Mini Peanut Butter Brownies FAIL

Well, that was dumb.

This one I'll tell completely though picture captions!

So, it all started with this mess. Remember the amazing PB Cupcakes I posted about a little while back? Well, this goop was the first attempt at the frosting for said cupcakes. I added WAY to much peanut butter and then let it sit on the counter for a couple of hours until it started to ooze oil.

Now, I know that it's still perfectly fine, it's just not pretty which means I can't use it as a frosting for cupcakes. I then decided to use a box of brownie mix and this stuff to make these awesome little bite size treats that I was going to call "Brownie Peanut Butter Cups" I put a large star tip in the corner of a disposable pastry bag and then filled it with the gunk.

 

This is the brand I used, because it was on sale.

I decided that adding a Banana would make the brownies more moist and add a nice flavor.

 

Mashed Banana

I prepared the brownie mix according to the package direction, and added the mashed banana. That was my first mistake, I should have added the banana first then gradually added the other ingredients until it mixed up right.

I filled Tablespoon full batter into the mini wells *feels like I'm missing somethin* Looks good, oven is preheated to 350.

I squeeze the filling into the center of each little cake *still feels like I forgot something* they look awesome! I pop them into the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes. I take them out and cool them. When they're finally cool enough to eat I try to pop one out.

And then remember what it was I had forgotten. I had forgotten to grease the pan. Me, Ilsa! The gal who's been baking since I was like 6 forgot to freckin grease the pan!

You can imagine how frustrated I was. We managed to pry them out one at a time, they weren't pretty but MAN did they taste every bit as good as I had hoped. Next time I WILL grease the pan!

I hoped you enjoyed this Fail Friday post!

May your tummy's always be full and you kitchen a disaster.

P.S. Any new failures this week?

P.S.S. Don't forget to subscribe or join!

Just because you gotta eat cheap dosen't mean you gotta eat crap.

Chicken Taco Bake with Home Made Tortilla Chips and Salsa(not home made)

Sorry for the bad quality pictures, I'm still learning about food photography and I was in a hurry to get these ones done.

 

Have you visited GroceryBudget101.com? You should! She has the section on 50 dollar menu helps where you can post your zip code and 3 grocery shops that you go to and she'll check the local adds and plan a shopping trip for you. I was picked for San Antonio! Here's the link to my list

This week I'm excited to announce that my grocery budget was 74.84 for over a weeks worth of meals (B,L and D). Of course a HUGE thank you to the gal over at GroceryBudget101.com for really showing me how to use my local store sales to put together a meal list. 

Up until I ran accross her blog's I had been making a menu and THEN making a list and seeing if the adds had what I needed, which 80% of the time they didn't. Once I was at the store the savings addict in me would kick in and I would see all the good prices on food and fill my cart with the sales in addition to what I already needed, that ran my grocery budget up to about $150-$200 per WEEK! And we would still need to buy extras on things like Milk and Eggs as we needed them. Well, that's just too freakin much to be paying on food.

Our goal from here on out is to prepares meals based on what the local stores have on sale, did I mention that GB101.com found a new store for me to shop at that has AMAZING sales? It's called La Fiesta and it's on the corner of Military and Marbach for those who are here in SA.

Here's on of the meals we're having this week.  Enjoy!

Chicken* Taco Bake

Recipe Source: Taste of Home Best Ever Casseroles

• 2 cups coarsely crushed corn chips
• 1 can refried beans
• 2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese, divided
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (original recipe called for turkey but, I had just cooked a roast chicken so, I had leftover meat)
• 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 1 medium tomato

I didn't have taco seasoning so I used my go-to. 1 tbls Chili Powder and 1 tsp Cumin.

1. Place corn chips in a greased shallow 2 1/2qt backing dish. Place refried beans in a small saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until heated through. Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup cheese and salsa. Spread over chips.
2. In a large bowl, combine the chicken with the taco seasoning; sprinkle over bean mixture. Top with remaining cheese. Sprinkle with onion. Bake, uncovered at 400 for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted. I topped mine with about 2 cups of lettuce and sour cream because I didn't have tomato's.

 

Home Made Corn Tortilla Chips

Recipe Source:  Sandra Lee

• 15 corn tortilla's 
• Canola oil spray
• Salt

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut each tortilla into 8 triangular portions. Arrange in a single layer on sheet pans. Spray with canola oil cooking spray to help them crisp up, sprinkle with salt and bake until crisp and lightly browned about 10 minutes. Allow to cool and serve with salsa.

The family review was pretty good, Abby didn't want it at first but once she tried it she was good.

It was pretty cheap to make like less the $2 a serving cheap (although I'm not 100% on that) I hope you enjoy it.

May your Tummy's always be full and your wallets be fuller.

P.S. What are your money saving secrets when it comes to grocery's? How much are you able to save?

Childhood Favorite, from my childhood

 Octopi on a Cloud

Did your mom every make you these when you we're a kid? No, OF COURSE NOT! That's because they were invented by my mama! And up until today have been a closely guarded Larsen Family secret. 

Well, boys and girls, hold tight because I'm about the blow the lid off of this mother!

I have such fond memory's of eating these and I hope that you're children will enjoy them as much as mine do.

Get out your hot dogs, what ever you favorite brand is.

Now, make 2 cuts to form four legs

Now, cut each leg in half so that you'll have 8 eggs.

Then toss them all into a pot of water and bring it to a boil.

While the Octopi are boiling make up some instant mashed potato's. I always like to add about 1/4 cup to the mashed taters because it gives it a nice little tang.

Boil the Octopi until the tentacles start to curl, once that happens their done. Take them out and place them on their clouds (mashed potatoes in case you were wondering). Be sure to give them eyes and a mouth, we served ours with corn on the side of course you can use any veggie you like.

When I fed them to Lissy at first she just sat there and giggled at it.

The girls thought it was great!

 ENJOY!
May your tummys always be full and you days filled with giggles.