Brownie Cookies from 10.5 oz Envelope of Mix

I see lots of recipes that call for Brownie Cookies from an 18oz-ish box of mix. I like to buy the 10.5 oz envelopes instead, and since I know I'm not alone... I thought I'd help other folks out with the smaller recipe. With the holidays approaching, this is a nice starting point for cookies. Options: We can add nuts (chopped mixed in or on top), crushed candy canes (maybe top with a white candy melt once out of the oven and sprinkle with candy canes), M&M's, a frosting that firms up nicely, and of course festive sprinkles. Sounds like a little something for everyone:@)

I chose a whole pecan (walnuts would be good too), a dusting of powdered sugar, and plain chocolate. I also liked making them small, two or three bites. 

There is wiggle room on the baking time with these cookies. For softer cookies choose 9-10 minutes. If you like crisper cookies, add a couple extra minutes. If you're curious and think you'd like to make them for the holidays, I suggest making a test batch... It will help you figure out your favorite baking time, and I'm sure your crew would love to try them out:@)

Brownie Cookies from 10.5oz Mix

10.5 oz brownie mix

3 Tblsp vegetable oil

1 egg

2 Tblsp A/P flour

*Nuts optional

1. Mix everything together, let sit for 15-30 minutes in the refrigerator.
2. *If adding nuts, they can be mixed into the batter or sprinkled on top of cookies before baking.
3. Add small (bing cherry size) dallops of dough to cookie sheets, 2" apart. I ended  up with about 28-30, 2" wide cookies.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for about 9-10 minutes. 
5. Remove from oven, let sit on sheet for a couple minutes, then remove to cooling rack.
6. Store in air tight container.

Enjoy a cookie and

Have a Happy Day:@)

Football Shaped Chocolate Chips

Have you seen the new Nestle Toll House Football Shaped Chocolate Chips? I found them in that center isle where Walmart puts the holiday and seasonal baking items. A fun idea to add a little something extra to our next batch of cookies for the football party:@)

Grab it when you see it and

Have a Happy Day:@)

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies & other pink desserts...

I seem to always have a pouch of brownie mix in the cabinet, it's my one favorite store bought mix. And then my coworker picked up Red Velvet Peanut Butter Cups on clearance after Valentine's Day... So I just had to try some Peanut Butter Cup Brownies. I'm guessing the pink topped candy is out for Easter, and there's green at Halloween... So this is a fun way to add a little something-something extra to a favorite sweet snack:@) I used some pink, some regular peanut butter cups, and made some plain brownies. And we all know sprinkles make it a party...

Best Tips: If using cupcake liners, be sure to use the foil ones. Paper will stick. If using sprinkles, for best presentation, shake them on before adding the peanut butter cups, let's all learn from Lynn's mistakes...

Whether it's a Barbie birthday, 

planning for Easter,

or dreaming of spring...

Other Pink Desserts:

Two ingredient Strawberry Cupcakes, Pink Jello Fluff, Chocolate Covered Marshmallows, Sugar Cookies with Jello Frosting

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Your favorite brownie mix

Ingredients called for in the mix

Unwrapped Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups

Foil liners

1. Make brownie batter.
2. Place liners in cupcake tin.
3. Fill liner about half way, not more.
4. Variable: Baking time... I did 350 for 25-27 minutes. You'll have to try to gauge doneness as best you can, a test batch is always a good idea before a party:@)
5. Remove to rack to cool.

Pour a cuppa, enjoy a snack and 

Have a Happy Day:@)

Chunky Monkey Brownies -One Ripe Banana Recipe

I grabbed a quick pic of these Chunky Monkey Brownies just so I could share the idea with Ma after the holidays, didn't plan to post it, but here we are... Super simple, just substitute the oil with mashed banana and top them with salted roasted peanuts. Trust me folks, the salt really makes these brownies pop with flavor:@) This is another great way to use up that one ripe banana on the counter. What if it's a smaller one and it doesn't fill the 1/3 cup? Top it off with the oil. Easy-peasy. These brownies were thoroughly enjoyed by my crew at dinner. I do think they are best eaten the day made, but doubt that will be an issue!

Chunky Monkey Brownies from Mix

8x8 brownie mix

Plus ingredients called for, except...

1. Fill measuring cup for oil with mashed banana. Top with oil if needed to fill cup.
2. Mix brownies, pour batter into 8x8 baking dish.
3. Rough chop as many dry roasted salted peanuts as desired, sprinkle on batter.
4. Bake per package instructions.
5. Cool and serve.

Enjoy a treat and

Have a Happy Day:@)

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies

I thought it might be fun to a add a little fall flavor to my favorite Ghirardelli cookie recipe, and these Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies disappeared pretty quickly. How much pumpkin spice to use? Well, say it with me now... You know your crowd. Love pumpkin spice? Add 2 tsp. Spice mix a little old? Add 2 tsp (and please replace it. I feel pumpkin spice loses it's potency a lot faster then other spices). Otherwise, cut back a bit to just add a hint of warmth. This is really just a nice excuse to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies, and in my world that's comforting, and never a bad thing:@)

Want to really amp up the flavor? Use all chocolate chips then add a drizzle of melted white chocolate to the tops. Immediately sprinkle with pumpkin spice while it's still wet so the spices stick.

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 C butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
3/4 C brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 - 2 tsp pumpkin spice
2 1/4 C A/P flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (if using unsalted butter)
up to 2 C of chocolate chips-I mixed white and semi-sweet

1. Cream butter and sugars.
2. Add eggs, vanilla, pumpkin spice, mix well.
3. Add flour, baking soda and salt (if using). Mix until just incorporated.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets, about 2" apart.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Remove to cooling rack.

Enjoy a cookie and 

Have a Happy Day:@)

Jelly Belly Candy Corn & Candy Corn through the years...

When I was a kid, my two favorite candies were jelly beans and candy corn... My co-worker found Jelly Belly Candy Corn! And it's good stuff folks, kind of like a higher end candy corn:@) And I like the size too, just a little smaller than traditional candy corn, making it great for decorating treats.

And then I was curious, what else have we done with Candy Corn here at PIM through the years? Plenty:@) Click for recipes and ideas...

Candy Corn Cake ~ Sugar Cookies

No-Bake Sweet and Salty Fall Snack Mix

and Candy Corn Deviled Eggs

Barbie Candy Corn Dress Free Pattern

$ Store Candy Corn Container Recycled Tea Light:

End of Season-use it up: 

Candy Corn Fondue and 

Turkey Toes Thanksgiving Place Settings

📌My Candy for All Seasons Pinterest Board here.

📌Halloween Food Pinterest Board here.

Make something just for fun and

Have a Sweet Weekend:@)

Local Walmart Football Munchies and QVC Free Shipping...

Walmart is a regular part of my Saturday rounds and I thought I'd share some Football Theme'd snack items that caught my eye yesterday... Easy cute football cookies, the kids will love to help bake them:@)

Not sure, but I think(?) the football shaped gummies may be new this year...

Little Debbie Football Brownies:

And it's free shipping weekend on QVC,

Guys are hard to buy for folks...

How about something cool for his office or desk:

NFL hover helmet-

2 pack NFL branded t-shirts for about $21.50 a piece.

Gotta check for team availability.

🏈Let's start stocking up for parties and holidays...

And Have a Great Sunday:@)

Fall Planter & Seasonal Dollar Tree Fall Finds

I've been pulling plants out of the raised beds, only the jalapeno, parsley and one large marigold remain at this time. But I have still been watering the large planter, and it has some great fall color:@) This pic doesn't show just how huge the purple plant got... All I did was pick up a broken piece of stem that had about 4 leaves on it at the garden center. The poor thing had been stepped on and run over with carts. I rooted it in water then planted it outside. I am still tickled by the dollar store metal sunflowers, they add a little height, and the pumpkin is cute. This works for early fall until I add the Halloween Jack-O-Lantern:@)

Limited edition Pillsbury Perfectly Pumpkin Cookie Mix. These are flying off the DT shelves folks, don't hesitate or you'll miss them...

Werther's caramels in fall flavors:

And I'll be honest, not really sure of the connection between Barbie and these socks,  but... They are at Dollar Tree. They also have a ton of other name brand characters too, Halloween theme'd and for every day.

🎃Grab it when you see it, and

Have a Great Weekend:@)

National Zucchini Day! Zucchini Brownies

Did you know that tomorrow, August 8th, is National Zucchini Day? Gotta love it:@) If a neighbor happened to leave a bag of big beautiful zukes on your doorstep, don't fret, let's put them to good use and whip up some Zucchini Brownies. Super simple, start with your favorite brownie mix, use the ingredients called for on the label, and add some grated zucchini. That's it folks... The zucchini adds moisture, and you may find these a tad more cake like. But I have to say, as someone that has a tendency to over-bake brownies, I thought these were great, and they freeze very well.

Notes: Don't sweat the zucchini measurement, just grate a small one or help use up a monster club, anywhere from 3/4-1 C will work without a problem. I made an 8x8 mix and used about 3/4C, 9x13 would be about a cup. Peel the zucchini if desired, but I'm always tickled by the green specs in sweets:@)

📌My Zucchini Pinterest Board here.

Zucchini Brownies

Your favorite mix + ingredients called for

3/4-1 C grated zucchini

1. Mix up the brownies, fold in the zucchini.
2. Pour into pan with greased bottom.
3. Bake per instructions on package, or until toothpick comes out barely wet.
4. Cool and frost if desired.

🌻Enjoy a snack and 

Have a Happy Day:@)

Easy Cake Mix Bars -a.k.a. Last Minute Any Occasion Bars...

This idea was too simple to pass by without trying... These Easy Cake Mix Bars are a tasty treat that starts with a boxed cake mix. The original idea was to mix sprinkles into the batter mimicking a funfetti cake, I like adding them to the top of the batter for a more colorful presentation:@) I will suggest that you take a minute to press the sprinkles down gently into the batter before baking though. The recipe calls for a jelly roll pan, I used a 9x13 (a lot of other commenters used that size), I will try the 15x10 next time and update this post. This is the kind of treat that comes together quickly but will appeal to most people because it tastes like birthday cake, and let's say it, sprinkles are just fun! Don't hesitate to give it a try folks, I think you'll be pleased. And they are perfect not just for birthdays or sleepovers...

Change up the color of the sprinkles for holidays...

🏈And of course game day:@) 

While sprinkles or jimmies are best, I only had nonpareils in red, white, and blue so that's what I used. They worked fine too:@)

Try different cake and chip flavors, 

you know your crowd:@)

Easy Cake Mix Bars-from here

Yellow boxed cake mix

1 egg

1/2 C milk

1/3 C oil

1 C white baking chips

1/3 C sprinkles/jimmies or enough to cover top

1. Combine cake mix, egg, milk and oil. Mixture will be think.
2. Stir in chips and sprinkles if not saving them for the top.
3. Spread into greased 15 x 10 x 1" pan. Some comments have used a 9 x 13.
4. If adding sprinkles to the top, add them now.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Enjoy a snack and Have a Happy Day:@)

Kentucky Derby! Mint Julep Tea, Peach Pecan Spritz Cookies, & Barbie's Hat...

The Kentucky Derby is today at 6:45-ish, are you watching? May I suggest a little something smooth to sip on... This Mint Julep Tea was very nice:@) I've added my son's recommendation for a bourbon, and even a friendly little betting game if your crowd is into that sort of thing...

Maybe you'd prefer a cup of hot tea and nice little cookie... These Pecan Spritz Cookies with Peach and Bourbon Icing were very good, and look oh-so-fancy:@)

And if ~anyone~ wants to get dressed up and wear an extravagant hat, it would be Barbie:@) I found a pack of spotted craft feathers at the thrift store and thought they would be the perfect embellishment. I started with a crochet hat, added a small cluster of feathers anchored by a sheer organza ribbon bow, and of course, we have to have at least one satin rose for this race.

My picture tutorial for how to make a Barbie dress from 6" square of fabric can be found here. And Barbie says every southern lady should have at least one string of pearls... How to make a Barbie necklace here.

📌My Pinterest Boards here.

Enjoy the race, and 

Have a Happy Day😉

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting -Two Ingredient Frosting

The strawberry cream cheese spread kept catching my eye at the store, and I knew I'd have to come up with at least one thing to make with it... This Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting couldn't be easier, and everyone gave it a big thumbs up:@) I happened to whip up a brownie mix, but the frosting would be good with anything, and there is enough to easily cover a 9x13 pan. It only calls for two ingredients and about two minutes of your time. Gotta love that! It's sweet and fluffy, and you will taste the strawberries. You can adjust the sweetness as desired, and I love that we save a few calories by not adding butter. Don't hesitate to give this quick frosting a try folks, I think you'll like it. 

The icing will be pinker in person:

The cream cheese spread I used:

📌My Pinterest Boards here.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz tub Strawberry Cream Cheese Spread, softened

1/4 to 1/2 C powdered sugar-I used 1/4 C

1. Using electric beater, mix cream cheese to soften, then mix in sugar until light and fluffy. Taste and adjust sweetness-you know your crowd...

Enjoy an easy snack and 

Have a Happy Day:@)

I'm Joining:

Weekend Potluck

Baseball! Candle Ribbon Wrap, Krispie Cookies & Phillies Pinterest Board

I started a new Phillies Baseball Fun Pinterest Board, so this week's posts have had a bit of a baseball and tailgating theme... The next, no-brainer, idea for decorating the candle on my tiered tray, Wrap a Flameless Candle in Icon or Logo Ribbon. You only need about 10" of ribbon to cover a 4" wide pillar candle. I secured the ribbon closed with glue dots. And of course, this doesn't need to be sports theme'd, any pretty ribbon would be nice. Dollar Tree usually has a display of seasonal choices, as well as the glue dots:@) Planning a wedding, bridal shower, baby shower, etc? You could have custom ribbon printed up. But please, only use flameless candles or wrap it around glass jars...

Need a little snack that travels well...

May I suggest these Krispie Mmmm's Cookies.

Good stuff folks:@)

And finally,

You can see Barbie's trip to the ballpark HERE.

Let's start humming the song now...

📌All of my Pinterest Boards here.

⚾Make something just for fun, and

Have a Happy Day:@)

Weight Watchers 2 Ingredient Pizza Dough, BBQ Pork & Rice Krispy Treats-Small Batch Cooking

G-Mom-B always said, even if you live alone, you still have to cook for yourself. Yep, I do like to eat:@) So for today's ReView I thought I'd share a few easy ideas for serving one or two people. I was intrigued by this Two Ingredient Weight Watchers Pizza Dough and just had to give it a try-it's pretty darn good folks! Just unflavored Non Fat Greek Yogurt and self-rising flour... No self-rising flour? No worries, I've added a homemade version of that too. Boy I ♥ Pizza...

We don't have to make a huge pork shoulder to enjoy a nice BBQ Shredded Pork Sandwich... I simply tossed some country ribs into my 2 quart Crock Pot, sprinkled with equal parts garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika and two times as much seasoned salt. Add a few grinds of black pepper, add the lid, and cook on high for about 4 hours. Shred, slather with BBQ sauce, and enjoy:@) Even easier using a liner, just sayin'...

And for a snack...

An easy Half Batch of Rice Krispy Treats.

Eat well and

Have a Happy Weekend:@)

Easy Football Party Treats-Super Bowl! Candy, Cookies, Brownies, Marshmallows, etc...

If you've been around Pig In Mud for a while you know I love football theme'd foods and party ideas. And I'm especially fond of ~easy~ snacks for any occasion... So I thought we'd do a quick round-up of the easiest ways to bring a little fun to your Super Bowl Party. I'll start off with a no-brainer, purchased team color candy. And to help keep us on budget this year, both teams just happen to be red and yellow/gold:@)

My Dollar Tree Candy:

I like to cut these in half, 

making them bite size.

Does your store have Easter candy yet? Party City may also have some of these foil wrapped sports balls. Perfect little treats to add to charcuterie boards or serving bowls. 

These sprinkles are in the cake decorating section of Walmart. For some reason the red looks maroon and pink in this pic, they are a true red. The sprinkles can decorate baked goods, or you can dip pretzels, marshmallows, or purchased cookies, into melted chocolate, or candy melts, and then into the sprinkles.

Candy Coated Marshmallows with Sprinkles

or colored sugar.

A few more snack ideas:

Football Cupcake Decoration using store bought Icing ~ Football Spritz Cookies ~ Football Shaped Peanut Butter Dip ~ Football Shaped Large Brownie

So there we have just a few ideas to help make the party festive. I really don't have a team to root for this year, so I'll be watching for the E-Trade babies commercial and hoping I win a quarter in my office block pool:@) 

🏈Happy Super Bowl Weekend Everyone,

Have a Great Day:@)

♥Heart♥ Ideas... Barbie Valentine's Candy, Spritz Cookies, Crochet Ornaments, and...

For my Saturday ReView this week I thought I'd share a few ideas for heart shaped items. Time is flying and we're less than two weeks from Valentine's Day, amazing. I'd like to start with a little craft from foam cut-outs and beads. I happened to get brown beads in a grab bag from the thrift store, but anything would work to give the illusion of this Heart Shaped Box of Valentine's Day Candy for Barbie:@) Especially if you wrap some fun shapes in foil, nobody will know what color the original bead was.

I started with a 1 3/4" heart that was cut from 1/4" thick foam for the box, and a smaller 1 1/4" heart cut from thinner foam for the lid. I dug some of the foam out of the center of the larger heart. Then added Elmers Glue, placed some brown beads inside for candy and kept pressing them down so the lid would lay flat on top. Walmart has the foam heart shapes again this year.

A sparkly closed box of Valentine's candy...

Barbie says every girl likes to get candy on Valentine's Day😉 

How to make a gold dipped rose here.

I love the look! 

And I always encourage folks to keep their Spritz Cookie Press handy... Every set comes with a heart shaped disc. Pick your favorite recipe, add a little red sugar and wa-la, we have a quick seasonal treat:@)

My Spritz Pinterest Board Here.

Little Crochet Hearts start with a magic circle and come together fairly quickly (even for those of us that aren't that skilled at crochet). I love them because they make great ornaments for a seasonal tree, cute bunting, napkin ring toppers for tablescapes, and of course fun pillows or an easy handbag for Barbie:@)

And finally, if you can swing it, 

please treat yourself to some pretty flowers...

You deserve it:@)

💗Make something just for fun and 

Have a Happy Day💕