Cute Little Turtles :)

I don't like any baked good with nuts in it... except for these!! For my dad's 60th birthday and my grandpa's 87th I made these because they both LOVE nuts and chocolate.

Chocolate Pecan Turtles

makes about 30 bars

1 box Swiss or German chocolate cake mix

3/4 c. melted butter

1 can evaporated milk (1/3 c. and 1/3 c.)

1 c. finely chopped pecans

14 oz. of chewy candy caramels

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix cake mix with butter, beat in 1/3 c. evaporated milk. Put half of the mixture in a 9X13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 6 min.

Melt caramels over stove with 1/3 c. evaporated milk. Pour warmed caramel over the cooked mixture, then chocolate chips, and and then chopped pecans.

On wax paper spoon our remaining "cake" mixture, then roll out or pat out flat to be 9x13 in size. Once flat place on top of the chopped pecans, laying flat. Make sure no chocolate chips or pecans can be seen. Bake for about 18 minutes. Cool in fridge completely before cutting! Then gobble them up!

Ok, ok, ok!

When your pregnant friend says she wants a recipe - - you have to give it to her! Wouldn't want to take away from the cravings being met! Here you go, E....

Mint Brownies

1 c. butter

1/2 c. cocoa powder

2 tablespoons honey

4 eggs

2 c. sugar

1 3/4 c. flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Melt butter and mix in cocoa. Let cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix together. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Let cool.

Mint Icing

5 tablespoons butter

A dash of salt

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

2 1/3 c. powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon mint extract

Soften butter. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting.

After the brownies have cooled spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a little bit so the icing stiffens. Remove from freezer and add a layer of chocolate icing over the top.

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 c. butter

2/3 c. cocoa powder

3 c. powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Soften butter and combine all ingredients with mixer.

*A fun thing... you can add a junior mint or fresh mint leaf on the top of the brownies!

The Averys

We went to our friends house for dinner and I made this to take for dessert. In honor of them I named it... :)

Avery Chocolate Bundt Cake

Cake
1 box devil's food cake mix (I used the Pillsbury Moist Supreme)
1 box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 & 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup canola oil
3 eggs
1/4 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 oz.)

Combine first 7 ingredients. Mix well.
Add in chocolate chips with spoon.
Prepare bundt pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 42 minutes.
Let cake sit in pan for 20 minutes to cool.
Remove and place on cake plate.

Glaze
2 & 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbl. unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tbl. nonfat milk
1 tbl. butter, softened
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Combine butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder with mixer, in a medium microwave safe bowl.
Add vanilla. Add milk gradually until smooth.
Add melted chocolate chips. Mix well.
Microwave until warm (about 20 seconds).
Spoon over cake so it dribbles down the side and puddles.
*Garnish with fresh berries or dust cake with powdered sugar!