Fun Food Friday- Can't Leave Alone Bars

My good friend Steph introduced me to these amazing bars.  She also happened to be the one who introduced me to Steve :) and actually I met both these bars and Steve right around the same time. :)  They are called Can't Leave Alone Bars because seriously, if they are in front of you you just can't help but have another (I'm pretty sure the first time I had them, when Steph made them and brought them to a BBQ at Steve's seminary house, her and I ate at least half the pan :)).  When I worked at Providence Christian College I would make cookies twice a week for before chapel and these were definitely a favorite of the students.  They really are pretty easy to make, the only thing that takes a little time is smashing the batter for the top, but they are soooo worth it! :)  Enjoy!

 

 

Ingredients: French Vanilla Cake Mix, Oil (I use Canola Oil but you can also use Vegetable Oil), Eggs, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Butter, Chocolate Chips

Cut 1/4 cup butter into cubes and put in a microwave safe bowl

Add 1 cup of chocolate chips...

And a can of sweetened condensed milk

Microwave on high for 45 seconds, take out and stir, and continue microwaving at 30 second intervals until butter and chips are melted and it is nice and smooth

In a separate bowl add the cake mix...

2 eggs...

and 1/2 cup of Canola (or Vegetable) oil

Mix until thick batter forms

Divide the batter into 3rds.

Put 2/3 the batter into a greased 9x13 pan.  The batter is very sticky so you either need a very slick spatula or just spray your spatula with cooking spray.

Pour the chocolate mixture on top of the batter...

And smooth it out

Take chunks of the remaining batter and smash in your hand to cover the chocolate mixture.  Again, the batter is very sticky so I use a glove (or if I don't have any gloves in the house I just use a sandwich bag) and spray it with cooking spray to smash the batter.

It should look like this.  Notice it doesn't completely cover the top.

Then take a knife and make nice swirls through the batter

So it looks like this.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes.  

The batter will still jiggle when shaken, but as it cools it will set.

And there they are, oh, they look so good.  Unfortunately they are for my husband to take on his service trip he's going on tomorrow so I don't get any.  I might just have to make another batch for me and my mom and sister to enjoy:).  One thing to note, you do need to let it cool for about an hour so the chocolate will set.  I know, a lesson in patience. :)

Thank you Steph for introducing me to these amazing bars...oh, and my husband. :) 

I love them both very much! :)

 

 

I figured especially for recipes like this it might be easier for you to actually have the recipe to copy instead of trying to write it from the blog, so here it is:

 

Can't Leave Alone Bars

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 pkg French Vanilla Cake Mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

 

In a microwave safe bowl, combine butter, chocolate chips and milk.  Microwave on high for 45 seconds.  Take out and stir well.  Continue to do this until chips and butter are melted.  Stir until smooth.  In another bowl combine cake mix, eggs and oil.  Press 2/3 of mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.  Pour chocolate mixture on top of dough in the pan (does not have to be cool).  With the remaining dough smash with greased hands and cover the chocolate mixture.  Take a knife and cut through the top dough to make swirls.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes until very lightly browned.  Let cool for an hour for chocolate to set. 

Then dig in and beware- these bars cannot be left alone. :)

 

Week 18/ 4 months

 

 

I just love these boots- had to do a close-up :)

 

(Stats from 4 month appointment on Monday)

Jonathan (left)- 16 lb 11 oz (70%)  25.5" long (65%)

David (right)- 13 lb 15.5 oz (20%) 24" long (10%)

 

I read in a couple of books that the first 4 months with twins is the hardest and after that it starts getting easier- I kind of hoped that the easier part would kick in on Sunday when they turned 4 months, yeah, it didn't. :) 

 

Both boys had very good 4 month check-ups.  Doctor says they are doing great which is wonderful to hear!  And they both did great with their shots.  We had a couple of firsts this past week.  Jonathan rolled over for the first time from his tummy to back last Wednesday night.  He was pretty proud of himself.  Both boys also started on solids last Wednesday night.  Neither of them finished their bottle after their nap so I decided they needed a little something more so they tried baby oatmeal and they have been doing really well with it.  All three boys (and myself) got a cold a few days ago so that has hindered their eating a little bit but it's been going pretty good.  Otherwise we just have been dealing with all 3 having colds and teething.  But when I get frustrated or irritated with my children they go and do this:

 

And my heart melts at how much Micah loves them and how much Jonathan and David adore him (as much as 4 months old can adore someone:)).  That's actually the reason why David is looking away on most of the pictures, because Micah was in the room and he would much prefer looking at Micah than at me.  We are truly blessed by this precious life the Lord has given us with our boys. 

 

Micah had to get in on the pictures

 

David chill'n after his photo shoot

He also took it upon himself to make sure Jonathan had no drool on his face for his picture :)

 

*I apologize for my scatter brain in this blog, it's been a long day :) I realize why I usually do these in the afternoon and not at 9 at night after a long day with sick/teething kids and GEMS :)





Fun Food Friday- Grandma's Roast for Valentine's Day Dinner with my Boys

We're not really all that into Valentine's Day in the Bussis household but I did think that it would be fun to have a nice dinner with all my boys.  I decided to make my Grandma Vanden Heuvel's roast for the occasion.  One year for my Grandpa's birthday Grandma made this roast and I absolutely loved it.  Being a good Dutch girl, I love roast and potatoes, but it makes such a big mess at the end with all the dishes for gravy and the mashed potatoes.  Especially when we have people over I like to have all this dishes done so my kitchen isn't a big mess.  This roast is made ahead of time and you don't need gravy for it, so you can make whatever kind of potatoes you make (which lately for me means the Pioneer Woman's Au Gratin Potatoes :)).  So here you go Grandma's Roast- Enjoy!

Ingredients: Roast (I like to use a Chuck Roast, about 3 pounds), onion (sliced),

Can of Tomato Soup, Vinegar, Mustard

Cook the roast however you normally do.  I like to cook mine in a CrockPot- 4 hours on low seasoned with salt and pepper

After I put the roast in the CrockPot (didn't take me all that long) I walked back into the living room and found this :) I guess Jonathan had a busy morning.

Shred the meat.  I find it easiest to do it when the meat is still warm and just dig in and use your hands. :)

For the sauce mix a can of Tomato Soup...

A cup of Brown Sugar...

2 Tablespoons of Vinegar

and 1 Tablespoon of mustard

(the recipe calls for dry mustard but I like to use Dijonaise because it gives it a little kick).

Stir together till smooth

Grill up the onion slices with some butter

Add to the meat

Mix the meat and onion with the sauce

And put in a baking dish.  You can make it the day ahead or earlier in the day.  Cook at 350 for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

The finished product next to the yummy potatoes, a perfect match :)

Our Valentine's Dinner

Me and my boys all ready for our dinner

This is a terrible picture, but what I was trying to show was how Micah put his cloth napkin on his lap, it was so cute.

David decided to get comfy for the meal

What a meal-Grandma's Roast, Strawberry Fluff Salad, a biscuit and Au Gratin Potatoes (if you want the recipe for those, check it out here- http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/01/perfect-potatoes-au-gratin/ - I add bacon bits with the cheese). 

David and Jonathan got yummy Valentine's meal too- Cereal :)

Micah could not WAIT till we were done with dinner so he could finally blow out the candles.  He kept trying all during dinner to blow them out from his seat.

Me with one of my cute Valentines (David)

And just so you don't think I skimped out on dessert- Strawberry Cheesecake