Sweet Baby Jesus Beer Brownies

Recently met a new amigo..this new amigo...is into craft beers.. At first I thought it was happen stance. A one time thing

 ..but each time I pay him a visit..he has something new,different and interesting to drink.

This experience has not only changed my world...but also my baking and now Estoy Enomorada (in love) with it all!.... Don't know where I have been? but apparently it's been under una roca!  

.....This new beer sensation sparked my interest so much... I decided to venture to my local liquor store to discover more.

What I walked into was a unique flavor enticing, wallet sliming get you all liquored up Heaven!

So many wide varites with super awesome names and super dope flavors.

My creative beer/baking juices started to flow....but I controlled myself...and decided to forgo the temptation of filling my basket to the brim with all that "liquor love". and followed the path of my new ultra hip craft beer drinking friend.

The Sweet Baby Jesus porter beer.."this one is my favorite" he likes to tells me....it is a beer mixed with chocolate, peanut butter and I swear un poco de heaven!

 And now I mixed it with a little brownie love! Promise by the first bite...it will have you screaming out "Thank You, Jesus"....haha...and gracias amigo...my world is forever changed!...... Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 cup Sweet Baby Jesus Beer

16 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped, divided

1 cup of unsalted butter for brownies (2 sticks) & 2tbsp unsalted butter (1/4cup)for Sweet Baby Jesus Glaze  

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/4 tsp of kosher salt for brownies & 1/4 tsp kosher salt for Sweet Baby Jesus Glaze

1/2 cup of smooth peanut butter

 

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9x9x2" metal baking pan with foil,(I like to spray foil with a little cooking spray ) leaving a 2" overhang. Bring beer to a boil in a medium sauce- pan; cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 12 minutes. Let cool. Set 1/4 cup of beer to the side.

 

2. Stir 12 oz. chocolate and 1 cup butter in a medium metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth.

 

3. Whisk sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl and mix well. Gradually whisk in chocolate mixture, then 1/4 cup of the Sweet Baby beer from pan. Fold in flour and 1 1/4 tsp. salt. Pour batter into prepared pan.

 

4. Bake brownies until the top surface of the brownies begin to crack. Insert a toothpick in the center of the brownies, if it comes out basically clean or with a few brownie crumbles, approx. 35-40 minutes. Place pan in a cool spot for at least 20 minutes.

 

Sweet Jesus Glaze

 

1.Stir remaining 4 oz. chocolate in a medium glass bowl set over a sauce-pan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Add reserved 1/4 cup reduced Sweet Jesus beer, remaining 2 Tbsp. butter, and 1/4 tsp. salt; whisk until well blended.

 

2. Spread an even layer of smooth peanut butter over the top of cooled brownies. Pour warm Sweet Jesus glaze over brownies. Let stand at room temperature until glaze is set, about 40 minutes.Using foil overhang, lift brownie from pan; cut into squares.

 

 

Latin Elvis S'mores

I have to admit it's pretty random but....I have become super intrigued with Elvis Presley.

I'm honestly not really sure why, but I think it has a little to do with a Elvis Presley cookbook that I scored at a local flea market for $1.00! 

Obviously there is nothing new about Elvis, I mean I've heard plenty stories about 1,000's of lovely muchachas standing outside of Graceland just to get a peek at him,

I've heard the song "Blue Suede Shoes" more times than I really want to admit to......

and who can forget the millions of videos showing him in his white bell buttoms, freshly appointed side burns and his girating hips!

Up until that one dia  (day) when I scored the deal for his cookbook all of that just gave me a vague idea of who he was.....but now,

Now I realize that Elvis Presley is SUPER GUAPO and has an awesome taste for food!

 I mean as a certified junk food junkie, who could deny a man who loved: crispy fried chicken, ham bone dumplings, bbq bologna and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with fried bacon in between ( Fools Gold Loaf Sandwich) as it's really called!

So I'd like to think that these Latin Elvis S'mores would be something El Rey (The King) would crave...

C'mon anything stuffed with fluffy marshmallows, layers of chocolate, a creamy lake of Latin caramel stuffed between two crisp Graham Crackers in my eyes are definitely the type of ooey gooey cookie goodness fit for a "King"!

Vamos a la cocina!

Ingredients

6  whole graham crackers
1 bag of mini marshmallows
2 ripe bananas
1 bottle of squeezable dulce de leche  I used Lechera
3 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars
1 jar of your favorite Peanut Butter ( I adore Skippy!)

Directions

I'm not big into using fire to warm and melt my S'mores so I just take a cookie sheet and do the following:

1.Split graham crackers into 2 halves, slice your bananas and set them aside.

2. On top of graham cracker spread on a layer of peanut butter and place on the mini-marshmallows and banana slices.

3. Place bottom half of your S'mores under broiler for a few seconds until toasty. Remove and place 1/2 of a Hershey bar on top of marshmallow and drizzle with the dulce de leche ( if you want the dulce de leche to be warm, you can drizzle it on before it is put into the oven.

4.The heat from the marshmallow will melt the chocolate bar. (If you would like it a little more melty you can always place it back into the broiler for a few extra seconds.

5. Now place other 1/2 of graham cracker on top of all your goodness. Press lightly to flatten marshmallows.

Now sit back...take a bite, and Bienvenidos (Welcome) to S'mores Heaven!

{Latin Elvis} - Peanut Butter, Banana & Dulce de Leche Waffles

It's kind of ironic that I absolutely adore making breakfast foods, but if there ever was a day that I would skip a meal breakfast would most likely be the one I'd miss. 

It's not that I haven't paid attention in health class or watched one of the many info/brainwash "mercials" that declares breakfast the most vital and important meal of the day!

Yes, I do get it......but it seems that so many things are jam- packed into my mornings, that by the time I have a chance to stop it's 11:30 already and the window of breakfast opportunity has passed me by. 

But on those easy breezy mornings when I am finally on relaxed mode, I like to do my breakfast right! 

And when I do make breakfast it's usually go big or go home, maybe because I am subconsciously making up for all my unredeemed syrup soaked breakfast food possibilities.

But these precious days almost always involve lots of butter syrup, a thick rich bread of some sort and of course crisp crunchy pieces of bacon heaven. 

 This particular breakfast is a little bit of an ode to the " King of Rock & Roll" Elvis Presley,  I've always been fascinated with his innovative food choices especially his ever popular romance with peanut butter and banana sandwiches. 

 Here I give my take on the peanut butter and banana sandwich........ except I'm trading the white bread for a thick banana &bacon infused Belgian waffle.

Swept with creamy peanut butter than swirled with dulce de leche, dulce de leche is a creamy milk based confection prepared by slowly heating sweetened condensed milk. 

 It's the Latin equivalent to American peanut butter and in my eyes it's dessert royalty! I'm pretty sure that if Elvis was born in Spain he'd be eating dulce  de leche and peanut butter sandwiches......

 But since he wasn't I figured I could just kick  he's version of the sandwich up a notch and give it a Latin flair!

             Ingredients

 

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups milk 2 eggs 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 ripe bananas 6 strips of crispy bacon ( you can cook extra strips to place on top of waffles if desired) peanut butter- just enough to spread on each waffle, I used about 1/2 cup for 3 large waffles dulce de leche- about 1/2 cup    Optional ( you can make homemade banana maple syrup, by simply cutting a few slices and sticking them in a jar of maple syrup overnight. It gives the syrup a discreet banana taste that adds a little something extra to each bite).                                                   Directions       1. Preheat your waffle iron, cook your desired amounts of crispy bacon and set aside.   2.Mash two of your ripe bananas and set aside, you can also chop the other two bananas that will act as toppings for your waffles and set those aside as well.   3.In large bowl mix together flour, baking soda, sugar and salt. Add milk, eggs and oil mix well;   4. Now add in your mashed bananas and 6 slices of bacon crumbled into small bits. Mix until both ingredients are well incorporated.   5. Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter onto hot waffle iron cook until golden brown.   6. Once all waffles are cooked stick your peanut butter and dulce de leche in the microwave for about 45 seconds each, until they are easier spread.   7. Spread each waffle with alternating layers of dulce de leche and peanut butter. You can put as much or as little as you like.   8. Layer each waffle with strips of crisp bacon and use your last banana and cut it into slices.  ( I sautéed a few slices of my bananas in butter, but later decided I preferred them as they were)   9. Finally if you are a real " hound dog" for the sweets you can swirl on a little homemade banana maple syrup.     And there you go breakfast fit for a " Latin King" !