Bengal Brownies and Tailgating Favorites!!

Who Dey!! 

 It's the beginning of 

football season in every corner of 

the USA.  

Here in my hometown...many of

 us root for the Bengals...

Today...I'm sharing with you a delicious brownie 

recipe that you can adapt

 to your own team colors...

or make for really any occasion.  

For today we are making the orange and dark

 chocolate (black) to match our team colors. 

These brownies are a delicious dark chocolate 

fudge-like brownie topped with a sweet cream cheese swirl.

Bengal Brownies

Dark Chocolate Brownies with a Cream Cheese Swirl

Karri Perry, Blue Ribbon Kitchen

½ cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 stick melted butter

2 large eggs

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp espresso powder

 1 tsp vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

½ cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder

½ tsp baking powder

***

1 brick, 8 ounces cream cheese-softened

1 egg

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ cup sour cream

Orange food gel/coloring

In a medium bowl stir together the sugars, eggs, melted butter, salt, espresso powder and vanilla extract.  Sift together the flour, dark cocoa powder and baking powder.  Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients.  Stir until combined.  Pour into a parchment lined 8x8 pan, RESERVING ¼ cup of the brownie batter for the topping.

Mix together the softened cream cheese, egg, vanilla, sugar and sour cream. Mix until smooth.  Add enough food coloring to get desired orange intensity.  Spread the cream cheese batter on top of the brownie batter.

Add dollops of the reserved brownie batter on top of the orange cream cheese mixture.  Using a toothpick, swirl the chocolate brownie batter into the orange cream cheese mixture.

Bake on the middle rack of a pre heated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes, or until the brownies are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out cleanly. Do not over bake.

Let cool completely before cutting. Lift brownies from pan using parchment paper for easy cutting.

Optional: Change cream cheese food coloring to match other team colors, or leave plain.

*** Yes, you can use a boxed brownie mix instead … I like Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge brand if I’m not baking from scratch…

Do you need something amazing 

to go with the brownies??

Try this beer cheese, served either

 warm or cold...perfect for apple slices and soft pretzels.

Served warm, I love it with Southern Style Pulled Pork Nachos!!

Enjoy!

Beer Cheese Sauce and Southern Style Pulled Pork Nachos

Karri Perry, Blue Ribbon Kitchen

2 TBS butter

2 TBS all purpose flour

½ tsp Dijon mustard

¼ tsp paprika

½ tsp Worcestershire sauce

½ tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper – to taste

4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 of a standard brick)

2 cups shredded sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese

1 can or bottle of your favorite beer- use enough to reach desired consistency

In a saucepan over medium heat melt the butter and add the flour, let cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Add the cream cheese and melt into the butter flour mixture.  Add in the mustard, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce, stir well.  Add the shredded cheddar cheese.  Once the cheese begins to melt slowly add the beer, start with ½ cup… stir as the cheese dip melts and add more beer a little at a time to reach desired consistency.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with pretzels, apple slices or uses as a sauce for Southern Style Pulled Pork Nachos.

Southern Style Pulled Pork Nachos serves 4-6 adults

·         For a crowd increase the following amounts

Tortilla Chips 2 bags

Pre-made pulled pork –warmed  1 lb

Baked Beans- use your favorite- warmed and saucy

Red onions sliced thin

Jalapenos sliced

Warm BBQ sauce- use your favorite

Creamy coleslaw- use your favorite

Warm beer cheese sauce

Sour cream

Warm tortilla chips, and add toppings.  Enjoy!