Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies
So in keeping with our Halloween Eats and Drinks Theme, we seriously can NOT begin to tell you how awesome these are. A friends mom made them and, well, yes we admit it, we ate them ALL…. Hey it’s Halloween enjoy, just hit the gym the next day!!
Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies
Makes: 36 servings
Prep: 30 mins
Bake: 325°F 1 hr
ingredients
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup butter, cut up
2 1/4cups sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)
directions
1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over the edges of the pan. Grease the foil; set pan aside.
2.In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese and the 1 tablespoon butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1/2 cup sugar. Beat until well combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in 1 egg, the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the cinnamon, and ginger until combined. Stir in the 1 tablespoon flour. Set aside.
3.In a small bowl stir together the 1-1/4 cups flour, the baking powder, and salt; set aside.
4.In a large saucepan combine the chocolate and 3/4 cup butter. Cook and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Gradually add the 2-1/4 cups sugar, beating with an electric mixer on low speed just until combined. Add the 4 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk and the 2 teaspoons vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture just until combined.
5.Spread chocolate mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture in several mounds on top of the chocolate batter. Using a narrow metal spatula, gently swirl the cream cheese mixture into the chocolate batter. If desired, sprinkle with walnuts.
6.Bake about 60 minutes or until center is just set when pan is gently shaken. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Use foil to lift uncut brownies out of pan. Cut into brownies.
nutrition facts (Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies)
• Servings Per Recipe 36 Calories159, Protein(gm)2, Carbohydrate(gm)21, Fat, total(gm)8, Cholesterol(mg)43, Saturated fat(gm)5, Monosaturated fat(gm)2, Dietary Fiber, total(gm)1, Sugar, total(gm)16, Vitamin A(IU)1215, Thiamin(mg)0, Riboflavin(mg)0, Niacin(mg)0, Pyridoxine (Vit. B6)(mg)0, Folate(µg)16, Cobalamin (Vit. B12)(µg)0, Sodium(mg)92, Potassium(mg)76, Calcium(DV %)20, Iron(DV %)1, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Jay Leno’s joke before two Love Ride bikers die hits a nerve
We had to share this story, we normally don’t like to give press to the “mainstream” media and gossipy type stuff, but as riders this one just doesn’t sit good with any of us, how do you feel about it?
From the LA Times
Moments before two Love Ride participants were killed Sunday in a freeway traffic collision, the event’s grand marshal, “The Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, told a crowd of bikers that he wanted to see “somebody go down.” “Every year, [the organizer] says, ‘Drive safe,’” Leno told the crowd in kicking off the 28th annual Love Ride in Glendale. “I’m gonna say, ‘Don’t drive safe.’ I wanna see somebody go down. So it’ll be fun. I want it to be in front or behind me and see a whole row of bikes go down. Get drunk, fall off the road. We’ve all become too damn polite … we haven’t had one incident.”
About an hour later, Romarino Zeri, 51, of Los Angeles and Julie Cameron, 38, of Venice were killed when their motorcycle collided with a big rig on the Golden State (5) Freeway in Pacoima, officials said.
The big rig’s rear tires ran over the pair, whom paramedics pronounced dead at the scene, California Highway Patrol Officer José Barrios told the Glendale News-Press.
Representatives for NBC-Universal and Leno did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
The motorcycle riding community took to the blogosphere Monday, with one Love Ride participant writing that Leno’s remarks would haunt her forever.
“I wish he had not joked about that, if someone does go down, he is going to feel really bad for his comments,” she said.
Garage-Girls Profile; Stacy Bortz, one fast Lady!
Stacey Bortz is a true racing junkie! After street riding for several years and spending lots of time in her boyfriends machine shop (Gregg’s Machine) soaking up all the thrills of machining and making horsepower, it wasn’t long before she found herself ready to learn the art of drag racing.
After racing her street machine superglide and feeling that she had taken this bike as far as she could, she decided it was time to purchase a true drag bike!
With that drag bike Stacey ended the year with 2 wins, 1 runner up and taking second place overall. Pretty dam impressive. Stacey hits the 1/4 mile in 9.40s around 145 mph plus… we love it!!! We asked Stacey some questions here is what she shared…
GG. Tell us about you, where are you from,what are you into and what do you like to do with your free time?
SB. I am from Uniontown PA, 33 years old. I am an insurance broker at Penn Summit Insurance. Ive been doing this for 14 years. I love my job and I really enjoy helping my clients.
Aside from working, riding and racing my bikes, I am really into fitness, and natural health. I am very consciencious about what I eat and I love to grow and cook with organic veggies. My garden is my favorite place to be.
I am a reiki master and teacher and practice that along with other natural healing modalities. I am very much into music and pretty much need to have music around me 24-7. I love to go to see live shows as often as possible.
Im a gemini, so maybe that explains the extreme opposites that Ive found balance with– one one side I love quiet meditative hobbies versus. loud rock shows and superfast drag racing .. it works for me.
GG. How did you find your passion for Drag Racing bikes, how long have you been doing it?
SB. Once I decided to try it there was no going back. When I said that I wanted to do this, we planned that I would start learning the following spring (2007). That gave Gregg time over the winter to build my stock superglide motor up to 114 cubic inches, stretch the swingarm ,change out the transmission and build some pipes. So I learned to race on a hot rod rather than working up to one. I loved it immediately. Knowing that you can, and doing something that you may be afraid to do is is the most rewarding experience ever. From that first bike Ive graduated to a true drag bike. The one Im racing now is a 120 cubic inch motor on a custom chassis. At 180 horsepower, I run pretty consistently in the mid 9’s at speeds between 142-145 mph. This season I won a couple races and came in 2nd place overall in Hot Street. I also set a national record in Hot street for 1/8 mile mph at 122.23.
GG. What do you most love about it?
SB. There’s alot to love, what I love most on a personal level about it is the sense of accomplishment from reaching goals and kicking ass. And of course, the rush after coming off of a high speed run.
On a larger scale, I love being a part of this. Ive met some amazing people. There are 7 of us racing out of our pit, plus a network of spouses and friends who come to the races for support. Every race is like a family event.
GG. Do you have a sweet car or motorcycle other than your drag bike?
SB. Other than my drag bike, I still ride my 02 superglide on the street. its a 10 second bike, so its a ton of fun to ride on the street. If you crack the throttle in second gear it lays tire. I just got a 78 lowrider style black paint job on it with hand painted pinstripes and hand painted decals. I chose 78 because thats the year I was born!
Both of my bikes were covered and shown in the September issue of Ironworks Magazine in the article about GMS. ( Notice the Garage-Girls sticker on my drag bike!! its been there all year!) Thanks Stacey, YOU ROCK!!!
GG. What are you most passionate about in life?
SB. music,art,animals,spirituality,health and wellness, riding/racing … I could go on all day,but I cant really narrow that answer down to one specific thing.
GG. Is there anything you would love to learn to do?
SB. I would love to learn how to play the steel guitar
GG. Where would you most like to visit?
SB. Peru, India,Thailand..I have a long list.
GG. What is your idea of relaxing?
SB. If Im at home, gardening or hanging out with my cat or reading, but my favorite places to completely zone out and relax are the beach or the mountains
GG. What type of music do you normally listen to?
SB. I love a wide range of music, Im especially fond of the drive by truckers an the alt-country/rock genres
GG. Do you collect anything?
SB. Not really. I buy tons of books, but not to “collect” them intentionally..I end up giving them away.
Stacey Bortz you inspire us! We love all the things you are into and look forward to watching you make your new goals happen. Pick up that Steel Guitar girl, we know you’ll be able to ROCK it! Be sure to keep us all in the loop of your racing goals! ~GG.
Hummus Pumpkin Appetizer
We are suckers for Halloween and all it’s cool treats, especially this spooky appetizer!
You’ll be dying to carve into this Hummus Pumpkin. To make, scoop hummus onto a serving plate, then cover with finely shredded carrots. A small piece of green onion makes a perfect pumpkin stem. Serve with chips of your choice! yummmmmmm
Stacie
I am a spayed orange tabby, and rather good looking if I do say so myself. Perhaps that sounds a bit arrogant, but I figure there’s nothing wrong with having pride in one’s appearance. Besides, I have a marvelous ringed tail! At a year and a half I am mature enough to know the rules, but there is still a lot of kitten in me.
My buddy Merry and I were brought to Animal Friends because we were being neglected in our former home. I am certainly looking forward to getting lots of attention in my new home.
I really like to play! I am perfectly capable of amusing myself, but I love to have my person(s) interact with me using a cat toy. I love pouncing on a toy mouse (hopefully my new home won’t have any live ones) or running into an empty paper bag and pretending it is my lair in the wilderness! Won’t you come meet me today at Animal Friends in Pittsburgh?
Hand Crafted Hydes!
Is there anything better than handcrafted? No, of course not, especially these days when most of the leather products being pushed on us are made in Pakistan… feels gross just saying that, let alone wearing it!
Well, check this new line out by Dr. Jekyl’s Hydes. A new line of leather belts and bracelets targeted specifically for women, well that’s because us gals like the handcrafted goods and appreciate quality craftsmanship!
Dr. Jekyl’s Hydes was established in 1970 in upstate New York. Owner, Tom Accordino has made it his mission to bring his customers the highest quality leather products possible. Specializing in unique, custom biker related leather, Dr. Jekyl’s Hydes leather products are hand crafted, hand tooled and are all original designs.
With many leather designs to choose from for men and women, in wristbands, wallets, bracelets, bags, biker vests, clothing, guitar straps and even pet collars there is bound to be something you’ll be dying to get your hands on. Check out the website at www.jekylshydes.com. NOTE… All on-line leather products are sold at www.wickedskulls.com. Or, contact Tom at 718-273-4781 to place a custom order.
LIKE Cathy’s Help on FaceBook for the chance to receive a free mammogram!!!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and who is ready to help women with the fight but ……Cathy’s Help. So much so that the are doing a pretty cool thing. If you go to their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CathysHelp , and hit the LIKE button you will be entered to receive a free mammogram. You pick the place and time, Cathy’s Help pay’s the bill, it’s that simple!!!
Rene Chavez has graciously donated a second prize, a relined a helmet for.
Everyone that has been following Cathy’s Help is automatically entered.
So get the word out, spread it around and rally your family and friends to “like” the Cathy’s Help FB page!
The winners will be chosen at the end of the month…..