Tag Archives: Morgan in the kitchen

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

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Morgan loved to bake “goodies” in the kitchen

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

1 box of your favorite brownie mix

1/2- 1- cup peanut butter chips

1/2-1- cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray AND grease 40 mini-muffin cups.

Prepare boxed brownie mix as directed. Spoon batter evenly into mini muffin cups ( 1/2 to 1 heaping teaspoon). Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into center comes out slightly wet. After brownies are out of the oven, wait for centers to fall. This will happen upon cooling. If not then tap the centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole for the peanut butter.

Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 35 seconds then stir. While brownies are still warm spoon about half a teaspoon of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Cool completely in pan. Go around edge of brownies with a sharp knife and they should pop right out.

Morgan’s Lithuanian Potato Kugel Recipe

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Potato Kugel
4 medium potatoes (about 2 lbs.)
1 large yellow onion
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil or 3 pieces chopped bacon
Garnish with sour cream
A kugel is a pudding-like dish, best eaten hot or warm.  Peel the potatoes and grate them as quickly as possible.  Peel and grate the onion.  Beat the eggs lightly.  Stir together the potatoes, onion, eggs, salt and pepper.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, pour the oil, into a shallow, medium sized casserole, add the potato mixture and bake it for 1 hour.  If using chopped bacon instead of oil on the bottom of the casserole, put the bacon into the casserole and bake 15 minutes before adding that potato mixture, then bake for 1 additional hour.  The kugel should be puffed up and browned.  Serve hot with sour cream.  Serves 6 – 8.

Morgan loved this recipe – it is one of the Lithuanian recipes that she enjoyed just as much as she enjoyed learning to speak Lithuanian.  Morgan’s father Steve is 1/2 Lithuanian and Morgan was practicing her Lithuanian in order to travel there someday – it was on her bucket list.  Whenever I called her on her phone she had it set to show up on the screen that  “motina” was calling.  Motina is Lithuanian for mother.

imissyou

Tonight I feel Morgan very close – the full moon, one of the super moons, maybe with it’s gravitational pull…I don’t know if that is it, all I know is that she is very, very close.  And I know how much I miss her laughter, her smile, her flat hand against the middle of my back, gently placed there whenever I was upset.  Her hand seemed to put an invisible warm sense of calm throughout my body.  That same warm “blast” of energy I can still feel when I break down and cry…wondering why did this sweet, kind daughter has been taken from this world.  I know Morgan is sending her love, she wants me to stay strong, and she wants me to continue to raise awareness, and push for justice and truth, not only for her, but for all others that have not been able to find justice.  I won’t let her down.

I enjoy sharing these recipes to keep the happy memories of Morgan alive – I hope you will enjoy them as well.  Love and hugs to all.

Morgan in the kitchen: Appetizer recipe for Italian stuffed mushrooms

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mushroomStuffed Mushrooms Parmesan

1 lb. mushrooms with 1 – 2 inch caps
2 Tbsp. olive plus 2 additional Tbsp. *
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs (1 slice) we usually use Italian bread crumbs, but either kind works
3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. chopped parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. oregano
Grease shallow 1 1/2 quart casserole.  Clean mushrooms and cut off stems from caps.  Place caps open side up in casserole.  Set aside.  Finely chop mushroom stems.  Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil in skillet.  Add chopped mushroom stems, onion, and garlic.  Cook slowly until lightly browned.  Meanwhile, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and oregano.  Mix in onion, garlic, and stems.  Pile mixture lightly into inverted caps.  Pour remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil into casserole.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and the tops are browned.  Makes 6 – 8 servings.
* Additional olive oil is to pour into casserole at the end.  Morgan used to always make these on Thanksgiving.  Everyone in our family used to cook whatever their favorites were on Thanksgiving, and they became all part of our Thanksgiving dinner.