Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

I'm either a genius, or I'm certifiable.  I decided to make cookies this afternoon with no recipe whatsoever and weird ingredients on top of it.  And they got right on the first try!

I made a second batch tonight, just to make sure the spices were right, but they were good on the first try.

Enjoy!

1 disc Mexican Chocolate (chopped) - like Nestle's Abuelita
1/3 cup Powdered Sugar1 stick Butter

3/4 tsp Ground  Cinnamon1/4 tsp Ancho Chili Powder1/4 tsp Ground Cayenne (optional)

1/3 cup Dark Cocoa Powder - like Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa

2 eggs1/2 Tbsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream Chocolate, Powdered Sugar and Butter.  Add spices.  Add Cocoa Powder

Add Eggs, Vanilla.

Add Flour

Drop small spoonfuls on parchment paper, press flat with fork.

These cookies can be placed very close on baking sheet, they don't melt or spread.

Bake 7-9 minutes or until set up and dry looking on top.

Don't pay $8 for Abuelita without checking Dollar General first.  Seriously.  It's like $3 at Dollar General.

Gramma's Hamburger Barbeque, otherwise known as Sloppy Joes

One of my family's favorite meals is Gramma's hamburger barbeque.  It's basically sloppy joes without the can of Manwich.

I spice them up a little compared to what Gramma makes, but that's because we love all kinds of spices and seasonings at our house.  Even still they're super easy and the recipe scales up well for sitting in a crock pot all afternoon at a party and reheats well the next day or the day after.

1 lb. Ground Beef, Chicken, or whatever
6 oz Tomato Paste
1/3 cup Ketchup
2 Tbsp Yellow Mustard
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Chopped Onion (optional)
other seasonings to taste (we like garlic or garlic powder and crushed red pepper)

Brown ground beef.  Add salt and pepper to taste and chopped onion if you're using any.  Depending on the fat content of your ground beef, you may need to add some water along with the rest of the ingredients to help them mix better.

Add Tomato Paste and stir well.  Add a couple tablespoons of water if mixture is too thick.

Add Ketchup and Mustard and stir well.  Add a couple tablespoons of water if too thick.

Add Brown Sugar and other spices.  Allow to simmer for a few minutes before serving.

My family always just served this on hamburger buns, but Dave prefers it open face on Garlic Cheese Toast.