Getting Creative with Snow

This is how some Minnesotans show their creativity with snow.

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Rich Chocolate Brownies

Cook's notes: A spur of the moment invite to a party at the lake forced me to be creative. I only had basic ingredients on hand. Remember a grocery store trek in this up north country for me is 20 miles round trip. 

Since most of my cookbooks and recipes were in a different location, I did an Internet quick search. This recipe comes from Taste of Home magazine. It is so easy to put together using only one bowl for preparation. I had left over chocolate frosting in the freezer.

Some add ins were nuts, chocolate chips and sprinkles. I mixed red and green sprinkles together and put on top of frosting to give the brownie a more festive look. 
The brownies must have been good since I left the party with an empty plate.

Brownie Ingredients:

• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 large eggs at room temp
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup melted butter
•  3/4 cup flour
• 1/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/3 cup chopped nuts
• 1/2 cup mini or regular chocolate chips
• optional: 1 TB. Kahlua

Brownie Directions:

• Line a 8 x 8 glass pan with foil that has been greased
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• In a large bowl beat sugar, eggs and vanilla for 3-5 minutes to increase the volume. Beat in melted butter and Kahlua, mix well
• Combine the flour, salt, cocoa and baking powder. Add to batter and mix well
• Fold in nuts and chips
• Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 23 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of center clean
• Cool brownies in pan for 10 minutes, lift foil out 
• Place brownies on foil to cool on a wire rack

Frosting Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 TB. Kahlua

Frosting Directions:

• In a saucepan add milk, sugar, butter and chips
• Over medium heat bring to a boil stirring frequently
• Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes
• Remove pan from stove, stir in powdered sugar and vanilla
• Beat until smooth, add more milk if necessary
• Add in Kahlua
• Freeze any leftover frosting