Cool Layered Oreo Treat!

Humidity, heat, having to change all your clothes after walking to the mailbox.  Houston, summer is here!


When summer graces us with its presence, I am a bit reluctant to turn my oven on (it's already hot enough!).  This cool layered Oreo recipe is delicious and easy!  And no bake!

You'll need:

1 package of Oreos
1 8oz package of softened cream cheese
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of powdered sugar
1/2 tsp of vanilla
3 cups of milk
2 small boxes of instant vanilla pudding 
12 oz package of thawed Cool Whip


Note: If you want to make this dessert a little skinnier you can use fat free cream cheese, reduced fat oreos, light cool whip, sugar free pudding mix, fat free milk.  That way only the butter and sugar are the real culprits! 


Step-by-step: 
1. Crush the entire package of oreos til they are grated nicely.  (Feel free to steal a big chunk or two)
2. Blend together softened cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Reserve for later
3. In a second bowl, mix the 3 cups of milk and the instant pudding boxes.  Once the pudding starts to set and thicken add the thawed cool whip until smooth and mixed together.
4. Pour the pudding mixture into the cream cheese mixture and blend until smooth. 
5. Layer the creamy mixture with a layer of crushed oreos.
6. Chill until ready to serve! 


I had some family over so I made a few individual cups, and then with the leftover I made a good sized bowl.  If you're having guests, It's super cute to do the cups, if it's just for family or bringing to a big pot-luck a big serving would work :)


Pretty & Delicious!!

-Domesticated Duchess

Light Alfredo

I've decided to do a recipe swap with Tammi from Momma's Meals, where she makes one of my recipes and I try hers.  Then we blog about it and give each other our opinions on the recipes!

Of all Tammi's recipe I decided to make light alfredo, because Fettuchini Alfredo is my favorite italian dish except so much healthier! I made just a few adjustments to Tammi's recipe, and also decreased the amount because at my house it's just me and the hubs :)

This dish is really good if you are used to lower fat dishes - much better than the Lean Cuisine I normally eat to get my Alfredo-Fix.  It is less creamy than the alfredo sauce that Olive Garden serves, BUT it is drastically lower in fat and calories!   

You'll need:

2 servings of fettuchini pasta, cooked per package directions

1 tablespoon of butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced 

2 teaspoons of flour

1 tablespoon of cream cheese (fat free or 1/3 fat for even a healthier dish!)

1/2 cup of low fat milk

1/3 cup of parmesan cheese, grated

Salt and Pepper to taste

Reserve just under 1/2 cup of pasta water (to help thing out the alfredo sauce)

Step-by-step:

1. In a medium sauce pan, add butter and olive oil.  Allow butter to melt.

2. Once butter is melted, add minced garlic.  Let cook for about 2 minutes

3. Add flour and cook another minute.  You don't want the flour flavor, but need the flour for thickening.

4. Next, pour in milk, and whisk for about a minute.

5. Then add cream cheese and mix again, then add the parmesan cheese. Add a bit of salt and pepper.

6. After about 2 more minutes add the reserved pasta water to help thin it out.

7. Pour sauce in pasta and mix well. 

We ate the pasta with salad using low fat ranch! 

Domesticated Duchess

Co-Host!

I’m so excited to be a Featured Co-Host with Tammi from Momma’s Meals. Tammi is the Momma and Cook behind Momma Meals. Every so often she has what’s called “Featured Friday’s” each Friday she asks someone new to Co-Host with her.  All she does is choose a recipe from my yummy collection and makes it in her own kitchen for her family. The difference, is I decided to try one of her recipes too!!  Oh and it's not Friday yet :)


Then she posts pictures and comments about it! Sounds fun doesn’t it! Check it out here and be sure to come back and visit Tammi at Momma’s Meals where she posts lots of new recipes and writes about being a SAHM to her daughter Madison!! Let’s see what Tammi has cooked up from
my collection!


-DD

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

I’ve been on a peanut butter kick and can’t quit it. From light peanut butter pie to brownie peanut butter cups, I have been seriously addicted to peanut butter.

These peanut butters are delicious and simple!  The milk chocolate on top is so delicious and cannot be compared!

You’ll Need:

Peanut Butter Bar

1 stick of butter
1/3 cup of peanut butter

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 ¼ cup of flour

1 cup of oats (I actually think this would taste even better without oats)

Milk Chocolate Icing

6 tablespoons of butter

6 tablespoons of milk

1 ½ cups of white sugar

1 cup of chocolate chips

dash of Vanilla

Step-by-step:

Peanut Butter Bars

1. Cream butter, sugars, peanut butter, egg and vanilla until smooth

2. Add baking soda, salt, and slowly add in flour and oats (1/2 cup incriments).  Mix well, the dough will be very thick.

3. Press into a greased 9x13 pan.

4. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Start making the milk chocolate icing after the peanut butter bars start baking.

1. Melt butter, sugar, and milk in a small saucepan and bring to boil.

2. Allow to cook at a rolling boil for 30 seconds and immediately remove from heat

3. Add chocolate chips and vanilla to milk mixture, stirring frequently until chips are melted.

4.  As soon as the peanut butter bars are ready, pour chocolate immediately on top.

5. Cool completely and serve with a large glass of milk.

Hope you love it as much as my family did :)

-Domesticated Duchess

Bread Pudding

Everyone has some kitchen blunders, right? I once tried making bread pudding using some croissants from a local french bakery and it was an epic fail. I had actually never thrown away an entire dish... until my first attempt at bread pudding.  It was a sad day seeing all those delicious croissants in the trash.


After a year and half, I worked up the courage to try again.  I found a new recipe and made several adaptations. I also knew it was a success because while it was cooking it smelled so good my husband came out to see when it would be ready for taste testing.  Let's just say the whole thing was gone in three days flat :)

Gorgeous Bread Pudding! 

You'll need:
10 slices of Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Swirl Breads
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups of whipping cream
3/4 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of vanilla


Step-by-step:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 inch pan.
2.  Take the slices of bread and carefully slice off all the crusts (this makes it stale!!).  Discard the crust.

3.  Break the bread into small pieces and place in pan.  Drizzle the melted butter over the bread.  If desired, sprinkle with raisins.

4.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.  Mix.  Slowly add in the cream until smooth.

5.  Pour over the bread.  Use a fork to lightly push down the bread until the bread is soaked up the egg mixture. 

6.  Bake for about 45 minutes.
7.  If desired serve with fresh whipped cream and garnish with cinnamon! Or you can make your own rum sauce!

Enjoy!


-Domesticated Duchess

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

My favorite candy all time is a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup!  Every Halloween as children my brothers and would set up a trading booth as we negotiated with each other to get the most of our favorite treats.  My poor younger brother happens to be allergic to peanut butter, which I happened to monopolize on, due to my peanut butter cup obsession.

These treats are a remix on this yummy childhood treat, using brownies as a base!

You'll need:

Your Favorite Brownie Recipe (brownies needs to make a 9x13 portion)

1/2 - 3/4 cup of peanut butter (creamy!)

1/2 cup of chocolate chips

1/2 cup of peanut butter chips (Reeses are yummy!)

Step-by-step:

1. Make brownie recipe as called for

2. Grease a mini muffin pan and pour in the pan

3. Cook brownies at 350 for 13 minutes

4. Once out of oven and allow to slightly cool.  Then taking the back of a spoon push down making a hole for the peanut butter.

5. Melt peanut butter cup for 30 seconds in microwave and poor into the created hole of each mini brownie cup

6. Sprinkles chips on peanut part of each brownie

PS: I tried this with NUTELLA instead of peanut butter and my life was changed for the better :)

Enjoy!

-Domesticated Duchess

One Bowl Brownies

I love brownies.  I've tried many recipes (with chocolate chips to frosting covered).  This recipe was amazing because it only took one bowl and one spoon.  No blender, just easy and yummy!


These brownies are rich, fudge like, not cakey.  This brownie recipe is also my current favorite :)

You'll need:
4 - 1 oz unsweetened chocolate baking squares **
3/4 cup of butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 1/2 cups of white sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup of flour
1 teaspoon of vanilla extra
pinch of salt




If you don't have baking squares just use 3 tablespoons of cocoa + 1 tablespoon of oil or shortening per 1 oz square.


Step-by-step:
1. Preheat oven to 350 and line bottom of an 8 or 9 inch pan (depending how thick you prefer your brownies) with aluminum foil. 
2. Microwave the chocolate squares and butter in a large bowl in 30 second increments until you reach two minutes. Make sure to mix at each interval!

3. Whisk in sugars. Add eggs one at a time. Then add vanilla

4. Add flour and pinch of salt

5. Pour into prepared pan and cook for about 40-44 minutes. 


Licking the bowl!
DD