Caramel Stuffed Brownie Bites #FoodieExtravaganza

These caramel stuffed brownie bites combine the chewiest fudgy brownies with a big square of chewy caramel in the middle. 

I’m one of those kind of people: The kind that buys ingredients with no plan in mind, you know, just in case someday I might need them. A perfect example is the bag of Kraft caramel squares that I’ve been storing in the door of my freezer for going on three years now.

Sure of course they are expired by now, but they’ve been frozen all this time! And I’m pleased to tell you that frozen caramel doesn’t change texture or flavor. You are welcome. 

Caramel Stuffed Brownie Bites

Be sure to liberally oil the mini muffin pan inside the cups and on the tope between them as well. The brownie bites expand over the top and you do not want them to stick. 

Ingredients

2 cups or 400g granulated sugar

1 cup or 125g flour

1 cup or 120g Dutch process cocoa powder

3/4 cup or 94g icing sugar, sifted if lumpy

3/4 cup or 75g semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

3 large eggs

3/4 cup or 180ml canola oil or other light oil, plus extra for pan

3 tablespoons full fat plain Greek style yogurt

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

24 caramel squares (I used the individually wrapped Kraft ones)

Method

Preheat the oven to 325°F or 163°C. Prepare your 24-cup mini muffin pan by brushing it with oil. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar and salt. Now add in the chocolate chips and stir to distribute them well. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, yogurt and vanilla.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry until barely combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. Don’t over mix.

Spoon half of the thick batter into the muffin pan then poke one (unwrapped!) caramel in each muffin hole.

Cover with the second half of the brownie batter. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the tops are slightly cracked and shiny.

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool on a wire rack for about 25-30 minutes.

Use a heat resistant silicone spatula to carefully release the brownies from the muffin pan.

You may end up deforming them slightly but you can press them back into shape. 

Place them on the wire rack to cool completely. 

Enjoy!

This month my Foodie Extravaganza friends are sharing recipes featuring caramel. Many thanks to our host, Kelley of Simply Inspired Meals. 

• Caramel & Orange Cake Pudding Trifle by Sneha's Recipe
• Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Caramel Butter Bars by Making Miracles
• Caramel Stuffed Brownie Bites by Food Lust People Love
• Disney's Caramel Shortbread by Simply Inspired Meals
• Easy Caramel Modjestkas by Palatable Pastime
• Galaxy Cake by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Hopjesvla (Dutch Coffee Custard) by Tara's Multicultural Table
• Salted Caramel Mudslide by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Foodie Extravaganza is where we celebrate obscure food holidays by cooking and baking together with the same ingredient or theme each month. Posting day is always the first Wednesday of each month. If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. We would love to have you! If you're a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board.

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Sweet Summer Squash Muffins #MuffinMonday

Sweet summer squash muffins are fabulous. Like your favorite zucchini bread, no one even suspects they contain vegetables. Even picky eaters love these!

There are many types of summer squash, in other words squash that is picked young and small so that their skins are tender enough to eat but my absolute favorite is crookneck squash. I slice it into circles and cook it with garlic (and often bacon) and can eat it all summer long. It’s one of the things I missed most living overseas. Never saw it outside the southern United States, not even once.

I’m making up for lost time this summer! 

Unfortunately for me, the rest of the family is not as enamored. They seem to think there is a limit to how often crookneck squash can be served. Which is ridiculous. I won them over to my side with these muffins though.

Sweet Summer Squash Muffins

Bake these in a normal 12-cup muffin pan or a 24-cup mini muffin pan. Even though it’s technically exactly the same amount of muffins by weight, I find the mini ones get eaten a lot faster. Who can resist a tiny muffin or three?

Ingredients

1 young crookneck squash (about 5 2/3 oz or 160g)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups or 190g flour
1/2 cup or 100g white sugar
1/2 cup or 100g dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1/3 cup or 80ml milk
1/3 cup or 80ml canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional add in: 1/2 cup or 100g semi-sweet chocolate chips

Method

Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and prepare your 24-cup mini muffin pan or 12-cup muffin pan by greasing it or lining it with muffin papers.

Grate your squash with the small holes of your grater onto a paper towel then and spread it around in a colander to drain.  Sprinkle with the 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, sugars, baking powder and cinnamon.

In another smaller bowl, whisk together your eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.

Use the back of a spoon or rubber spatula to squeeze moisture out of the grated squash. 

Pour your wet mixture into the dry ingredients then add the grated squash.

Fold until they are just combined.  There should be some dry flour still showing. Fold in the chocolate chips, if using.

Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups.

Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until the muffins are golden and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. Remove the muffins from the pan and cool further on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Check out all the great muffin recipes my Muffin Monday friends are sharing today!

• Apple Streusel Muffin Tops from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Banana Mocha Chip Muffins from Making Miracles
• Dirty Chai Latte Muffins from Palatable Pastime
• Java Plum Muffins from Passion Kneaded
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Raspberry Rhubarb Muffins from Zesty South Indian Kitchen 
• Sweet Summer Squash Muffins from Food Lust People Love

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all of our lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday can be found on our home page.

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Chicken Chickpea Masala (Instant Pot)

This chicken chickpea masala is so easy and so quick, you’ll want to make it frequently. Serve it with rice or with naan bread to scoop up the rich, spicy, creamy sauce.

Ever since I was forced to cook on top my washing machine in the laundry room during the kitchen renovation, my Instant Pot has been my best friend. Even with a beautiful new stove and my upgraded cooking space, it still makes a regular appearance for stews, curries or quick pasta dishes. 

I’m looking forward to cooler weather and more of those on the menu!

Chicken Chickpea Masala (Instant Pot)

This recipe was inspired by a chicken chickpea spinach masala shared on Serious Eats. Don’t be discouraged by the long list of ingredients. This dish comes together quickly with boneless chicken breasts which take very little time to cook and serves four.

Ingredients 

1 medium onion
4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons sinduriya powder (achiote)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground fennel
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (weight 1 lb or 450g after defatting)
2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
1 (10 oz or 283g ) can tomatoes with chiles (like Ro-Tel, store brand is fine)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 (15 oz or 425g) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup or 120ml chicken stock
3/4 cup or 180ml coconut cream
Fine sea salt to taste

To serve: cooked rice or naan bread

Method
Peel and finely chop your onions, garlic and ginger and measure all the spices out into a bowl. 

Heat ghee in an Instant Pot on high sauté. Add onions, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring frequently, until pale brown, about 5 minutes. 

Add in the spices, diced tomatoes and tomato paste and cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently. 

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces then add them to the Instant Pot, along with the chickpeas. 

Add half of the cilantro (reserving the other half for garnish) and the chicken stock. Stir to combine.

Set the Instant Pot to cook for 6 minutes.

When the 6 minutes are up, allow the Instant Pot to depressure naturally for 12 minutes then release the steam carefully by covering it with a towel and opening the vent slowly. Remove the lid from the Instant Pot and turn it to low sauté.

Add in the coconut cream and then the lime juice. Stir well and simmer, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens. 

Season to taste with salt, if needed. Garnish with remaining cilantro leaves.

Serve hot with rice or naan bread.

Enjoy!

Today is Multicooker Monday! Make sure to check out all the other recipes my friends have made in their small appliances to share today. Many thanks to our host and organizer, Sue of Palatable Pastime. 

• Air Fryer Roasted Red Pumpkin Bharta - Khaddu Ka Bharta from Sneha’s Recipe
• Chicken Chickpea Masala - Instant Pot from Food Lust People Love
• Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast with Orange Apple Chutney from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Instant Pot Ragu from Making Miracles
• Slow Cooker Beef Oxtails from Palatable Pastime
• Thai Red Curry Baby Back Ribs (Instant Pot) from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Toaster Oven Baked Eggs from Veggies First Then Dessert
• Toaster Oven Corn Bread from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking

Multicooker Monday is a blogger group created by Sue of Palatable Pastime for all of us who need encouragement to make better use of our small appliances like slow cookers, Instant Pots, Air Fryers, rice cookers and sous vide machines. We get together every third Monday of the month to share our recipes. If you are a food blogger who would like to post with us, please request to join our Facebook group.

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