Mixing Bowl: Recipes!

"When we preach Jesus Christ, oh! Then we are not putting out the plates,

and the knives and the forks for the feast, but we are handing out the Bread Himself."

Charles Spurgeon

Lemon Brownies

A TRIP TO CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA wouldn't be the same without a visit to Reba's Bakery. Carmel is a small beach city on California's Monterey Peninsula. This charming seaside town with its winding drives and warm breezes leads you to beaches with sweeping white sand and stunning ocean views. In lieu of street addresses, residential homes go by names like "Nutcracker" and "Rosebud Cottage."  The downtown's Tudor-style architecture resembles real-life gingerbread houses, which gives way to twisting passageways, cobblestone courtyards, cottage-style homes.

Our visit brought us all that and more. Like these Lemon Brownies from Reba's.

Lemon Brownies with Lemon Glaze

Brownie Ingredients

Brownie Ingredients:

• 1 15.25 oz box of lemon cake mix mix, I used Betty Crocker

• 1 box lemon instant pudding (vanilla pudding can be used)

• 1/3 cup lemon juice

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

• ½ cup white chocolate chips

Instructions for Brownies:

1. Line an 8” square baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray so that the brownies lift out easily.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

3. With a hand mixer, combine the cake mix, pudding, lemon juice, eggs, and lemon zest and white chocolate chips in a medium sized mixing bowl.

4. Pour batter (it will be thick) into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Tip: I spray cooking spray on my spatula to help spread it in the pan and on my fingers as well to get the batter in the corners without sticking.

5. Bake for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted in the center and come out clean or with only crumbs (no wet batter).

6. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

7. Lift the parchment paper out of the pan and cool completely.

8. Cut brownies into squares. Tip: Press down into the lemon brownies with a sharp, warm knife to create clean slices.  I use a tall glass filled with warm water to dip the knife into between each slice I cut.

Glaze Ingredients

Glaze Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice add a few extra drops if needed for desired consistency

• Lemon zest for garnishing optional

Instructions for Glaze:

1. In a meduim bowl combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice together with a small whisk until smooth.

2. Drizzle over brownies and sprinkle with lemon zest.

Tip: Instead of glaze you can sprinkle powdered sugar on top.