Thursday, July 30, 2015

Dark chocolate, Caramel- Sea Salt Skillet Brownies with Pecans

Happy Day before Friday! Hope you are all enjoying your Summer!
Ours is coming to an end
with the kids going back to school this coming Monday!
Where did the Summer go??
The girls and I are finishing up Katelyn's dresser,
an updated post is soon to follow!
Today I wanted to share with you something that has been a long time coming. My father and I had several things in common. My favorite past time when I got a little older was, over our morning coffees, we'd finish the daily crossword puzzle together. It was his love of reading that I really miss! He'd always have a book in his hand! What I remember most about my dad was
 his love for his cast-iron skillet!
 That was his baby!


To be honest, I don't remember my mother ever using it!
He'd make us one of his famous ham and cheese omelets in it!
Confession time....
I've had one, I just never use it!
That is until, I had this need for chocolate!
 It's been a busy couple of weeks,
and I haven't really made anything sweet, since the
A few other family things have been going on in the background,
my grandparents' health are declining, and
I worry about my oldest daughter being so far away from home!
That brought me back to thinking about my father!
How he was there for me when ever I needed to talk
or just be. There were some days, we would just drink our
coffee and do our cross word puzzle in peace 
without ever saying a single word.


My Daddy has been gone almost twenty years now!
 If you still have your father with you,
 give him a hug today and tell him you love him!


Holding that skillet in my hand felt pretty darn good!
A peace came over me,
or maybe it was the thought of the ooey-gooey
of that perfect dark chocolate brownie fix.
Either way, this skillet is going to be used
much more, but right now
it's baking brownies!

Dark Chocolate, Caramel-Sea Salt Brownie Skillet with Pecans (adapted from MidWest Living)
Ingredients

1 1/3 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup butter, unsalted
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
6 oz dark chocolate chips
Vanilla ice cream (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325F. Heat a 10x2-inch cast-iron over medium-high heat.
Toast chopped pecans in skillet for 2-3 minutes, until lightly toasted.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
3. To the pecans, add the butter and brown sugar. Just as the brown sugar is almost melted, and the butter starts to bubble, add the 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and the sea salt. Stir until the caramel is well combined, return to heat until the brown sugar is completely melted, and then remove from heat.
4. To the flour mixture, add the melted butter, eggs, heavy cream. Fold in the dark chocolate chips.
Spoon over the pecans and caramel.
5. Bake in oven for 35-40 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
As always, I saved a slice for you!
Sharing this at these Fabulous Parties!
You might also like my recipe for
Nutella Brownies
If you are looking for more Brownie Loving recipes, check out this
Until next time! Have a wonderful weekend!
xo,
 

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday #39

Oh-My-Heartsie-Girls-WW
 
Welcome to the Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday Link Party! 
Thank you to everyone that shared their amazing projects last week!

 I am so glad you’re here and linking up and sharing your inspiration with us! If you are new to the party, this is where many bloggers can link up their favorite crafts, diy, recipes and more posts.  You will find amazing and creative projects, inspiration and DIYs.  This party is also a fantastic way to meet and make some new friends, as well as a great way to get more exposure and traffic to your website. I showcase and share many of your creative ideas on social media,  mostly Pinning and Tweeting your posts;
 I also share on Facebook!
The party link will be up @ 11 am on Tuesday and runs until Saturday!
 Let's get this party started!

 

Welcome 889321dkvfo8u72a

 
This is our 39th Week since the “Oh My Heartsie Girls” Wordless Wednesday began. Our Wordless Wednesday is an opportunity for you to meet and make friends with bloggers from around the world. We are honored to have visitors from  USA, South Africa, Europe, UK, Japan, Austria,
Germany, Australia, Asia and more!!!
Where do you blog from?

One Party (10) Blogs 


Oh My Heartsie Girl and Co-Hosts, Welcome you to The Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday, Week 39 where we take the opportunity to introduce you to new friends, as they are highlighted in our posts each week. Something new, you can be sure!!
Now our Co-Hosts make Feature Choices each week, highlighting their favorite links.  #OMHGWW Wordless Wednesday where we start early 
❢❢

We look forward to your recipes, reviews, diy crafts, gardening hints, travel, beauty ideas, jewelry you make, a card you have made and Linky Parties, we want to see it all!  

 
Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday

 

And if you Missed Last Weeks Party You Can Still Check Out All Those That Linked up along with our Co-Hosts and their wonderful Blogs!!!
:❢:❢ You Can See All The Entries Here :❢:❢ 

 

Divider 989321gyey13hzit

 

♥~MEET THE HOSTS~Oh My Heartsie Girl WW 7-28♥Karren-Host //Oh My Heartsie Girl // Cornmeal Blueberry Muffins // My recipe is a prize tested in the BHG kitchens, full of frozen blueberries and chopped almonds and is dropped into mounds on baking sheet.
Twitter | Bloglovin | Google+ | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
Divider 989321gyey13hzitNatalee In The City 7-28♥Natalie /Natalee In The City // Why Don’t You Have A Budget // For us as a family of 8 to be able to have the holidays and all the luxury treats we have we need to budget. If you are a large one income family like ours a budget is what you need to see you through the yearly expenses.
Twitter | BloglovinFacebook | Pinterest | Instagram
Divider 989321gyey13hzit
Simply Wright 7-28 ♥Co-Host Ashleigh // Simply Wright // Austrian Summer Apricot Cake // Do I have a cake for you! This delicious Austrian Apricot Cake will be the best cake you’ve had in a long time. Straight from a kitchen in Austria, this recipe is simple and will be enjoyed by everyone!
Facebook | Google + | Pinterest | Instagram | Bloglovin
Divider 989321gyey13hzitCherising A Sweet Life 
♥Co-Host Christine // Cherishing A Sweet Life /Easy Homemade Pizza Bianco // In my new cookbook review for Infuse, this recipe for Homemade Pizza Bianco looked both delicious and fun to try! Making homemade pizza turned out to be not only easy, but also a incredibly fun activity for my children to help make in the kitchen. It was so much fun, we all had a blast!
Twitter | Bloglovin | Google+ | Facebook | Pinterest
Divider 989321gyey13hzit
Couponin Diva
♥Co-Host Fredda  // Coupon Diva  // How To Automate Your Blog For Success// Blogging can be a lot of fun but it can also be a lot of work. Grow you blog business and take the stress of blogging away by automating your blog.
Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook | YouTube
Divider 989321gyey13hzit
Mommies Point of View ♥Co-Host Glenda Cates // Mommies Point of Review // Minion Fun! // Do you love Minions? Then join us for some fun crafts, recipes and so much more!!
Twitter | BloglovinFacebook | Pinterest |Instagram
Divider 989321gyey13hzit
Susan B. Mead 7-28 Co-Host Susan B Mead // Susan B Mead // A Letter to my much younger self //
If I had known then what I know now, I would have…
Eaten lean, green and clean
Kept running
Twitter | Facebook
Divider 989321gyey13hzit
From Evija With Love 7-28
Co-Host Evija Roberts // From Evija with Love // DIY Beautiful Peg Frame // This is such an easy way to update an old frame and make it into a beautiful display for your photos, notes or lists.
Twitter | Bloglovin | Google+ | Facebook | Pinterest | InstagramDivider 989321gyey13hzitTwo Chicks and a Mom ♥Co-Host Donna Wirthlin //  Two Chicks And A Mom // Fruity Palm Tree //This was the buffet table centerpiece that was used for Staci’s and Jon’s wedding reception last summer. They live in Hawaii so followed the theme. Lots of fresh fruit with our palm tree!
Twitter | BloglovinFacebook | Pinterest | Instagram
Divider 989321gyey13hzit
The Whole Serving
♥Co-Host Celeste Meredith // The Whole Serving // Strawberry & Chocolate Chia Smoothie // This Strawberry & Chocolate Chia smoothie is Guilt-free delectable goodness!!! It’s quick, simple and “Easy as Breeze” to make.
Twitter | Bloglovin | Google+| Facebook | Pinterest
Divider 989321gyey13hzit

What  Was Your Favorite Feature This Week?  

Best Picks from last weeks party
Your Co-Hosts Picks From Last Week
A Sprinkle of THis and That-Cannoli Stuffed French Toast Poster 7-28
A Sprinkle of This And That || Cannoli Stuffed French Toast

Frugal Ginger-How-I-Tripled-My-Pageviews-7-28
Frugal Ginger || How I Tripled My Page Views
Thrifty Artsy Girl-Storage Ottoman From an End Table
Thrifty Artsy Girl || Storage Ottoman from a Coffee Table

 Craft Journal Matchbox Gift Box 7-28
Crafty Journal || Matchbox Gift Box
THe Deans List Blog
The Deans List Blog || 2 Ingredient Cookie Butter Ice Cream

Divider 989321gyey13hzitDo Try This At Home-Giant Bubbles with Barbecue Haze
Do Try This At Home || Giant Bubbles with Barbecue Haze
1 Camera 1 Mom-Simon's Town 
1 Camera 1 Mom Christine Morley || Simons Town in South Africa
DIY Tiered Flower Pots-Karren
Pretty Shabby UK || DIY Tiered Flower Pots
Divider 989321gyey13hzit
Oh-My-Heartsie-Girls-WW
A Few Rules And Etiquette For The Party Are Simple
#1 Follow The Host and Co-Hosts on their Social Media
#2 NO adult content please (They will be deleted-of course) And please
#3 When You Leave a Link…..Please Comment :♥
~ Help Us Grow Our WW, We Would Love It If You Grab Our banner for your side bar, just copy and paste, or link back in your WW post would be appreciated!!
Divider 989321gyey13hzit Woud You Like To Co-Host Wordless Wednesdy snip
When you Co-Host with us, you will increase visitors, meet bloggers and gain the support of current Co-Hosts and your blog will be seen Worldwide; Sound Good !!!!
If You Would Like To Co-Host Our Wordless Wednesday,
signing up is Free!!
Read All The Details and find Information Here ❢❢❢
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Disclaimer: When you add your link to the linky party along with your email, it will be used to send you an invitation to join us for the party. It also gives Oh My Heartsie Girl permission to share your posts, pictures and links if featured in upcoming posts. Any content used will be given proper credit and link-backs will be provided.
Thank you, Karren

Monday, July 27, 2015

A Week in CASL photos: July 20th- July 26th

Happy Beautiful Monday! Hope you all had a relaxing weekend! It was a very busy, fun and lovely weekend over here! There is still more getting ready for back to school 
 and painting going on over here! I didn't get a chance to capture all of this week's prompts, but here are the ones I did!

What I like about doing a Photo365, is that I get to share with you a peek into what my week has been like, and possibly a sneak peek to what next week will bring. I've tried 365 Photo or Daily photo memes several times before, and surprisingly, I am getting farther posting my photos once a week, instead of once a day. It makes a big difference, and it's really nice to look back and see a slice of my day!



July 21st~ Real...
 
Easy Homemade Pizza Bianco  The girls and I had a blast making homemade pizzas last week. They made pepperoni of course, and for me and my husband, this wonderful Pizza Bianco. It's easier than you think!!


July 22nd~ Fake

 
I would love to try and grow these 'Blue Orchids', but based on what I've read the roots are injected with blue dye, and are way overpriced! That they are basically white orchids, tinted blue! They are still gorgeous!


July 24th~ Bloom

'Luscious' rose
Here is the first bloom, from the first rose bush, in our new garden. I found it at Berridge Nurseries located in Phoenix. The staff is extremely friendly and very helpful indeed. With it being late in the year, finding roses is a challenge. At the nursery, there was still an unbelievable selection of potted roses, with many favorites. In January, the selection will be even more extensive. I'm looking forward to getting my next rose in January from them.
 

July 25th~ The Two of Us...

A fun day of Back to School shopping with the girls.

July 26th~ Clouds on Fire


One of the things I love most about living here in Arizona, are the incredible sunsets we have.
This was one of the prettiest I've seen. Others have had dark shades of purple, and fuschia.

Are you on Instagram? You really should be!! 
You can follow me here on Instagram

   I recently started following a photo a day prompt on #fmsphotoaday.
 Let me know if you decide to join in the fun!

Have a great rest of your week! Until next time!
xo, Christine

Want to stay connected & up to date with Cherishing A Sweet Life?
 Don’t forget to follow on FacebookPinterest