Butter, Love, and Cowboys - Page 8 of 10 - My butter lovin', cowboy chasin' life

Banana Pudding

What a delicious summer treat! Banana Pudding is 100% satisfying and tasty. Not to mention it is super simple and quick to throw together. Thank goodness no oven is required. We reached 100 degrees today. I am dying. We don’t have central air, but we do have a swamp cooler. Bless that thing.

My Cowboy did have to replace the motor in it today, but fortunately it is back up and running, making this summer heat bearable. I had hopes of getting this recipe on the blog for you before July 4th, because it is a fantastic it’s triple digits, your house is full of people, and you do NOT want to turn the oven on kind of dessert. However, last week was spent camping and preparing my house for company. Therefore, Banana Pudding didn’t quite make it on the web in time.

Banana Pudding from butterloveandcowboys.com

While the 4th of July may be past us, hot summer days are not. I hope next time you need a fast, no-bake treat, you will give this Banana Pudding a try. You won’t regret it. There are many recipes out there for Banana Pudding, but this one is as good as it gets! This is Paula Deen’s version. Pretty much anytime Paula Deen has a version of anything, it is my favorite.

Banana Pudding from butterloveandcowboys.com

Now go get your summer on with this summer treat!
Recipe lightly adapted from Paula Deen.

Banana Pudding

2017-07-05 17:56:11

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Ingredients

1 box (11 oz) vanilla wafers
6 bananas, sliced
1 box (5 oz) vanilla pudding
2 cups milk
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
12 oz Cool Whip

Instructions

1. Set aside 15 wafers. Layer the remaining wafers on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
2. Slice the bananas and lay them on top of the wafers. Reserve a few slices for garnish.
3. Whisk together the vanilla pudding and milk until well combined. Set aside.
4. Beat the cream cheese until soft. Add the sweetened condensed milk and combine well. Fold in the Cool Whip. Fold in the pudding.
5. Spread this mixture on top of the wafers and bananas. Roughly crush the remaining wafers and evenly sprinkle on top of the dessert. Garnish with remaining banana slices.
6. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving. Keep refrigerated.

Butter, Love, and Cowboys https://www.butterloveandcowboys.com/

Brownies and Bars

Peanut Butter Brownies

About 75% of the time when I ask My Cowboy what sounds good for dessert, he asks for Peanut Butter Brownies. A lot of the time I don’t even ask, because I know what his response will be. In preparation for this post, I asked him to verbalize how they rank on his list of favorite desserts. As no surprise to me, he says these are tied for first with a skookie (recipe coming soon)!

Peanut Butter Brownies are an important part of our life. My obsession with chocolate and peanut butter really began with this recipe. Reese’s had long been my favorite candy, and I always really liked the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, but these really kicked my adoration for the two into gear.

It all started on a Sunday afternoon, six years ago this spring. Is it weird that I remember that? Mostly I just remember it was shortly before I graduated high school. Plus this recipe is that memorable. A family friend from my hometown brought these Peanut Butter Brownies to share with the ladies in her Sunday class. That was where my mom and older sister tested them. Her daughter was my age and a good friend of mine. After church, she passed me in the hall with her Mom, who was carrying the leftovers. She shared one of these luscious, moist, peanut butter-y, delicious, fantastic, extraordinary brownies with me.

Peanut Butter Brownies from butterloveandcowboys.com

That same afternoon, once I got home, my Mom and sister informed me their lives had been changed just as much as mine by these brownies. Not only that, but we needed the recipe. We didn’t just want it, we absolutely, positively needed Peanut Butter Brownies. I called up my friend (the one whose mom made this batch of divinity) and asked for the recipe. She shared it and I made my first batch that afternoon.

Peanut Butter Brownies from butterloveandcowboys.com

In the months that followed, before I left for college, between my mom, my sister, and myself, we must have made Peanut Butter Brownies at least ten times. Fortunately, we all trained for a 5k that summer, or else these bad boys might have reconstructed our thighs.

Peanut Butter Brownies from butterloveandcowboys.com

Let’s talk a second about boxed brownie mixes. I like them, but prefer they have frosting, ice cream, or some mix-ins. I use them a lot in recipes like this, even though I won’t deny homemade are the best. For some reason though, I just like Peanut Butter Brownies best with a brownie mix. I don’t know why, I just do. So there. Use what you like!

Peanut Butter Brownies from butterloveandcowboys.com

In the last three or four years, these brownies have flooded the internet. There are many recipes out there and the most common title seems to be Buckeye Brownies, but I just can’t call them that. They have always been Peanut Butter Brownies to me and they always will be.

Happy Friday! Go and make these quick 🙂

Peanut Butter Brownies

2017-06-23 15:15:00

A moist brownie lathered with peanut butter frosting and topped off with a layer of chocolate!

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Ingredients

-1 box brownie mix and the ingredients on the package, or your favorite brownie recipe
-1/2 cup butter, soft
-1 cup peanut butter
-3 cups powdered sugar
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-milk, for consistency
-12 oz milk chocolate chips
-1-2 tablespoons Crisco

Instructions

1. Make box brownie mix according to directions on the back of the package for a 9x13 pan. Cool completely.
2. For the peanut butter frosting: Mix butter and peanut butter until smooth and well combined. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and combine. Add milk, as needed for consistency. I usually use about 1/4 cup. Spread on top of cooled brownies
3. Melt chocolate chips, with the Crisco, on top of the stove or in the microwave. If using the microwave, reduce the power to sixty percent, and melt in thirty second increments. Stir in between each thirty seconds. Carefully spread on top of the peanut butter frosting. Let sit until chocolate hardens. Serve and enjoy!

Butter, Love, and Cowboys https://www.butterloveandcowboys.com/

Ramblings

10 Reasons Why I Wanted to Marry a Cowboy

I have wanted to marry a cowboy almost as long as I can remember. There are a lot of reasons that has been my ideal and I decided to compile a list to share. What the world says a cowboy is and what a cowboy really is are, in some ways, completely different things.

Why Marry a Cowboy from butterloveandcowboys.com

If you were to type cowboy in google or pinterest, you are likely to have a thousand photos nail you with shirtless men in Wranglers four sizes to small, leaning against a fence, and a cowboy hat atop their head. He is probably holding a beer in one hand and likely his back pocket contains a package of Skoal. In no way does this represent the kind of man a cowboy is. It certainly does not entail what a cowboy means to me. Nor does it represent the many reasons I love and admire My Cowboy.

The world paints a picture of the cowboy as an extremely restless and reckless individual that doesn’t stick around, or keep up with commitments outside the spotlight of a dusty arena. This is so far from the truth of a what real cowboy is. I hope this list will help you understand what I mean.

Here are a few of the reasons why I wanted to marry a cowboy:

A cowboy knows how to work. Not only has My Cowboy put in countless 14-15 hour work days to provide for us in the last five years of marriage, but he has a strong work ethic that I admire. I so want that instilled in our future children.
A cowboy is respectful. I knew I wanted to marry a man who not only respected his mama, but my mama as well. If he couldn’t respect these two, why would I expect him to respect me or treat me as an equal partner in marriage?
A cowboy is God-fearing. Religion is everything to me. Finding someone with similar beliefs and commitment to God was an absolute must. My Cowboy is tough, tough enough he understands His need to rely on God.
As mentioned, A cowboy is tough. A couple months ago, My Cowboy was working on a spud planter and fell off. Long story short- he landed on his feet but caught a lot of metal and bars, on various parts of his body on the way down. He always lands on his feet, but always seems to do the most damage that way! (Like the time he shattered out his teeth, but that’s a different story for a different day). He writhed in pain as he caught his breath a few minutes. He felt really nauseous, but got back up on that planter and worked another hour until he got the job done! Now whether that was the best thing to do or not, I won’t say.
A Cowboy has a soft heart. My Cowboy can lift a hundred pounds, yet I have watched him tenderly bottle-feed a shivering calf, who lost their mama, in freezing temperatures. He is every bit as compassionate and caring as he is tough and strong.
A Cowboy has a hearty appetite. I love food. I love to eat. I love sugar, if you didn’t know. I believe food is more than eating, it is an experience. I knew it would take a man with a real appreciation for good eats to keep up with my hobbies in the kitchen!
A cowboy loves his animals. I believe how a person treats not only people, but all things under their stewardship says a lot about him/her.
A cowboy loves to ride. Riding a horse is fun and in the ranching world, very useful. It provides perspective and the opportunity to see the world from a horse’s point of view. Besides, who doesn’t wanna spend date night saddled up beside a cute cowboy?!
A cowboy loves the country. I’m a country girl through and through. I love visiting the city, but I don’t wanna live there. No offense to those who do, it’s just not for me 🙂 This girl desperately wanted someone who wouldn’t make her trade alfalfa fields and blue skies for Wal-Mart and asphalt roads.
A cowboy can change the oil. My own Dad’s ranching background made him a competent mechanic. He may not have been able to fix everything, but he wouldn’t lug any vehicle of his into the mechanic until he had at least tried! I always hoped for someone who had this mentality and could take care of their own oil changes.

Why Marry a Cowboy from butterloveandcowboys.com

These are just some of the reasons I am so grateful I found My Cowboy. The list really goes on and on though. I try to constantly remember how blessed I am to have found a man with all these wonderful traits and qualities!

No-Bake

Heavenly Oreo Dessert

Heavenly Oreo Dessert is one of my personal, most loved dessert recipes. It is one of those things you can just eat, and eat, and eat, and eat, and eat, and eeeeeeeeeeeeeat. I always make it several times in the summer, as it is another trusty no-bake and oh-so-simple recipe.

It comes straight from Mandy’s Recipe Box. I couldn’t even change a thing, because it is so perfect. When My Cowboy and I were engaged, Mandy lived in the community where my in-law’s live (also where we currently live). My Cowboy’s mama threw a bridal shower for me and asked everyone to bring a recipe to put together in a book for me. Mandy brought a cute little recipe card entitled “Heavenly Oreo Dessert”.

Heavenly Oreo Dessert from butterloveandcowboys.com

It took me a while to rotate through the recipes I had been given, so I didn’t get around to making this recipe immediately. If I had known then what I know now, I would have placed Heavenly Oreo Dessert as top priority! Mandy explains on her site, there are other titles such as “Chocolate Lasagna” or “Oreo Delight”. However, I completely, totally, absolutely, 125% agree with Mandy, that the title Heavenly Oreo Dessert just fits this recipe best. It just does.

Heavenly Oreo Dessert from butterloveandcowboys.com

Try it and see for yourself. It is nothing short of heavenly.

Heavenly Oreo Dessert

2017-06-16 16:05:09

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Ingredients

-1 package Oreo's
-1/2 cup butter, melted
-2 packages (3.9 oz each) instant chocolate pudding
-3 1/4 cup milk
-2 (8 oz each) containers Cool Whip
-8 oz cream cheese, soft
-1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Crush all Oreo Cookies in a Ziplock bag with a rolling pin. I prefer to do it by hand rather than in a food processor because I LOVE the Oreo's in small chunks for this recipe rather than processed into crumbs. (Look at my photos to further reference the size or chunks I do). Set aside 1/2 cup Oreo chunks for topping (You can crumble these smaller since they are for garnish). Pour the rest of the crumbs into a 9x13 pan and pour melted butter on top. Mix by hand or with a spoon until well combined and press into the pan for the crust.
2.In a mixing bowl, mix together pudding packages and milk. Whisk until smooth. Place in the fridge.
3. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and mix until combined. Fold in one container of Cool Whip. Spread over the Oreo crust.
4. Pull pudding out of the fridge and stir. Place on top of the cream cheese layer. Next, spread the second container of Cool Whip and then sprinkle the leftover 1/2 cup of Oreo crumbs on the top.
5. Refrigerate about thirty minutes.. Keep refrigerated.

Butter, Love, and Cowboys https://www.butterloveandcowboys.com/

No-Bake

Easy Raspberry Sauce

This Easy Raspberry Sauce is another one of those toppings I can’t help but eat straight from the jar. My Cowboy couldn’t resist it either. Both of us have shovelled many spoonfuls in our mouths. I have been struggling with sauce addiction lately. It all started with Ree Drummond’s caramel sauce I shared with you a couple of months ago. After making that incessantly, I moved on to her hot fudge recipe, my hot fudge recipe, and then, lo and behold, along came this Raspberry Sauce. Oh heavenly day.

Raspberry Sauce from butterloveandcowboys.com

Once a month, all of My Cowboy’s family gets together on Sunday evening for family dinner. Us womenfolk each take turns preparing and hosting the meal. Last month was my month, and for dessert, I decided I wanted to do a cheesecake. I had a serious problem though. Some days I am totally in the mood for fruity cheesecake while others I am in the mood for more of a chocolate-y one. This time, I just couldn’t decide. Cheesecake recipes flooded through my mind. I came to the conclusion that because of my indecisiveness, I would give everyone the option for themselves whether they were feeling fruity or chocolate-y cheesecake. I made a simple vanilla cheesecake, caramel sauce, hot fudge sauce, and this Raspberry Sauce.

Raspberry Sauce from butterloveandcowboys.com

Another great thing about Raspberry Sauce is that it is so versatile. It was absolutely fabulous on the cheesecake. Next time I bake a vanilla cheesecake, I think I’ll just top the whole thing with a batch of this sauce. You could also drizzle it on ice cream, pancakes/waffles, or even cake!

Raspberry Sauce from butterloveandcowboys.com

See that puppy in the background? Cache definitely wanted some Raspberry Sauce too.

Raspberry Sauce from butterloveandcowboys.com

When it came time to eat the cheesecake, I still couldn’t decide which I wanted more- fruity or chocolate-y! On top of that, I had made a pan of Heavenly Oreo Dessert as well. What’s a girl to do? I decided I just couldn’t justify eating two pieces of cheesecake AND a slab of Heavenly Oreo Dessert. So, I cut my piece of cheesecake in half and topped one part with Raspberry Sauce, the other with hot fudge and caramel. It rocked my evening.

Recipe adapted from My Baking Addiction’s Blueberry Sauce

Easy Raspberry Sauce

2017-06-13 15:32:30

A quick and easy sauce to drizzle on cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes/waffles, or even cakes!

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with two tablespoons cold water
2 cups fresh OR frozen raspberries
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1.In a small bowl or a cup, whisk the cornstarch and cold water together.
2. In a medium sized sauce pan, place raspberries, water, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir frequently as you bring the mixture to a low boil over medium heat. Gradually, stir in the cornstarch/water mixture.
3. Simmer, covered, for about five minutes or until desired thickness is reached. Add vanilla and remove from the heat. Serve over cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes/waffles, cake, or any dessert you would like.

Notes

Yields about 2 cups

Butter, Love, and Cowboys https://www.butterloveandcowboys.com/

Cookies, No-Bake

Easy No-Bake Cookies

Easy No-Bake Cookies are everything that the title hints and more. These cookies have long been a favorite of both My Cowboy’s and mine. They are often requested when I ask him what sounds good for dessert. With so many recipes out there for this classic treat, it is hard to compete, but I tell you, this is my absolute favorite one! Proportionally, they couldn’t get any better if they tried. The chocolate to peanut butter ratio is simply perfection.

Dry No-Bake Cookies have always been a bitter disappointment to me. No need to worry about these turning out hard and crusty. If the instructions are closely followed, they will turn out just right…every time. My seven-year-old nephew who lives across the road, you know, that cute little cowboy from my branding posts, has been known to search around my house for them. It makes my heart happy. On the occasions I’ve had to inform him we are out of No-Bake Cookies, he requests that I make them again.

No-Bake Cookies from butterloveandcowboys.com

After photographing these babies, I decided it’s really hard to make No-Bake Cookies appealing in photos. In all honesty, the are not the prettiest treat, but I sure tried my best to make them appear appetizing enough to tempt you 🙂

No-Bake Cookies from butterloveandcowboys.com

I’m a strong advocate of whole grains. At my house, we strive for the majority of our diet to be filled with them. When it comes to dessert making however, I totally loosen the reins. While a lot of things can, some things just can’t be replaced completely with whole grain flours and taste the same. Although No-Bake Cookies still have plenty of sugar, they also have great things like peanut butter and oats. Whole grain for the win!

No-Bake Cookies from butterloveandcowboys.com

It’s getting to the point here that it’s just too hot to turn on the oven more than is absolutely necessary. The ease and No-Baked-ness of this recipe make them the perfect treat for this time of year!

Easy No-Bake Cookies

2017-06-09 10:32:37

A simple and fast no-bake treat, with the perfect proportions of chocolate and peanut butter!

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Ingredients

-4 tablespoons cocoa powder
-2 cups sugar
-1/2 cup butter
-1/2 cup milk
-1 cup peanut butter
-2 teaspoons vanilla
-3 cups old fashioned oats

Instructions

In a large saucepan, bring cocoa, sugar, butter, and milk to a boil. Boil for one minute, then stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and oats. Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment paper or a greased cookie sheet. Let sit until cooled.

Butter, Love, and Cowboys https://www.butterloveandcowboys.com/

Ramblings

The Beauty of a Horse

In my opinion, horses have to be the most beautiful animal to roam the earth. They are athletic and incredibly graceful. Their undeniable intelligence gives them a chance to be trained for purposes for which we couldn’t trust most animals to follow through. Agility is another companion with which they outshine many other animals. On top of that, quite plain and simple, they are a sight to see. Over my twenty-four years of admiration, the beauty of a horse is something for which I have a deep appreciation.

As I have said before, few things have ever been as attractive to me as a man on a horse. My Cowboy, for instance, boy does he look good in the saddle. I still gawk when I see him ride. As good lookin’ as he is, I can’t deny that is only enhanced by his horse.

Horses certainly have many different uses. Racing, jumping, dressage, cows, transportation, rodeo, or just plain riding. Around here, they are most heavily used for cattle work, so the more ‘cowie’ the horse, the better.

I can’t talk about cowie without mentioning the beauty of a cutting horse. Have you ever watched a good cutting horse work? If not, I highly recommend the experience. Resort to YouTube if you must.

The Beauty of a Horse from butterloveandcowboys.com

A horse’s eyes- another true demonstration of The Beauty of a Horse. I love searching them and determining for myself what I see there. Some days I can visualize hopes and dreams of what I want to be. Other days I see opportunities to become something bigger than just myself as I climb up in the saddle for a ride.

The Beauty of a Horse from butterloveandcowboys.com

What do you see?

The Beauty of a Horse from butterloveandcowboys.com

The Beauty of a Horse is never-changing. Time passes, horses age, people too, and life changes. But a good horse never loses a certain air of their regal nature within. It simply won’t be fully crowded out by time, age, or any of those ever-changing circumstance of life. No, the Beauty of a Horse remains.

The Beauty of a Horse from butterloveandcowboys.com

The Beauty of a Horse brings me peace. Sifting through my thoughts in their presence is an opportunity to experience a little piece of heaven on earth. An overwhelming appreciation for the creations for which we are indebted to God always came naturally for me. I suppose it was pretty easy considering the beautiful place I grew up. The Beauty of a Horse is another one of God’s creations for which I feel that sincere respect.

The Beauty of a Horse from butterloveandcowboys.com

I consider it a privilege to have this beauty so readily available in the pasture across the road. These horses have cooperated with me many times so I could share a small piece of that with you. My hope and prayer is that it brought a smile to your face or improved your day!

Cakes and Cupcakes

Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Oh boy. You need this Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake in your life. It kinda looks all complicated and such but it’s not too bad. It even uses a box brownie mix to make life easier. In fact, the most labor intensive part of the recipe is waiting for it to freeze! I love frozen treats, but the patience of waiting for them to harden in the freezer can be a killer. I always come to the same conclusion though- anything worthwhile in this life is usually worth waiting for.

The original recipe comes from Life, Love, and Sugar. She is always making the most beautiful and tasty looking cakes! I did decide to trade the Snickers and caramel for Reese’s and peanut butter. The original recipe using the Snickers looks totally drool-worthy, but I didn’t have enough Snickers for the cake. If any of you know me by now, you could maybe have guessed I always have a supply of Reese’s on hand. Thus, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake was born.

Reese's Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake from butterloveandcowboys.com

We had our first mildly hot days this past week. Most days were about 75-80 degrees. Sunday is supposed to be 90. Yikes! My Montana blood doesn’t like 90 degrees. It dreads 90 degrees. I feel hot just thinking about it. Montana sure gets cold in the winter, but it sure is perfect in the summer! Generally speaking, the part of the state I hail from doesn’t top 80-85.

If your neck of the woods is warming up as well, I highly recommend cooling off with this Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake! Try saying THAT five times fast.

Reese's Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake from butterloveandcowboys.com

While the name is definitely a mouthful, once you taste Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake, you will want to keep the mouthfuls coming 😉

Reese's Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake

2017-06-02 14:59:44

An ice cream cake starting out with a box brownie mix and turning into a splendid chocolate and peanut butter frozen treat!

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Ingredients

*1 box brownie mix, plus ingredients on box
1/4 cup milk
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups peanut butter, divided
8 oz Cool Whip
2 cups hot fudge sauce (I prefer homemade)
12 Reese's Peanut Butter cups, chopped (full-size or snack-size)

Instructions

1. Make brownie batter according to the package directions. Grease two 8-inch pans. One of the pans should be a spring form pan, I used a cake pan for the other, but if you have two 8-inch spring form pans, that would be easiest. Keep in mind you will eventually build the cake in the spring form pan. Whichever pan has the brownie layer you intend to remove, may remove easier if it has a cake board and/or parchment paper. I used neither and just cut the brownie layer in fourths which worked just fine. Bake the brownie batter for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, at whatever temperature the box recommends. Cool completely.
2. For the ice cream mixture, mix milk, cream cheese, sugar, and 1 cup of peanut butter until completely combined. Fold in the Cool Whip, then 8 of the chopped Reese's.
3. Line the sides of the 8-inch spring form pan you used for one of the brownie layers with parchment paper. Make sure the paper reaches about 1-2 inches above the top of the pan. The cake will be a little higher than the pan.
4. In that same spring form pan, spread 3/4 cup hot fudge over the brownie. If needed for spread-ability, warm the fudge in the microwave until just liquid enough to spread, but not hot. Melt the remaining 1/2 cup of peanut butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds, this should melt the peanut butter without getting it hot. Drizzle 1/4 cup of the peanut butter over the fudge. Top with half of the peanut butter ice cream.
5. Next, remove the second brownie layer from the pan it was baked in. As stated above, I just cut it in fourths and removed each piece. Place the brownie on top of the ice cream, hot fudge, and peanut butter layer. Once the cake was assembled, it was not at all visible that I had cut the second brownie layer. Top this layer with 3/4 cup hot fudge, and remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter. Place second half of the peanut butter ice cream on top. Freeze cake completely. I froze it overnight. I would recommend freezing at least 6 hours.
6. Once frozen, run a knife around the sides of the cake and remove the ring from around the pan. Sprinkle with the remaining 4 Reese's. Drizzle the top with remaining hot fudge and more melted peanut butter for garnish. You may want to replace in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to harden the sauces on top. I like to slice my piece of cake and let it sit about fifteen minutes to soften. While not necessary, but super tasty, we also drizzled our pieces with a little homemade caramel sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

*I recommend using a box brownie mix and not a homemade recipe. In my opinion, box brownie mixes are usually a bit more moist, even after days of sitting out than most homemade recipes. I think the texture of a box brownie mix works better for eating frozen as well. A homemade brownie might be more prone to drying out and harder to bite/chew since this cake is served frozen.

Butter, Love, and Cowboys https://www.butterloveandcowboys.com/

Ramblings

Cowboys and Wrestling

The Cowboy.

He knows how to do a hard days work and give his all, often leaving the common amenities of daily life behind. For instance, a day spent out on the range requires that basically all modern comforts are out of reach. That means no running water, no bathrooms, and complete exposure to the elements, including whatever mother nature decides to send our way. And it continues until the work is done. Often, all four seasons will reach a cowboy on his ride in the same day.

Through it all, you rarely hear a cowboy grumble. They are too happy spending time in their most favorite way. There are always remarks on the weather, but no complaining. Sounds like a pretty tough group right? That toughness is a combination of inner strength to endure unfavorable conditions as well as muscular strength.

So much of a cowboy’s life involves animals. Animals are unpredictable. No matter how well you know cows, horses, or any other type of animal, they are still an animal. In this case, we have a branding day. Most of the calves get drug in and their head caught with the head catch. With a little manpower from a cowboy, this will hold it down for the branding just fine, but there are always a few, usually larger calves, who put up a fight.

This year, there was one in particular that I just happened to have the camera up and ready for. Here is a calf who didn’t even make it to the head catch. I thought I had caught the whole event, but I didn’t quite get the final fall, just everything leading up to it.

Cowboys and Wrestling from butterloveandcowboys.com

Three of My Cowboy’s brothers are wrestlers. Now, I’m not a big wrestling fan nor do I know much about wrestling. My brothers are basketball players. I am no good at it myself but it’s an exciting sport that I have always thoroughly enjoyed watching. My hometown was a total basketball town. High school basketball was always huge. We didn’t have much time for wrestling nor did we have many wrestlers. I went to one wrestling tournament my entire high school career.

And then I married My Cowboy and got some wrestling exposure from his younger brothers. I still don’t care much for wrestling nor do I really enjoy watching it, but I definitely have a respect for the sport I didn’t have before. It takes serious strength. It’s no wonder My Cowboy’s younger brothers are good at it!

Cowboys and Wrestling from butterloveandcowboys.com

I can’t help but think experiences like this paved the way for them to have the skill, strength, and technique to do well in the sport. Cowboys and wrestling go hand in hand, I’ve decided.

Cowboys and Wrestling from butterloveandcowboys.com

This Cowboy doing the wrestling and I share the same childhood hometown. It’s always fun to find people you have a connection with when you grow up and move on. My Cowboy and I actually have HIS daughter to thank that we ever met at college. She was a roommate to one of my good friends and introduced us on the dance floor. Are you gawking at how romantic meeting on the dance floor is or what? I had always felt the dance floor HAD to be one of the cutest ways to find romance. 🙂

Cowboys and Wrestling from butterloveandcowboys.com

And………………………………………..that’s where my photos of that whole ordeal end, but it was pretty great. Cowboys and wrestling- sometimes they win and sometimes they don’t. However, they DID eventually get that calf taken care of.

Cowboys and Wrestling from butterloveandcowboys.com

Bread Sweets

Raspberry Sweet Rolls

Let’s talk about these Raspberry Sweet Rolls. To start off, you must understand how much I adore cinnamon rolls. They have always ranked the charts as one of my top desserts. Because I love them so much, I have had a hard time giving any other kind of sweet roll a chance. I mean, I have wanted to give other sweet rolls a try, but I have just been too afraid to risk giving up the ultimate comfort contained in a beautiful, rounded cinnamon roll, dripping with cream cheese frosting, to try something different! There have been worries in my mind that other sweet rolls just wouldn’t compare. When you love a certain treat so much, it can really be a leap of faith to break the mold.

Well, I did it.

In fact, I’ve done it twice in the last few months. Raspberry Sweet Rolls were such a good combination of the original roll of a treat and one of the best fruits on the planet. They are certainly different than a regular cinnamon roll, but have surely found their own rightful place in my palate! Baking with raspberries totally made it seem like summer really is here. Raspberries=summer. Plus I think our temperatures have finally climbed for good.

Need a killer dessert for Memorial Day weekend? Then don’t pass up these Raspberry Sweet Rolls! You could even squeeze them in for a breakfast one day. I just know it 😉

Raspberry Sweet Rolls from butterloveandcowboys.com

I think regular cinnamon rolls pair super well with cream cheese frosting, but I would go so far as to say Raspberry Sweet Rolls paired with it super DUPER well!

Raspberry Sweet Rolls from butterloveandcowboys.com

Let’s get real. Those picture worthy rolls don’t have nearly enough frosting.

Raspberry Sweet Rolls from butterloveandcowboys.com

That’s more like it.

Raspberry Sweet Rolls

2017-05-25 18:49:24

Yields 24

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For the Rolls

2 tablespoons instant yeast
6 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups warm water

For the Raspberry Filling

4 cups frozen raspberries, NOT THAWED
4 teaspoons cornstarch
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

*1-2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2-3 teaspoons lemon juice
3-4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Mix the yeast with one cup of flour in a small-medium size bowl. Place sugar, salt, melted butter, vanilla, warm water, and the yeast/flour mixture in a mixer. Mix until combined.
2. Gradually add the remaining five cups of flour until a soft dough forms. Let raise in a large, lightly greased bowl until doubled in size. This will take about an hour.
3. While the dough is rising, begin preparing the filling. Melt the butter and brown sugar over low-medium heat. Only heat it until the butter is just melted and combined with the brown sugar. Do not melt it long enough it becomes liquid, or else the filling will drain from the cinnamon rolls while they raise the second time. Set aside to cool a few minutes.
4. Punch down the dough and roll into a large rectangle. Spread the brown sugar/butter mixture all over the rectangle. Make sure you spread it all the way out to the edges of the dough.
5.In a medium size bowl, stir the FROZEN raspberries, cornstarch, and sugar. Make sure the raspberries are frozen to ensure easier rising and baking. The filling will stay inside the roll better. Spread the raspberry mixture evenly all over the rectangle, to the edges. Roll up the dough and cut into about 24 1-2 inch rolls. They should squeeze about perfectly onto one standard size cookie sheet, or two 9x13 pans. Raise in a warm place until doubled. This takes anywhere from about 30-60 minutes.
6. Shortly before the rolls finish rising, preheat the oven at 350 degrees F. When rolls finish raising, bake 20-22 minutes. Make sure the centers are not doughy. The raspberry filling makes the centers more susceptible to be underdone.
7. To prepare the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter 2-3 minutes, until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla and lemon juice and combine. You can add more or less of these based on your personal preference. Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until the desired sweetness is reached. Beat at least 3 minutes, or until the frosting begins to appear more of a white color. My Mom taught me this little trick for cream cheese frosting and I love it! It gives it an amazing texture and combines the flavors even better.
8. Frost the warm rolls and enjoy!

Notes

*Two packages of cream cheese make for an extra cream cheese flavored frosting and is delicious! One package will make a yummy frosting as well, it just won't be as strongly flavored. The more cream cheese you add, the more likely you will need all four cups of powdered sugar.

Butter, Love, and Cowboys https://www.butterloveandcowboys.com/

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