Gooey Peppermint Mocha Brownies

Oh Lordy, we have a winner here.  I took these to work (inspired by the shop's own peppermint mocha beverage) and they were a big hit.  My coworkers were joking about getting buzzed from the instant coffee on top of the chocolate (and whatever coffee drinks they'd already had that day).  These are gooey, satisfying, and with just a touch of peppermint and coffee flavor.  The soft peppermints really melt into the batter and add a great chewy texture to the brownies.  You'll love them!

I started off with these four ingredients:

I unwrapped the peppermint puffs and added the instant coffee:

Prepared the brownie batter and added in the instant coffee and crushed peppermint puffs:

Poured the batter into an 8x8 pan and placed whole peppermint puffs on top for extra flava.  This made it easy to cut into serving sizes, too.

Of course, being the eager beaver to try one straight out of the oven, I forgot all about photographing them until it was almost too late.  Almost.  Thus, the ugliest brownie was my model.  Oh well.  You get the idea - they're that good.

Peppermint Mocha Brownies - makes 12 brownies

Ingredients:

• Your favorite brownie recipe for an 8x8 baking pan
• 22 soft peppermint candies
• 1 packet Starbucks VIA or 2 tbsp. instant coffee/espresso

Directions:

• Prepare your brownie mix according to your recipe.
• Crush 10 peppermint candies in a baggie, and add to your brownie batter.
• Add Starbucks VIA or instant coffee/espresso to your batter, and stir well.
• Pour batter into prepared baking pan.  Evenly place 12 whole peppermint candies on top so you have 12 brownie servings laid out.
• Bake according to your recipe directions until they're done.  Cool and cut around candies to make your 12 brownie servings.
• Enjoy!

A Very Happy Thanksgiving

Hi blogger friends - I've missed you!  As you can probably tell from my lack of posting, it's been a busy few weeks in our household.  So although Thanksgiving was a few weeks ago, I still have lots to share.

Hubby and I trekked up to my parents' house in Irvine for the day.  I was lucky to have Tuesday afternoon through Thursday night off, so it felt like a real mini vay-cay.  We definitely needed it.

Since none of my extended family lives in SoCal, it was just the four of us for Thanksgiving dinner.  As usual, my parents cooked a turkey:

I contributed cornbread stuffing (the first time I made it, and it was DELICIOUS) and pecan pie, per Hubby's request (recipe to follow!).

It was also wonderful to spend time with this little guy:

This is my sweet cocker spaniel, Beau (a.k.a. Prince Beauregard XXV).  He's been my best buddy since we got him for Christmas when I was in 8th grade.  Beau just turned 13 in September, and his hearing is pretty much gone now, so it's sad to see him getting older :(  He's still as sweet as ever and just happens to have napping at the top of his to-do list every day now :)

Wake me when the turkey's ready!

The rest of our delicious spread included roasted veggies, my grandma's stuffing recipe, baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie from Costco.  Oh yeah :)

Catch ya later!