Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies

My crazy neighbors are some of my best friends. I met them four years ago in the dorms freshman year. They are some of the best guys I know and they are also pigs. So when I came home the other day and found my Cooking Lite magazine open to the Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies and a note that said "Refill Please" I just burst out laughing. And what did I do? I made these and they were delicious!

Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies

Ingredients

CHOCOLATE BATTER:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1 large egg

CHEESECAKE BATTER:
1 (8-oz) block 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Cooking Spray

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. To prepare chocolate batter: Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in a medium bowl. In large bowl combine brown sugar, canola oil, buttermilk, vanilla, egg, and egg whites. Beat with a mixer at medium-high speed until well blended. Add flour mixture to brown sugar mixture. Beat at low speed until blended.
3. To prepare cheesecake batter: Place cheese, sugar, and peppermint in a medium bowl. Beat with a mixer until smooth. Add 1 egg and 1 egg white, beat well. Add flour and beat until blended.
4. Reserve 1/2 cup of chocolate batter. Pour remaining batter into a 9-inch square baking pan (I used a 9-inch pie pan) coated with cooking spray. Carefully pour cheesecake batter over top and spread evenly. Dot cheesecake batter with reserved chocolate batter. Swirl top two layers of batters together using the tip of a knife. Bake for 26 minutes.

Narsai David's Assyrian Pomegranate Marinade Giveaway Results

Anya has won David Narsai's marinade! Her suggestion for using the pomegranate marinade is: I'd marinate some chicken breasts and serve with a Greek salad.

Sounds delicious! I actually have some pork marinating it the marinade right now. Can't wait to cook it up!

Anya, you have 48 hours to contact me with a way to get the prize to you. I shot you an email. If I fail to hear back by February 24th I'll have to pick a new winner.

Life, love, YARN - I won!

How exciting is this! I've been entering blog giveaways and I won! I won this beautiful glass pendant and I am so excited to receive it in the mail.

Now speaking of blog giveaways, don't forget to enter the Narsai David's Assyrian Pomegranate Marinade! So few have entered, so there's still such a great chance you might win!

Check out her blog here and yay!

Narsai David's Assyrian Pomegranate Marinade Giveaway

About a month ago I bought Narsai David's Assyrian Pomegranate Marinade. However, I have yet to use it! On Narsai's website the marinade is described as follows:

Created at Narsai's Restaurant for Assyrian Rack of Lamb, this marinade incorporates fruits, red wine, garlic and spices. Not only fabulous with lamb, Narsai's Assyrian Marinade will go equally well with beef and pork.

I think this sounds so delicious and am quite excited to use it. Except, I don't know how! So now the challenge is yours. What would you do with Narsai's Assyrian Pomegranate Marinade? What would you marinate and what would you serve along side the main dish?

If you answer this question as well as leave your email address, you will be entered to win your own bottle of Narsai's Assyrian Pomegranate Marinade. Only people who leave their email address in the post will be considered in the random drawing.

Leave your suggestions by the 22nd to be eligible to win this delicious marinade!

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. I don't know how I'm supposed to contact the winners otherwise. :-/

Also, UPDATING AS OF 2/10. If you want to be entered to win more than just once for this contest blog about it. Leave me a comment to the blog where you mentioned this contest (after you have left your recipe suggestion) for a second chance to win. For a third chance, Twitter about it and leave the link!