Our 2013 Most Popular Recipes Review

Our 2013 Year In Review!

I thought it would be fun to create a post that reflects on our 10 most popular recipes in 2013... here's the count down, from our 10th most viewed recipe to the #1 winner of 2013!

#10

Pineapple Lemonade Punch

#9

Asian Style Noodle Pancakes

(this recipe is a personal favorite)

#8

Oreo Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

#7

Indiana Easy No Bake Cookies

#6

Pumpkin Spice Fudge

(I love everything pumpkin!)

#5

Pumpkin Spiced No Bake Cookies

#4

Sensational Taco Pie

(one of my family's favorite dinners)

#3

Vanilla Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

#2

Coconut Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

And the #1 most popular recipe, for a 3rd year in a row is  (drum rolls please...) our

Diet Coke Brownie's

I also found a few interesting and fun facts about the people who visit us.
Microsoft Windows is the top operating system for browsers while the iPhone is the top mobile platform.

The biggest driving factor that bring visitors to our blog is Pinterest (no surprise here), while Facebook was only the 9th largest website to bring viewers to our blog ( I was surprised here).

Visitors from around the world are ranked by countries with the most visitors in the following order;

#1  United States
#2  Canada
#3  United Kingdom
#4  Australia
#5  Germany
#6  Russia
#7  France
#8  Mexico
#9  Philippines
#10  South Africa 

And finally, as of December 31st 2013, Aunt Peg's Recipe Box has had 2,293,788 visitors (that's 2.2 MILLION!).  Wow!

Thanks to each one of you for making this a fun year for me!  It's amazing how we can be connected globally by simply sharing a recipe.

Wishing you all the best for a fun, peaceful, prosperous 2014!

Lovers' Brownie Decadence Bars (aka slutty brownies)

When I first saw this recipe my mouth watered just reading the ingredients!  I love brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and Oreo Cookies! 
I think this would be such a wonderful dessert for Valentines Day or for any  occasion with that special someone.
The original recipe in written to make the cookie dough and brownie layers from scratch, but yaaaaaa, I'm too lazy to actually do the extra work when I can see super simple shortcuts.  I'll post my version of this delicious treat here and provide you the link to the original recipe at the bottom of this page.
Enjoy!

Lovers' Brownie Decadence Bar's 

1 (18.5 oz.) box brownie mix (family size)

~plus the ingredients to make the batter

1 (15.5 oz.) package Oreo Cookies

1 roll Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly coat a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray if you are using the smaller box of brownie mix, use an 8 x 8 pan).  Make brownie batter according to package directions.  
Unroll the cookie dough and press on the bottom of your prepared baking dish.

Next layer the Oreo's on top of the cookie dough, try to cover as much as possible, but don't stack on top of each other.

I used about 30 cookies for 9 x 13 pan

Pour the brownie batter over the top of the Oreo's, spread to evenly cover.

Bake for 30-35 minutes.  You can test for done-ness (I think I made this word up) by inserting a knife or toothpick in the center to see if it comes out clean.  I like the bars a tiny bit under baked for a little creamier texture if I'm serving with ice cream, so I bake them for just 30 min.

Allow to cool for 30-40 minutes before cutting.
If you cut the bars while they are warm you will really need to place them on a plate and eat with a fork,
not~a~sacrifice~lol, because they are very soft and break apart so easily.

To make these bars an absolutely ultimate dessert, serve with vanilla ice cream~  Woot!

Recipe Source: TastyKitchen.com

Oreo Brownies

This year is Oreo Cookies' 100th birthday.  It's an opportunity for me to shamelessly make tons of Oreo anything recipes! Lovely!
Here is one I found on the fabulous Pinterest site:

OREO BROWNIES

recipe source: Hoosier Homemade

1 (18.9 oz.) box chocolate cake mix 

1 (3.4 oz.) box Cook & Serve chocolate pudding (make sure it's cook and serve, NOT instant)

2 c. milk

10-12 Oreo cookies, broken into small pieces

Frosting:

1 (8 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1/3 c. marshmallow creme

1/2 c. Oreo cookies, crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a 9x13 baking dish with foil, and lightly coat with non stick cooking spray.

(Cool trick; turn your baking dish upside down, mold your foil to the outside, then turn the dish right side up. The foil fits in quickly and you don't have to fight with it!) 


In a medium sauce pan combine the milk and pudding mix, and cook until slightly thickened.
Place the cake mix into a large mixing bowl, beat in the thickened pudding. Spread cake mix into the baking dish and press down lightly if needed.
Sprinkle with the small pieces of Oreo's.

Bake for 30 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool completely before frosting.


For the frosting:
In a large bowl combine the cool whip and marshmallow creme.  I used an electric mixer because I had a hard time combining these two ingredients.  Fold in crushed Oreo's, and frost the cooled brownies.

I loved the frosting on these brownies...good stuff!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie's

For the last couple of months I've been having a love affair with brownies. So delicious, and chocolatey!
I also happen to love chocolate chip cookies, so when I saw this recipe I knew it would be a big winner with me!

CHOCOLATE CHIP BROWNIE COOKIES

Brownies:

1 box (family size) fudge brownie mix

Ingredients listed on the box to prepare the brownies using a 9 x 13 pan.

Cookies:

4 Tbsp. butter, softened to room temp. (no substitutions)

1/4 c. packed brown sugar

2 Tbsp. white sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. plus 2 Tbsp. flour

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare the brownie mix and baking pan according to package directions for the 9 x 13 size.  Pour the batter into the pan.

For the cookie dough:

In a large size mixing bowl cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla, and mix until well blended.  In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Combine the flour mix with the creamed sugar mixture until most of the flour is incorporated, add the chocolate chips and mix until all is well combined.

Using heaping tablespoonfuls, drop the cookie dough over the top of the brownie batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are set and the center no longer wobbles if the pan is slightly shaken.  Cool for 1 hour.  When completely cool, cut into squares and store at room temperature in a lightly covered container.

Diet Coke Brownies

THE POST TITLE IS TRUE!  

I MADE BROWNIE'S USING DIET COKE!

Now think about it...2 fabulous, delicious, (necessary) items brought together, and as impossible as it seems, made even better!!
I found this recipe at  Every Mile a Memory, and when I read the post I almost fell off my chair.  I thought this was an impossible recipe, that it was a hoax, that it was an early April Fools day trick, but hey, I will try anything once, so....

TO DIE FOR!

Diet Coke Brownies

1 box fudge brownie mix ( I used the 9 x 13 pan size)

1 (12 oz.) can Diet Coke

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl dump the brownie mix in.  Open that can of Diet Coke (try not to drink any of it), and slowly pour over the dry brownie mix. It will foam up a lot. I stopped to stir in the soda a couple of times.

When all of the Diet Coke has been stirred in and well incorporated the batter will be very liquid, but that's OK.

Pour into a 9 x 13 pan which has been lightly coated with non-stick spray (bottom of the pan only),and bake for 30-35 minutes or as directed on the box.  I found though that I had to increase the baking time by about 7 minutes in order to have  a toothpick inserted in the center come out clean
Let them cool, cut them into 24 pieces and try not to eat the entire pan before the family gets home!

I have also made this recipe using the low fat boxed brownie mix, and I'm not kidding, you can't tell the difference!
Using the low fat mix, and cutting into 24 equal pieces, each brownie is 105 calories, and 0.5 grams fat.
OH MY!

We love linking up with our friends at 

Sweet as Sugar Cookies! 

Check out their Saturday Linky Party!!!

Marshmallow Layer Brownies

I love brownies.  So do my family.  We're a bunch of happy campers whenever I make a pan of them.  We really love this recipe!

Oh boy...these are chocolaty goodness at it's best...

MARSHMALLOW LAYER BROWNIES

1 box brownie mix -family size works best-

(plus the ingredients to make the brownies)

1 (10 oz.) pkg. marshmallows

Frosting:

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter

4 Tbsp. baking cocoa

1/4 c. corn syrup

1/2 c. milk

pinch salt

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Using your kitchen shears, cut the marshmallows in half.  Set aside.

Prepare the brownies according to package directions for the 9 x 13 size pan.  5 minutes before the baking time is completed remove the brownies from the oven and cover with the marshmallows.

Return to the oven and finish the baking time of 5 minutes.
Place the baking dish on a wire rack to cool completely.

While brownies are cooling, place the sugar, butter, baking cocoa, corn syrup, milk and the pinch of salt in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Boil 1 minute, and then remove from heat.  Beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.

Pour chocolate mix over the marshmallow layer of the brownies, spread to even it out, and allow to cool completely until frosting is set.

Cut into 24 equal size squares and store in an airtight container.  Your gonna love these!!!

We love linking up with:

http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/