Delicious Cinnamon Cream Cheese Brownies

By Jodee Weiland

Delicious Cinnamon Cream Cheese Brownies are moist brownies with just a touch of cinnamon to make them even more flavorful! When my children were young, they loved brownies like most children. Bake the brownies, dust them with powdered sugar, and they were ready to eat.

https://learnfromyesterday.comWhen I decided it was time to make them again, I decided to add two ingredients that I think make a difference when baking brownies. One of those ingredients was a whipped cream cheese in place of a vegetable oil. Years ago, cream cheese never came in packages labeled whipped cream cheese. I love whipped cream cheese, and I love to use it in place of vegetable oils wherever I can. It’s soft and creamy and lower in calories than regular cream cheese. Another ingredient I added was cinnamon. I love chocolate, and I love cinnamon, so why not? These two flavors blend well in recipes, so why not in brownies?

https://learnfromyesterday.comI’m happy I decided to do this because the results were fabulous. The flavor of the brownies is enhanced by the touch of cinnamon added into the recipe. And the whipped cream cheese adds to the richness of the brownie itself. The end result was well worth the end product of this recipe, a brownie that is both moist and rich in flavor.

https://learnfromyesterday.com Delicious Cinnamon Cream Cheese Brownies

1/2 cup butter softened
2 cups brown sugar packed
2 eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup whipped cream cheese
1 and 1/2 all-purpose flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar (optional)

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Using a mixer, blend together the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Then add the whipped cream cheese and blend. In another bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and blend. When done, fold in the chopped walnuts using a spoon.

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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 13” X 9” baking dish by spraying it or greasing it with butter. Once done, spoon the brownie mixture into the baking dish and spread it evenly in the baking dish. It will be thick, so spread with a spatula until it covers the dish evenly. Then put it in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Test to see if it is done using a toothpick. Put it in the center and when you pull it out, if it is clean, your brownies are done baking. Cool the baking dish on a rack. When cool, cut the brownies. This recipe makes about twenty-four brownies. If preferred, dust with powdered sugar.

Brownies Delicious Cinnamon Cream Cheese Brownies are great tasting and moist. They make a wonderful dessert or treat. Brownies full of a rich chocolate flavor with a touch of cinnamon, they will leave you asking for more every time. They are a favorite here in our home now, and I know you will love them, too. So give them a try, and enjoy!

Pasta Langostino Scampi with Spinach

By Jodee Weiland

Pasta Langostino Scampi with Spinach is not only delicious, it’s healthy! Seafood is always a healthier meal for any of us. I love healthy, so I love recipes with seafood in them.

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Langostino is sometimes referred to as langostino lobster tails, but keep in mind that langostino lobster tails are not really lobster. In fact, they are what is commonly referred to as squat lobster by most people in the restaurant business. They are actually crustaceans more closely related to hermit crabs, but if you like them, none of this matters. Personally, I like both shrimp and langostinos, but I can always get shrimp. So when I have langostinos, I use them in place of shrimp in my favorite recipes.

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Adding spinach to any scampi recipe just makes it more nutritional and tasty. I love spinach, so that’s what I added here, but you could just as easily add broccoli, kale, or any number of vegetables. It’s really just a matter of taste, and cooking should be about what you like. Spinach goes well in this recipe because it goes well with lemon, olive oil, and garlic. That’s another reason I chose spinach for this particular recipe, but you choose what works for you. Kale or broccoli would work just as well.

Pasta Langostino Scampi with Spinach

1 pound langostino (shrimp may be substituted)
1 pound linguine
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion chopped
4 garlic cloves chopped
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
Ground black pepper to taste
1/3 cup semi-dry white wine
2 cups fresh baby spinach
Juice of 1 to 2 lemons or 1/4 cup lemon juice
Grated Parmesan Reggiano to taste

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Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté the garlic and onions until tender. Add the parsley, red pepper, and black pepper. Then add in the white wine. Add and sauté lightly the spinach until wilted. Add the lemon juice and langostinos. Heat and blend all of this together for a few minutes. While doing this prepare the linguine as directed on the package. When the pasta is done, drain the water and put it in your serving bowl. Pour the langostino scampi recipe over the pasta and toss. Now you’re ready to serve. Each person can add grated imported Parmesan Reggiano to taste.

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Pasta Langostino Scampi with Spinach is not only delicious, it’s healthy, and you will love it! The slight taste of lemon blended with the wine and seasonings makes this dish outstanding. Serve with your white wine, a salad, and a crusty loaf of bread of your choice. The scampi sauce brings out the wonderful flavors in the langostino and makes this meal a winner. Try this recipe and see for yourself just how good it really is, and enjoy!

 

Sweet Butternut Squash with Chopped Walnuts

By Jodee Weiland

For years candied sweet potatoes were a favorite in our home, especially around the holidays, but that’s changed in the last several years. Now Sweet Butternut Squash with Chopped Walnuts has taken first place and become the favorite.

https://learnfromyesterday.comI decided to make this recipe several years back during the holidays, and now we make it whenever we can get butternut squash. It’s basically the same recipe we used on the baked sweet potatoes, minus the miniature marshmallows for a topping that some people use. I was never a big fan of marshmallows, so I eliminated those long ago. I added chopped walnuts instead, and it turned out great!

https://learnfromyesterday.comWhen I first served this dish to my family, they were skeptical. First of all, it wasn’t sweet potatoes, but worse than that, I left out the marshmallows that I usually put on the holiday sweet potatoes. Then there were also those who thought adding walnuts was just crazy, but I told them just try it because they were going to love it. They did, and they do! They loved it, and now this recipe would be missed if I didn’t make it. On top of that, I now serve this dish more often when we get together for a family meal. It’s not just for holidays anymore.

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Sweet Butternut Squash with Chopped Walnuts

2 pounds butternut squash diced/cubed
1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
About a 1/4 cup whipped butter unsalted
3/4 to 1 cup chopped walnuts

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Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare your baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Blend together in a small mixing bowl the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Put a layer of diced butternut squash into the dish. Follow this with little dabs of the butter across the surface. Then sprinkle this layer with some of the brown sugar mixture. Finally, sprinkle some of the chopped nuts across the top of this layer. Do this again with each new layer until the baking dish is filled. I usually have about three layers total. When done, put the dish covered in the oven to bake at 375 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until tender. After 30 minutes of baking, remove the cover from the dish and toss the squash with a spoon mixing together the butternut squash, melted butter, and spices. Then finish baking uncovered. Be sure to test the potatoes with a fork to see if they are done.

https://learnfromyesterday.comOnce done, serve your Sweet Butternut Squash with Chopped Walnuts with your main course and any other vegetable you have prepared. The lightly sweet taste of the butternut squash will enhance any meal and is sure to please everyone. This dish may even replace your traditional sweet potato recipe. Everyone in our family loves this dish! So try it, and enjoy!