CIJ day 27

Recipe - Butterscotch brownies - gift from the kitchen


Butterscotch Brownies
Makes: 24 bars
Prep: 30 minutes Bake: 20 minutes Cool: 2 hours

Ingredients
· 1/3 cup butter
· 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
· 1-1/3 cups flaked or shredded coconut
· 3/4 cup chopped pecans
· 1/2 cup butter, softened
· 1 cup packed brown sugar
· 1/2 tsp. baking soda
· 1/4 tsp. salt
· 3 eggs
· 1/2 tsp. vanilla
· 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
· 1/2 cup chopped pecans
· 1/2 cup tiny marshmallows
· Caramel-flavored ice cream topping (optional)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a small saucepan melt 1/3 cup butter; stir in 2/3 cup brown sugar, the coconut, and 3/4 cup pecans. Pat evenly in prepared pan; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl beat 1/2 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add 1 cup brown sugar, the baking soda, and salt; beat until combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Add flour and beat until combined. Stir in 1/2 cup pecans and marshmallows. Spoon small mounds of mixture over coconut mixture in pan. Carefully spread to cover.
3. Bake about 20 minutes (mixture should be evenly browned; center may jiggle slightly when shaken). Cool in pan on wire rack. To serve, cut into bars. Drizzle with caramel topping. Makes 24 bars.


Craft of the day - Candy cane signpost ornament


Materials
Large craft stick (ours was 4 ½ inches long)
Acrylic paint: white, green and red
Craft knife
Permanent marker
Glue
Small green felt holly leaves
Red mini pom-pom berries
White glitter
5-inch piece of ribbon

Instructions
1. Coat a large craft stick (ours was 4 ½ inches long) with white acrylic paint and another with green paint. Let them dry, then add stripes of red paint to the white stick.
2. Use a craft knife to cut a 3-inch section from the green stick, notching each end to create an arrow shape, as shown. Write "North Pole" on the sign in permanent marker, then glue the sign to the red-and-white craft stick.
3. Next, glue on small green felt holly leaves and red mini pom-pom berries. If you like, add dabs of white paint, then sprinkle on white glitter for snow.
4. Finally, glue both ends of a 5-inch piece of ribbon to the back of the signpost for a hanger and let the glue dry.

Joke - 20 Uses for Fruitcake
1. Use as a doorstop
2. Use as a paper weigh
3. Use to clean your pots and pans
4. Use as boat anchor
5. Use as bricks in fireplace
6. Build a house with them
7. Use it to hold up your Christmas tree
8. Use as a pencil holder
9. Give it to the cat for a scratching post
10. Put it in the back yard to feed the birds and squirrels
11. Hold up your car when changing tires
12. Slice and use for poker chips
13. Use it to carve your turkey on
14. Use as replacement for Duraflame log
15. Take it camping with you...use it to weigh down the tent
16. Use it as a seat at a stadium event
17. Stand on it when you change a lightbulb
18. Put it in the back of your car/truck for snow/ice driving
19. Replaces free weights when you work out
20. Use as book ends at the school library

Can you guess I don't like fruitcake?