Surprise Your Co-Workers With These Fun Brownies

My parents used to love to host Halloween parties when we were kids. My mom used to make a big stock pot of homemade root beer and you know what they used to carbonate the drink. Dry Ice! How perfect is that? And the other thing I loved growing up were all the fun outfits my mom would make. One year I was the good fairy from Pinocchio. One year I was a bumble bee and one year I dressed up as a Jack in the Box.

I loved it when we had kids and I could dress them up in fun outfits as well. They were so hilarious. For a few years I told our kids that Halloween was all about dressing up so they could hand out candy to people who can to the door dressed up. After a few years, they caught on that they should be the ones going door to door. Then they figured out if they sung “Trick or Treat” in three part harmony they would get twice as much candy. Brilliant! If only they applied that level of genius to cleaning their rooms!

Even though we have moved beyond dressing up, I still love making fun treats for my family. Thankfully three part harmony is totally optional.

This is what Melissa of Persnickety Plates has to say about this treat.

“Halloween Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies have a layer of rich, dark chocolate brownie topped with a layer of orange cheesecake then swirled together for a spooky treat.”

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Quick tip. I just saw some supper cute Halloween sprinkles that would be adorable on top.

Recipe and image courtesy of Melissa of Persnickety Plates

The post Can I Just Say There Are NO Tricks To This Treat appeared first on Urban Retro Recipes.

Starbucks Inspired Recipe Just Stole The Show

A hard day?  Tired and frustrated? Maybe you are in the middle of a project that has just taken a turn for the worse. Well you are in luck my friend. Because if this recipe doesn’t cheer you up, you might need to check for a pulse. The smell of Banana Bread baking in the oven seems to help troubles just a little more manageable. One small bite at a time.

Put it this way, do you think Starbucks would waste space in their bakery cupboard for something that wasn’t a huge hit with their customers? The answer is NO. Some of their baked goods are standard such as blueberry scones, filled croissants and banana bread. You know what I think appeals to people? It is naturally sweetened by fruit and everyone knows someone who baked this. Whether it is a mom. A grandma, or a favorite next door neighbor, the aroma of freshly baked banana bread just says, come in, share your soul, and stay for a slice.

Because Starbucks knows that this goes with a great cup of coffee, this copy-cat recipe is extra moist, but don’t take my word for it. Bake a loaf and see for yourself. Or better yet, bake two loaves and share with someone who could use a bit of a lift.

This is what Charlene of My Frugal Adventures has to say about her favorite quick bread.

“This one is simple to make, packed with banana and is delicious plain, with nuts or add some chocolate chips for a real treat. This recipe is actually from Starbucks directly so hopefully you like it as much as we do!”

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Quick Tip: You can add chocolate chips instead of walnuts, or better yet, add both.

Recipe and image courtesy of Charlene and My Frugal Adventure

The post This Is The Best Banana Bread Recipe I Have Ever Made. You Will Not Want To Miss Out On This appeared first on Urban Retro Recipes.

Would Your Hungry Family Rather Eat Something Out Of A Can Or Sink Their Fork Into This?

Don’t you love a happy ending? I do. I am kind of a sucker for movies that are so predictable you could see it coming. Seriously, who didn’t know that You’ve Got Mail, the character that Tom Hanks played wasn’t totally going to sweep Meg Ryan’s character off her feet. I have probably watched that movie twenty times and I still love the ending. Why? Because it is nice to know that something’s turn out better that we could have hoped for. That is the key to chic-flick books and movies. We need the reassurance that things work out, even if it is a fictional story that ends in the middle Central Park.

Well you are in luck. This recipe will always bring you a happy ending.  I have probably made this as often as I have watched You’ve Got Mail and every time it is perfection.

I think because this recipe, like a good chic-flick, starts out with a real good cast of character that we call ingredients, and puts them in the perfect setting. When you put those two elements you have a match made in Heaven.

Why not make a pan of this creamy, cheesy, chicken and pasta and watch the story unfold. Instead of needing a Kleenex you can use a napkin!

This is what Kristyn has to say about this family favorite cheesy casserole.

“Yes, it’s true – my  kids are getting pickier and pickier (insert sad face here), so I really enjoy making recipes that I know everyone loves. And everyone LOVES pasta!! That’s why I share so many pasta recipes on the site. They are all different and have different ingredients and sauces, so we love the variety, and I love changing each dish up a bit.”

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Quick Tip: Make a batch of breadstick and toss together a green salad and you are ready to serve a great meal!

Recipe and image courtesy of Kristyn at Lil’ Luna

The post I Never Imagined My Dinner Would Turn Out So Amazing appeared first on Urban Retro Recipes.