April 21st...

Today has many meanings, but to our family there are two important things...Kyle's birthday and Muster. On April 21st each year, Aggies from all over the world gather together to remember Aggies that have passed away in the past year. Today is also Kyle's birthday. He always mentions that he was born to be an Aggie since he was born on Muster.

I am so very lucky to have a wonderful, caring, compassionate husband. He has a quiet personality, so sometimes I feel like things revolve around me and Taryne and he is fine with that. However, today is a day that I try to make all about Kyle. I got up early (and I say early because Kyle has to be at work at 7) and made breakfast for Kyle. And then, as soon as he left for work, I made these amazing brownies. I don't normally toot my own horn, but these brownies are awesome and super easy to make.

I found this recipe over a year ago on Bakerella. You take a brownie mix and mix it per the box instructions and pour into the pan. Then mix up a package of chocolate chip cookie dough mix per package instructions and drop by spoonfuls on top of the brownie batter. Bake according the brownie instructions. Once it has cooled completely, frost with a chocolate ganache. The recipe for the ganache is on the link above.

Here are some pics of the yummy brownies...

Brownies once they were out of the oven

Butter and heavy cream heating up for the ganache

Semi sweet chocolate chips waiting for the butter and cream

Brownies with the ganache on top

Brownies on the cake plate ready to go to Kyle

So Taryne and I took this plate of brownies to Kyle at work to surprise him for his birthday. He was surprised...I had thought that he might not share with his co-workers that it was his birthday, but someone knew because there was a cake there as well.

So, Kyle, even though you rarely read this blog, Happy Birthday and Taryne and I love you sooo much!

Until next time...Gig'em!

Valentine goodies...

Kyle and I are not too big on Valentine's Day. We typically go out to dinner for said holiday, but we always go on some OTHER day to avoid the madness that includes 45,000 college students. But for work I try to go all out...or at least bring something...

Every year I search through the pre-made Valentine boxes available at my local Target and my only rule is to get something fun. One year I bought Valentines that turned into the little football game with the triangle shaped football...too fun...the Valentine even became a goalpost. Another year I got Valentines with tattoos...too fun, right? Well, this year, I found little Tinkerbell Valentines that had little flower pot shaped pieces to attach to the Valentine. Each of these pieces contained flower seeds and if you soak it in water and plant, you have beautiful flowers! I also try to make some sort of sweet to go with my store bought Valentines. 

This year I decided to make brownies...but I couldn't just give little squares for Valentine's Day...I had to make them festive!

I decided to make things sort of easy on myself and I baked my brownies from a mix. I made 2 pans of brownies. I made sure to line the pan with foil (that was liberally coated with cooking spray) so I could easily lift the brownies out of the pan to cool and to cut them into little hearts.

After the brownies were cooled, I used a heart cookie cutter and cut out as many little hearts as I could from each pan. I placed them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper to decorate.

My little helper...

I decorated each brownie with butter cream icing. To make the icing, I creamed the butter, added the powder sugar (a little at a time) and then added a little milk and almond extract. Once the icing was ready, I tinted the icing pink (for Valentine's Day) and scooped it into a piping bag with a star shaped decorating tip. I then piped the icing onto the hearts. I decided to make 2 different patterns to make things interesting.

Once everything was decorated and it had a chance to set up, I placed 3 brownies in a cellophane bag and tied it closed with a ribbon.

Butter Cream Icing

1 1/2 cups butter, softened to room temperature

4 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

Beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar until combined and creamy. Add the milk and the vanilla or almond extract. Color if desired.

Until next time...Gig'em!