still have lots of chips left. : )