Marshmallow Crunch Brownie Bars

Marshmallow Crunch Brownie Bars

recipe from Brown Eyed Baker

Yield: 24 bars
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time:  25-30 minutes

Ingredients

For the Brownie Base
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • 2/3 cup unsalted butter
  • 1¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided
  • 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Toppings
  • 1 bag (10½ ounces) miniature marshmallows
  • 1½ cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter (don’t use natural peanut butter)
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1½ cups Rice Krispies cereal

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch pan.
  2. For the brownies: In a medium saucepan, melt the unsweetened chocolate, butter and ¾ cup of the semisweet chocolate chips over medium heat. Stir occasionally while melting. Set aside and cool for 5 minutes.
  3. In a medium bowl sift the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl , whisk the eggs thoroughly. Add the sugar and vanilla and whisk until well blended. Stir the melted ingredients into the egg mixture, mixing well. Stir in the dry sifted ingredients and mix well. Fold in the remaining ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the corner of of the pan comes out with moist crumbs.
  5. Remove the brownies from the oven and immediately sprinkle the marshmallows over them. Return the pan to the oven for 3 more minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, place the milk chocolate chips, peanut butter, and tablespoon of butter in a medium saucepan. Melt over low heat, stirring constantly, until completely melted. Remove from heat, add the Rice Krispies and mix well. Allow to cool for 3 minutes.
  7. Spread the mixture evenly over the marshmallow layer. Refrigerate until chilled before cutting.

Indian Rice Pudding

Indian Rice Pudding

Indian Rice Pudding
recipe from foodnetwork.com, courtesy of Aarti Sequeira

Ingredients:
1/2 cup basmati rice
6 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon rosewater, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons minced unsalted pistachios or almonds, plus extra for garnish

Directions:
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, bring the rice, milk, and cardamom to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a heat-safe spoonula to help keep the milk from burning.

Reduce the heat so that the milk is gently simmering and cook for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring often. The rice should be tender and the milk will have reduced by half, giving a porridge-like consistency.

Add the sugar, rosewater or vanilla, and pistachios. Stir and turn off the heat. Serve either warm or chilled, garnished with extra pistachios. Goes well with fresh fruit too.

Pilaf for a Curry Banquet

Pilaf for a Curry Banquet

recipe from foodnetwork.com, courtesy of Nigella Lawson, Nigella Feasts

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves
3 cardamom pods, bruised
1 cinnamon stick, broken into 3
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 1/2 cups basmati rice
4 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted, for garnish
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

Directions:
Cook the onion in the oil, in a deep saucepan with the cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and cumin, until the onion is slightly browned and soft. Keep the heat medium to low and stir frequently; this should take about 10 minutes.

Add the rice and move it about in the oily spiced onion until it is slicked and glossy, then pour in the stock and bring the pan to the boil. Cover the pan with a lid and cook over the lowest heat possible for 20 minutes.

Turn off the heat, take the lid off, cover with a tea towel and clamp the lid back on the saucepan. You can leave the rice to rest like this for at least 10 minutes, and up to about 1 hour. Fork the rice through when you are ready to serve it, scattering the toasted sliced almonds and cilantro on top.