Chicago Sun-Times

Halloween ghost brownies are more tasty than creepy

- BY SUSAN NICHOLSON Andrews McMeel Syndicatio­n, susan@7daymenu.com

HALLOWEEN GHOST BROWNIES

Servings: 13

Preparatio­n time: 15 minutes plus decorating time

Cooking time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENT­S

1 cup butter

1 2/3 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1 cup unsweetene­d cocoa powder

3/4 teaspoon coarse salt

1 1/2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed 26 candy eyes

13 mini chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Coat with cooking spray. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Stir in sugar until dissolved.

Add eggs and vanilla, stirring until blended. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder and salt. Stir in liquid mixture until batter forms. Spread evenly in pan; bake 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in pan. Using foil overhang, transfer brownie to wire rack to cool completely. Using a 2 1/2- or 3-inch tulip-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 13 ghosts. (Save scraps for crumbling over ice cream.)

Spread whipped topping over tops of brownies. Add candy eyes and a mini chocolate chip mouth (flat side up).

Per serving: 326 calories, 4 grams protein, 18 grams fat (48 percent calories from fat), 10.7 grams saturated fat, 39 grams carbohydra­te, 88 milligrams cholestero­l, 262 milligrams sodium, 2 grams fiber. Carb count: 2.5.

CREOLE EYE OF ROUND ROAST

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Shake 3 tablespoon­s flour in a large (19-by-23 1/2-inch) oven bag; place bag in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. To bag, add 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced no-salt-added tomatoes with onions and garlic (or stewed tomatoes) and 3 teaspoons Creole or Cajun seasoning. Squeeze bag to blend in flour. To bag, add 1 (2- to 2 1/2-pound) eye of round beef, 2 ribs celery (cut into 1/2inch slices) and 1 medium red bell pepper (cut into strips). Turn bag to coat beef with sauce. Arrange ingredient­s in an even layer in bag.

Close bag with nylon tie; cut 6 (1/2-inch) slits in top. Bake 60 to 75 minutes or until internal temperatur­e of meat reaches 145 degrees. Thinly slice beef. Stir sauce; serve with beef. (Note: Don’t overcook! Eye of round beef is very lean and will toughen in a heartbeat.)

DIPPY CHICKEN

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Coat chicken tenders with cooking spray, then cornflake crumbs. Bake 15 minutes, turning once. Make a dipping sauce from 2 parts apricot jam to 1 part mustard.

 ?? SWIRLSOFFL­AVOR.COM ??
SWIRLSOFFL­AVOR.COM

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States