SUPER EASY Peppermint Brownies

If you are anything like me, you found yourself in a flurry of holiday baking this past month. Treats to bring to holiday potlucks, baked gifts for co-workers, neighbors and friends, and of course wonderful desserts to share with family at your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. I do believe that's really why they call it "the most wonderful time of the year."

Well, with the holiday bake-a-thon over, I ended up with alot of leftover crushed peppermint. Something I never use except for Christmas cookie baking. So what's a girl to do?

I had an epiphany on my way home from work the other day. What better to go with peppermint than chocolate?? Exactly. So I whipped up these simple, super easy peppermint brownies! And I thought I'd share them with you just in case you find yourself in the same predicament I did. Yeah, we gotta look out for each other these days.

What you need:

Okay, so really the list of ingredients depends on what brownie mix you use. So check the back of the box for what's required for the brownies. Some use different amounts of vegetable oil, water and eggs. I used a fudge brownie mix because I think they taste the best, but you can use any type you'd like.

Here's the simple part: Bake the brownies in a 9x13 glass baking dish as directed on the box. Once baked to perfection, remove them from the oven and sprinkle about 1/3 cup of crushed peppermint on top. Be sure not to completely cover the brownies, as the peppermint will certainly overpower the chocolate flavor. And who would want that??

Easy, right?! And super yummy!

What? 2012 Already!

I'll admit it. I don't like New Year's resolutions. I have nothing against the idea of starting fresh and making positive changes in your life. Actually, I strongly support that. But there is something about New Year's resolutions that stress me out. Too much pressure to make them, too much pressure to keep them, and too much guilt when you fail and give up on them come February...or, er, the second week of January. Not that I've done that or anything...

But as 2011 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the amazing road I've traveled in the course of the year. It's been a year of risk, adventure, growth and, ultimately, joy. And it has given me hope for what's to come in 2012. With this hope in mind, I started making a list of things I'd like to do in the new year. More like a Bucket List and less like New Year's resolutions. I have no timeline for accomplishing these, but I certainly have the motivation to make them happen.

My 2012 Bucket List:
- Invest more in relationships, even when it means taking risks.
- Entertain/Cook more for friends.
- Sew a quilt for Project Linus
- Wear dresses more often than I wear jeans.
- Learn to knit.
- Buy a pair of cowboy boots and WEAR them

I am sure I will think of more as time goes on, but I think this is a pretty good start. Here's to a joyous 2012!

Recent Project: Quilted Coasters

I found this lovely tutorial by Jeni from In Color Order and decided to make my own. This was my first time attempting to quilt anything, and, after a little trial and error, I think they turned out pretty well!