Cookie + Brownie = Crownie

How Crownies Were Born
The first time I made a brownie with a chocolate chip cookie on top and rolo's in the middle, the cookies sank.  They looked fine coming out of the oven, then slowly the middles started sinking, like quicksand.  I tried baking the cookie/brownies again and the middles sank again.  I tried making them six more times trying a different experiment each time...and each time they looked oh so delicious coming out of the oven, but slowly but surely the middles would sink, along with my heart.  I tried all sorts of adjustments based on the science of baking.  Clearly the cookie brownie experiments were not baking completely and ah, I was about ready to give up.  My family and neighbors encouraged me to keep baking and keep trying, because they were enjoying my failures and wanted to keep taste testing them, lol.

OK, so dear son was completely enjoying my failures, but one day he felt sorry for me and said, "Mom, why don't you just flip the pan over when you take them out of the oven".  OMG!  perfect.

And this is the upside down true tale of the luscious, melt in your mouth, delicious brownie, chocolate chip cookie with a rolo center.  And since that is a mouthful to say, dear hubby crowned them "Crownies". 

*Update 10-03-16: Recently Betty Crocker changed their package directions for preparing brownies to use less oil.  I made 3 batches of crownies last week.  For the first batch of crownies I used the new brownie directions with less oil, and my crownies did not turn out as well.  This recipe is my tried and true recipe, hope you love them.   
  Crownies 
You will need the following components:

• Brownie mix, I have been using Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix

• Mini Rolo's

• Chocolate chip cookie dough 

• Wilton mini square baking pan (pictured below; the Wilton pan has deeper cavities and are slightly larger than other pans I have seen). 

Yield: 12 crownies. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Prepare Pan by generously spraying with butter flavored cooking spray.

Make the Brownies
1 Betty Crocker packaged fudge brownie mix.  *DO NOT PREPARE ACCORDING TO PACKAGE DIRECTIONS ON BOX.  Instead, combine brownie mix with 2 eggs, 2/3 cup oil and 1/4 cup water.   Pour the batter equally into the baking pan cells.  (About 2 very large tablespoons each cell, but lots easier to pour and transfer a bit with a spoon if needed).

Bake brownie mix for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and place 2 mini rolo's on top of each brownie.  Brownies will not be cooked yet, but that's ok.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

1 sticks butter, room temperature

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoon molasses

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

6 Tablespoons sugar (3/8 cup)

6 Tablespoons packed brown sugar (3/8 cup)

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 2/3 cups flour

about 1/2 of a 12 ounce bag of chocolate chips (I use slightly less than 1/2 a bag or about 5 ounces)

Cream butter, sugar, molasses and vanilla.  Mix in egg. Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, then mix. Stir in the chips.  Shape dough into 1inch balls.

Flatten a 1in chocolate chip cookie ball into a square and place on top of brownie/rollo.

After pre-baking brownies add mini rolo's and chocolate chip cookie dough

Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool 5 min then place a cookie sheet on top of the baking pan and flip the baking pan and cookie sheet upside down.  The cookie sheet will be on the bottom with the inverted baking pan on top of it.  Allow to cool completely, or at least 20 minutes.

After baking chocolate chip cookie layer, get a baking sheet ready

Ready, flip! Let cool

Yay!  No more sunken middles, only delicious desserts :)

Note: With this recipe you will have leftover cookie dough, enough for about 4 cookies.  I have tried to make the brownie layer thinner, but they were more difficult to remove from the pan. 

Blogging 101 How to Write a Blog

Anyone can write a blog for free using a publishing platform with free hosting like Blogger or Wordpress.   I started with free accounts with Blogger and Wordpress and after trying them both out I decided to use Blogger exclusively.


Trying a free publishing platform is an easy and cheap way to see if you like blogging.

Now that you have a publishing platform, start writing!  Write about something that you are interested in and write regularly. I try to add a new blog post once a week, but some people write daily.

OK, so you decide you like blogging and you want to earn money from it. Here are a few ways you can make money with your blog:

• Sign up for Google Adsense, pay per click ads, no check yet :( please support this blog by clicking on the ads or visit my Etsy store, my website, All Things Blooming .   
• Sign up for Affiliate Ads.  There are many companies that act as a liaison for advertisers.  If someone makes a purchase after clicking a link on your blog, you receive a small percentage from that sale or pay per click.  I removed my affiliate links because they were no longer generating money.  At Rakuten LinkShare I recently recieved a check for $7 (June, 2015, yay!) and $1.02 (April 2016, woohoo!, lol). With shareasale.com last year I  received 2 checks one for $85.01 and the second was $50.  After the second check I received no commissions for the remainder of the year.  With Share a Sale, my payment threshold was $50 and took 2-5 weeks to receive a check. I also had an affiliate ad for If Only on my blog that was supposed to pay $100; really disappointed that they did not pay it, so I removed it from my blog. 
• Become an Amazon affiliate (haven't made any money yet)
• Other offers

Some people recommend buying a domain name and webhosting as the first step in blogging.  For me, I wanted to try blogging  without paying any money up front.  This week, to celebrate my one year cooking blog anniversary I decided to take the plunge and buy a domain name and webhosting.

I purchased my domain name and web hosting with GoDaddy, but I am still able to use Blogger as a publishing platform.  How does it work? I log into my Blogger dashboard and everything still looks and functions the same. Except now when I publish a blog post my blog automatically gets redirected to my dedicated domain name.

Getting Blogger to communicate with Godaddy was the hardest part of setting up my new domain name.  I used a Blogger tool from Godaddy to redirect my blog, but since it was not working, I had to log into my Godaddy account and add a cname server.  Then when that information was entered, I had to tell Blogger to redirect my blog to my new domain name. Sounds confusing, but I just followed the directions from Blogger and everything turned out fine.

If you do not want to use Blogger, you can choose to hire a web designer or if you know how to code you can design your own website and/or blog. 


Now it's time to network your blog:
Submit your blog to search engines like Google, Yahoo (Bing) and Safari.
Technorati is a blog directory, sign up to claim your blog and network.
Participate in online forums and other blogs by leaving comments or writing articles or guest blogging.  (something I need to work on too).  Be active in social media by setting up a facebook account, twitter, vine, google+ etc.

ORIGINAL CONTENT.  My blog stats have been declining recently because I have been copying and pasting affiliate ads that my sponsors send me.  Oh my, what a mistake and here is what I discovered: Google's new logarithm will penalize you for having content that is repeated, because your content is not relative and your entire blog content will be penalized by not being found in the search engine.  OUCH! That was a hard lesson to learn.  I went through my blog posts today and rewrote some sponsored posts to be all original content.  I will be checking my stats and also adding new content as I have time. 

PHOTOGRAPHY, photography, photography....I've seen the best recipes ruined and the simplest recipes made spectacular by one simple thing, a great photo. Editing photo's and adding information like a title just got alot easier!  A huge thank you goes out to Lisa from Wine and Glue for sharing the free photo editing website she uses, picmonkey.


My two most recent blog posts, one using picmonkey editing and one without. 

Picture edited with picmonkey

Picture without editing

No question about it, the photo edited with picmonkey looks better! 

SEO is for you too.  SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.  There are several tools you can use to analyze your blog statistics.  I use my Blogger dashboard, and Google Analytics with my Adsense account.  I can see what search terms are being used to find my blog, and what source and posts get the most traffic.  With this information in mind, I can write posts that target readers.  Adding labels, key words or tags to all of your posts help people find your blog.

Will you make money?  Possibly, but it takes time.  I've been blogging for about two years and finally received a check from Share a Sale for $85.01.  Each week my Adsense balance grows a little bit; Adsense requires your balance to be $100 before they issue a check, and I am at about the 3/4 mark, lol. 

And, that's where I am in my real life blog journey.  I will update with more realistic info as my blogging journey unfolds.  Until then, leave a comment, I would love to hear about your family favorite recipes or your blogging experience.

SPAM COMMENTS: some people get paid to advertise for businesses or bloggers by leaving generic comments, this is called spam content.  Spam comments are not beneficial or helpful and will be deleted.


Check back for updates, I'll keep you posted of what's working or not working for me.  Bye for now, and thanks for stopping in :)

Update:  Very helpful blogging articles from Etsy, Etsy's Guide to Blogging
and Lisa's Blogging Tips for Beginners

I Recently retired from my wedding flower business to pursue a career as the happy hat maker.  Please visit my Etsy shop at
All Things Blooming

and my webstore
All Things Blooming

Thanks for stopping by, and check back for updates.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

There are a few things I can't seem to make enough of this summer, and one of them is salsa. :) A friend of ours introduced us to the flavors of a black bean and corn salsa at a church picnic. Yummy, and a great way to use fresh produce.

Hubby likes his salsa on corn tostada's for a light lunch.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Mix the following ingredients in a large bowl:

About 8 medium tomatoes diced
2-3 medium onions chopped
2 cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of corn drained (or 1 fresh ear cooked and cut from cob)
1 fresh lime (just the juice)
2 Tablespoons of taco seasoning, low sodium (OR 1 Tablespoon cumin)
3-4 Tablespoons of fresh cilantro and coriander if you have it (1 Tablespoon dry)
1 Tablespoon chili powder
garlic powder and salt to taste (we eat low sodium, so I do not add salt)
optional: hot peppers

Note: I mix up a batch of mild salsa then divide it so hubby can add hot peppers to his batch; he likes his salsa smokin' hot.  If you are growing cilantro and it goes to seed, don't worry!  You can eat the seeds, they are called coriander, and we love how they taste in our salsa.  

Make a Kitchen Soap Dispenser, a Very Green Craft :)

I was looking for a reasonably priced kitchen dish soap dispenser at Bed Bath and Beyond but didn't want to shell out $10 for a new one. At $4.99 a hand soap dispenser caught my eye but I didn't like the graphics painted on it.  Dear hubby reminded me of the time I spilled PVC primer on some plastic and the lettering got obliterated.  Perfect! with a wave of my magic wand, (PVC primer), I got a recycled, but super fine kitchen soap dispenser.


After using my dispenser for 6 months, I have noticed an added benefit;  I use way less dish soap. 

Materials needed:
Empty hand soap container
PVC primer
paper towels

First I used up the soap that came with my hand soap dispenser and rinsed it.

In a well ventilated area, brush the PVC primer on the painted parts of the plastic bottle that you want to remove.  The paint comes off pretty fast, so be prepared to wipe off with paper towels. 

The primer is smelly, so I was glad to wipe it off fast.  Next I rinsed the outside of the container with water, then washed it and dried it.

I love my handy dispenser and the way it looks by my sink.

Note: A very faint ghost of the original paint outline is visible on the container when empty, which is why I would not make this project for a gift.

Our Eccentric Projects - Surprise!?

Well, what can I say?  Surprise!?  I'm thinking of giving hubby a new nickname..."Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel", except hubby and son are digging all of this by hand.

The wrought iron fence is my summer project, it's been a rusty mess for years.  I've been sanding and painting it little by little, I hope to finish it soon. 

So in the meantime, I step out of the house this afternoon and bam! There is a surprise behind the fence. Any guesses what they are up to?  Here's a hint, someone gave us something to put here.

Masonry Hubby

My job, mixing mortar

Starting the brick

Update: Still no guesses?  We are going to move it in soon.  Hope it fits, if not, this will make an awesome barbeque pit. Since you have been so patient, and we haven't moved it yet, I will tell you what we are putting in here...someone gave us a hot tub.  Hope it works!

p.s. just finished painting the last of the wrought iron fence today, whew!  

Sweet and Salty Popcorn Nirvana

If you love caramel corn, you will love this updated recipe, made incredibly easy using a microwave.  No more messy pans on the stove or silly thermometers.  So easy, so good, you will soon be craving sweet and salty popcorn for breakfast.  Give it a try for your next family movie night, your family will love you.

2 bags of Orville Redenbacher's butter flavored popcorn in the pop bowl, cooked in your microwave.  (Microwaves vary, I stop mine after 2 minutes, even if I am using the popcorn setting so the popcorn does not scorch or burn).
2 cups of mini pretzels
1 small container of cashews
1 stick of butter
1 cup light brown sugar packed
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl combine the popcorn, pretzels and cashews, set aside.  In a large microwaveable measuring cup melt butter in microwave, about 1 minute.  Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup and microwave 2 minutes or until bubbly.  Stir the mixture, then microwave 2 more minutes.  Use a potholder, mixture will be hot.  Mix in vanilla, then baking soda until mixture begins to foam.  Carefully pour over popcorn and stir.  (I like to stir with my right hand while pouring with left hand).  Spread mixture on 2 baking sheets sprayed with butter flavored cooking spray.  Bake in 200 degree oven for 1 hour, lightly tossing with a fork every 15 minutes.

Update: No cashews, no problem, just leave them out, it's still so delicious. (written as I am munching on some).

This recipe was inspired by "Pops' Great Caramel Corn" created by Gene Ault, as published in Food Network Magazine, September 2013. 

Our Eccentric Projects - Aquaponics and Fish Farm

Hubby got fired up for his aquaponics project after taking a tour of a local fish hatchery at the Southeastern Correctional Facility.  You can read all about the new hatchery by clicking on the Columbus Dispatch link, Inmates raising fish to feed Columbus Zoo’s penguins

I didn't visit the prison since it is an all male facility, but dear son took some pictures for me, so I am sharing them with you.

Southeastern Correctional Facility

Biofilters - algae cleans water and converts ammonia to nitrogen.

Final gravel filtration tank.

Happy fish tank, look how clean that water is

At our house:


Inside:
Twenty minutes before dinner, Hubby cut his finger on a small alcohol burner he was making.  He was experimenting with the holes the flames would come out of on the burner and smashed a sharp edge into his finger, OUCH!  He wants to turn his small burner into a mini-S'more maker.  I think it is an awesome idea, I hope he can get it to work.

Outside:
Hubby and son have a few projects started, here is a picture of one. Can you guess what they are building now?  The start of an aquaponics system for raising fish and plants.

The excavation of hubby's aquaponics project.

My job, mixing mortar

The ground wasps are scary big!

Hi Mel, Mom and Rosie! Hubby put in some windows for the fish.

Partition wall to separate the fish and access/mechanical area.

Geothermal

Testing a waterproof coating for possible use on the fish tank.

Hi Nathan!

Storage Area = Dog Cave

Dear hubby made a jig out of an old ping pong table to bend pipe for his greenhouse.

Greenhouse is taking shape

Hubby and son made the greenhouse door with an old storm door someone was throwing away.  The glass door was laying in our yard for several years, so I am grateful it has found a re-purpose.

The trial run

Hubby was so excited when he came home with his new fish tank and goldfish.  This is a trial run for the big tank, and it all happened early this morning "BC", ("Before Coffee").

12-10-13 update: The water on version 1, (I'm affectionately calling it V1 now, because there's talk of V2 all ready), aquaponics tank is looking a  bit cloudy, so dear hubby is trying to build the plant and filtering mechanism, that monstrosity pictured below on top of the tank.

V1, view facing us

V1, view facing window with plants.  Hubby says he needs more plants, and round plant containers so they can swivel. 

Version 3 with the bell siphon is up and operational on the fish tank.  The smell from the fish tank was terrible!  It's getting better though, (I thought my clothes were smelling funny from the fish smell), and when the water clears up I'll take a picture for you.

Hard at work on the aquaponics set up, dear hubby made a bell siphon.

Version 4

Version 4 made of cedar and painted with a mixture of caulk and odorless mineral spirits.  After the last fishy smelly version, I am soooooo ready for odorless!

November 12, 2014 
Wow, where did the summer go?  Hubby's aquaponics project is humming along like a speeding freight train.  

What started out as a storage shed has morphed into 2 greenhouses for aquaponics.

I'm calling the hoop greenhouse the "new greenhouse" but it's actually an old one that was overgrown with trees and poison ivy.  I think a snake or two were living in it too. About 3 weeks ago Hubby was measuring the goldfish tank so he could make a temporary winter home for them. As I saw him measuring I said, "Why not move the old greenhouse?"  Hubby liked that idea, and lickity-split, the greenhouse was salvaged, moved and fixed.

During construction there was a Super Moon.

....and a really cute mushroom growing nearby. Yes, I'm easily distracted.

Ah, here you go.  See the solar panel on the roof of the shed?  Everything is solar powered. Hubby has one more panel to install.

"Temporary" goldfish housing in the new greenhouse.

Inside the new greenhouse.  Aquaponics version 10?  I think the goldfish like their new home.

While I was inside cooking hubby was out digging.  "WHAT'S THAT? OH NO! That's a big hole!"  Version 11?

Impulse buy.  Hubby is making it into a pellet stove.

The peppers love it in the new greenhouse.

Wow, fresh lettuce!

Check back to see how hubby's aquaponics project unfolds, or if you just want to stop by for a fish dinner, lol.