Peanut Butter Toffee Cheesecake Brownies

I wasn't quite sure how my treat day was going to turn out at work today.  I was trying out two new recipes and that can be a little scary.  I brought a bunch of clementines as a back up in case something was a flop.  By the way, I think clementines must be in season right now because they are wonderful.  This was the desert I chose to make.

1 box brownie mix
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. water
2 eggs
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
8 oz. Heath toffee chips
1 c. milk chocolate chips
3 Tbsp. whipping cream

Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9x13 pan.  In a bowl combine brownie mix, oil. water and eggs and spread in pan.  Set aside pan.  In another bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy.  Mix in milk and peanut butter, then stir in 1 cup of toffee chips.  Spoon this mixture over the brownie mix in pan and try to spread out as much as you can.  Bake for 30-40 minutes until cheesecake mixture is set.  Let cool and place in refrigerator.  After they have cooled some, combine chocolate chips and whipping cream and microwave for 40-60 seconds til smooth.  Spread over the brownies and sprinkle with remaining toffee bits.  Store in the refrigerator.

McDonald's Peppermint Hot Chocolate

So have you tried the new McDonald's peppermint hot chocolate?  I made the mistake and gave in and tried last week Friday, and only because I had a full punch card so I got it free (kind of).  It was very good!  Tonight I tried to replicate it and I must say I thought it turned out really good although I did not do a side by side taste test.

First, I want to say that I always use chocolate milk to make hot chocolate.  Growing up at the truck stop in town our favorite waitress (I think her name or nickname was Bee) would always make it for us this way instead of the powder.  We always felt special when she did that.

So, to start I heated some chocolate milk in a mug in the microwave until hot.  Then I added 1-2 Tbsp. peppermint flavoring syrup (the kind of stuff you add to your coffees) and stirred.  If you were going to do it up like McDonald's you would swirl some whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top.  Me, I opted for lots of mini marshmallows. 

Yum!!