After a very long hiatus, here's another try at my blog. I've really been enjoying my mini muffin pan from Crate & Barrel. I've made the cutest mini cupcakes and these pecan tassie desserts courtesy of my coworker Jessica's mom. Jessica's mom is an awesome baker and makes these beautiful decorated sugar cookies that surpass the artistry of anything one finds on Martha Stewart. Another fun recipe from another coworker's, Nina, mom are these delicious brownie bites. Both the Pecan Tassies, Brownie Bites and Mini Cupcakes have been a hit at the office and both Nina and Jess have assured me the mini treats taste "just like mom's" or so they politely tell me.


Pecan Tassies-They're like mini pecan pies you can pop in your mouth
Crust:
3 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour

Filling:
1 Tbs Butter (melted)
1 egg
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
2/3 cup chopped pecans
dash of salt

Mix cream cheese and butter
Mix in flour
Chill dough for crust 1 hour

Divide dough into 24 small dough balls (I used my small cookie scoop which was approx the right amount)
Use thumb to press dough balls into mini muffin pan creating small pie crusts. (Do not grease pans)

Whisk egg and mix with melted butter
Mix in all ingredients except mix in only 1/3 cup pecans (reserving remaining 1/3 cup)p)
Fill mini crusts with filling
Top filling with remaining 1/3 cup of chopped pecans
(Don't overfill, or they will explode and stick to pan)
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 min or until filling sets and cracks
Cool and Remove from pan

Brownie Bites
1 box brownie mix
Miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Foil Mini Cupcake Liners for the Medium size (not super small and not the usual cupcake size)
Note: Be sure to use the Foil Liners rather than the usual paper. The candy may burn into the paper liners, but foil should do the trick

Make brownie batter according to the box directions. I opted to add an egg for cakier brownies which turned out quite nicely. Line muffin tins with the foil liners and place an unwrapped peanut butter cup in each foil liner. Fill and cover with brownie batter and bake according to box instructions. There you go..."Brownie Bites." Thanks Sheila T.