Mr. Flavor Bakes? Fudge Brownie-Banana Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae

First off, Happy Valentine's Day! It's important to show love all 365 days of the year, and we all know it's a Hallmark holiday- but it nice to be a bit more gushy on this chocolatey romantic day! We honestly do not have anything planned. We worked, paid a ginormous bill, and budgeted- how romantic! Paying bills is sexy to me...ok not really...

Saturday, my daughter wanted ice cream after a cold day's out at the playground. She really does ask for random things at random times. She asks for sausages when she first wakes up, or asks where's my doughnut before we kiss her goodnight. Haha...food is always on her mind!  Anyway, she asked for ice cream- BANILLA ice cream to be precise. For some reason when she asked for it, I became nostalgic for Baskin Robbins Hot Fudge brownie Banana Sundae. Not sure what the name is exactly, all I know is I ate it by the bucket-loads during my first pregnancy. When we told the little ones about the dessert plan, they were most certainly down.

The brownie recipe was my first successful baking recipe  a few years back. It's posted here with some changes.  This time, my husband and I agreed thinner brownies are better for this and we also added about 1/3 cup of semisweet chocolate chips to the batter. Use any brownie recipe you like. This one is a good one, though! Also, if cooking in a 13 by 9 pan bake for about 17-23 minutes.

The husband took the lead on this one and he didn't do bad at all :) Great way for us to spend some much needed time together, too. Happy Valentine's Day! This is great for anytime of the year if you ask me ;) We forgot to buy heavy cream to make whipped cream, but you don't really need it. Unless you're kinky like that ....

You will need:
A Brownie Recipe
Vanilla Ice Cream- homemade or purchased (we bought Haegen-Daaz)
2 ripe bananas
Your choice of toppings such as melted semi-sweet chocolate, toasted walnuts, whipped cream cherries, etc

Directions:
Once brownies are slightly cooled, cut 'em up, top with ice cream, sliced bananas,  melted chocolate and nuts (or whatever you want)

And voila! Easy peasy husband pleasy ;)



His toes are curlin' ;)

Enjoy!!!

Sweet Potato Cheesecake Brownies

I love sweet potatoes, brownies, and cheesecake. I've made them all many times on separate occasions, but never together. Last weekend while reading through David Lebovitz's Facebook Fan Page and came across a post where a fan commented about the brownies. I checked out the post and I knew that I had to make them. His photography is absolutely inspiring and hunger-inducing, so this was immediately put on my bake this NOW list.

I wanted the brownies to have a autumn vibe and  I've never even heard of sweet potato cheesecake until I did a bit of research and still there weren't many recipes. Or maybe I am just horrible at Google? Anyway, it's always about the pumpkin. I like pumpkin, but I am a sweet potato girl, for sure! 

Overall, I did not do much tweaking to this recipe at all. Just added the sweet potato, cinnamon, and a wee bit more vanilla. This tasted so good that after the first bite I started breakdancing! When I taste incredible food, humming or dancing is a natural reaction! Guess that's why my husband never takes me out to eat. These moist decadent, squares from heaven has that effect, just warning you :)

Sweet Potato Cheesecake Brownies

Inspired by David Lebovitz

Ingredients

1 lb sweet potato(es)

6 T unsalted butter cut into pieces

4 oz semisweet chocolate 55% to 60% cocoa

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/2 cup flour

1 T cocoa powder

1/8 t salt

1 t vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Sweet Potato Cheesecake

8 oz cream cheese at room temperature

1/2 cup pureed sweet potato

1 egg yolk, room temperature

5 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F or 180C

Wash, dry, then prick sweet potato with a fork. Place in oven and allow to roast for up to an hour or until soften and easily pierced.

Allow to cool, then puree with a potato masher or spoon. Set aside.

Line an 8 inch square pan with foil, but allow at least 1 inch to hang from the sides.

Lightly spray or butter pan, set aside.

Mix in the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and beat in 2/3 cup sugar then the eggs.

Mix in the flour mixture, then vanilla and chocolate chips. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.

In a separate bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sweet potato puree, the yolk, 5 tablespoons of sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Distribute the cream cheese mixture in 6 dollops around brownie mixture then take a spatula and swirl the cream cheese into the chocolate batter. Add 2 more dollops if needed.

Bake for 45 to 55 minutes checking after 40 minutes. Test with a toothpick through the middle if comes out clean.

Hope you try this or just try David's version in the link above! It's amazing! Gwon' now chilren!

Deep Dish Brownies with an Orange Twist

Pudgy meets Fudgy, originally uploaded by YummySommer.

These brownies are most certainly a family treat! They disappear even faster than it takes to prep. And as you can see, it's quite difficult to take a photo of without little chubby baby hands in the way!

This is the go to dish on a lazy baking day! Easy doubled, tripled. or even quadrupled- if you roll like that :)


Prep Time:10 minutes

Cook Time: 40-45 minutes


Original Recipe Yield 12 bars
Inspired from Food Network's How to Boil Water

Ingredients

4oz unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup of unsalted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoons of table salt
2 large cold eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
a dash of orange extract (optional)
1 cup all purpose flour
Directions

Preheat your oven to 325 F. Place oven rack on lowest shelf. Place aluminum foil in an 8 inch square pan. Butter foil.
Melt butter and chocolate in the microwave for 2 minutes in a microwavable safe bowl. Stir, then continue to microwave or an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Careful not to overcook chocolate or else it will become grainy. You could also melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan with a inch of simmering water. Stir occasionally until chocolate is melted.
Now, stir brown sugar, 1/4 cup of white sugar, and salt into chocolate mixture until well incorporated. Next, stir in eggs one at a time. Stir each egg well before adding the next. Stir in vanilla extract and a dash of orange extract.
Now carefully stir in flour and remaining 1/4 cup of white sugar. Be sure not to overmix or else brownies will become hard and not super ooey gooey moist.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes. Brownies are ready when toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the brownies.
Allow to cool on wire rack.
Enjoy the taste and smell!!!