Secret Ingredient Brownies

Don't they look tempting? These brownies are so good, very dense and they melt in your mouth. I made these the other night when I invited my parents and brother over for dinner and they were a hit. I did not tell anyone what they were made of until everyone had tried one, even after I told them what the secret ingredient was they still had seconds and even thirds. I will be making these again.

So do you want to know what the secret ingredient is?

Would you believe me if I said it is Black Beans?

Yep that is right all you need for these brownies is a brownie mix and a can of black beans!

First you want to rinse your beans really well,

also rinse the can out because you will be putting

the beans back in the can.

Once the beans are rinsed

put them back into the can and fill with water

just enough to cover beans.

Pour the can of beans and water

into food processor and process

until smooth like the picture on

the left.

Next you need to mix your dry brownie mix and pureed beans,

mix well. Pour into a greased brownie pan. Bake according to directions on the brownie box and enjoy!

Menu Plan 5/23-5/29

So I have not done a menu in a few weeks and I can really tell a difference, we eat out more and spend way more money! So I am going to try and get back into my menu planning and I am even thinking about doing some freezer cooking/OAMC. Do you freezer cook? If so please share ideas with me or tell me your favorite things to cook ahead of time.





Monday-Leftover meat and corn on the cob that we grilled this weekend, with mashed potatoes and watermelon

Tuesday-Grilled Chicken with rice and green beans

Wednesday-Easter Pork Loin with corn, deviled eggs and rolls

Thursday-Leftovers or Fish Sticks with mac and cheese

Friday-Frito Pie with fruit

Saturday-Probably grill something??

Sunday- Tatertot Casserole with ranch style beans

Menu Plan Monday

Last week's plan worked really good, the only thing I did not make that I had planned on was the beef stir fry so I am moving that to this week.

So this week I have planned

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Beef Stir Fry

The Cheesiest Cheeseburger Mac

Meatloaf-not sure how I will make this just yet, do you have a really good meatloaf recipe? If so please share it with me!

Hubby and I are going out of town Friday night and will be back sometime Sunday so the kids will be with grandma.

I am linking up to Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday

This week I have just decided a few meals I will be making, they are in no particular order because I usually swith things around anyways.

Spaghetti and Meatballs with green beans and garlic bread

Beef Stir Fry with mixed veggies

Brown Stuff (Ground beef mixed with beef rice a roni)

Breakfast for dinner

Chuck E Cheese for Marissa's 4th Birthday

What are your plans for dinner this week? How do you menu plan?

Check out Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie for more ideas!

Menu Plan Monday 3/7-3/13

Last week's menu went ok switched things around a little bit but I did not get to make the homemade pizza which works out good because the kids are on spring break this week so tommorow we will be making the homemade pizza.

Monday- We went to eat at a Chinese Buffet

Tuesday-Homemade Pizza

Wednesday- Stove Top Easy Cheesy Chicken Bake

Thursday- Manwich Steaks with mac and cheese and green beans

Friday- May be camping so something grilled

Saturday- May be camping so something grilled

Sunday- Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken may shred this and wrap in tortillas with rice and beans

I may make Golden Graham S'mores with the kids this week also!

What does your menu look like this week?

I am linking up at I'm an Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday go ahead go check out all the menus over there!

Tatertot Casserole

So Tatertot Casserole seems to be a go to easy recipe for me but I have not made it in awhile, I am not sure where I got my original recipe but I have heard several versions of it and I think at is a versatile dish.

Brown your ground meat adding seasoning to your taste, I also cut up some mushrooms and added it to the meat mixture, drain grease!

Add two cans of cream of mushroom soup and mix well, let it heat through.

Today I drained a can of corn and added it to the mixture.

Place in a 9x13 baking dish

Add tatertots and bake for about 20 minutes!

After tatertots are done cooking cover with a ton of cheese and place back in the oven to melt the cheese, then enjoy!!!!

Tatertot Casserole Basic Recipe

2 Lbs ground Beef(seasoned to taste, browned and drained)

2 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup or Cream of Chicken

32oz Bag of Tatertots

2 Cups Shredded Cheese

Preheat oven to 425. Mix cream of mushroom with ground beef and put in a 9X13 baking dish, place tatertots on top of meat mixture and place in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until tatertots are done(I usually go by whatever the bag of tatertots says). Take out of oven and cover with cheese, place back in oven just long enough to let the cheese melt. Take out of oven and Enjoy!

*Note this recipe can be changes however you like, I don't normally add corn but decided to add it last minute and it turned out great.

Sorry the pics are so small, I took them using my phone!

Do you add anything different to your tatertot casserole? If so, leave me a comment letting me know.

Check Out Melt in Your Mouth Monday for more yummy recipes!

Menu Plan 2/28-3/6

What is on your menu this week? Tonight we ended up having tacos and I actually sat down and made a plan for the week, still need Saturday and Sunday but this is better than what I have done recently.

Monday- Chicken Marsala(sp?) with rice and ranch style beans
Tuesday-Homemade Pizza
Wednesday-Caldo de Res(hubby has been asking for this for over a month and I have not made it yet)
Thursday-Tatertot Casserole with green beans
Friday-Breakfast
Saturday-?
Sunday-? I work at CVS 8-2:30 and then go to my other job at 3:30-8:30 so hubby will be figuring something out for him and the kids.



For more mene plans visit I'm an Organizing Junkie