Chocolate Mint Squares

These chocolatey brownie-like squares have a mint filling which you can tint green. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any other day for that matter.





Cake Layer

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 16-oz. can Hershey's chocolate syrup

Mix above ingredients together and pour into ungreased 9x15 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool before adding mint layer.

Mint Layer

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1/2 to 1 tsp. peppermint extract (to your taste)
Few drops green food coloring (to your shade)

Mix ingredients thoroughly to form a minty butter cream frosting and spread evenly over cooled cake.

Glaze

6 Tbsp. butter
6-oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Put butter and chocolate chips in Pyrex measuring cup and place in pan of water over low heat. Melt and mix together. Spread over mint layer. Chill and cut into squares before serving.

Vidalia Onions

These hot, buttery Vidalia onions are one of our favorite side dishes when these sweet onions are in season. I learned this very easy method of preparing them from my mother.

Allow one onion per person. Slice the top and bottom off of each onion you wish to prepare and take off the outer skin. Place onions in a cassarole dish that has a lid. Put a generous pat of butter on top of each onion. Sprinkle with salt and cracked pepper. Cover and put in microwave for about 8-10 minutes on high power depending on size and quantity of onions. Onions are done when tender and practically falling apart. Serve with a spoonful of the buttery onion juice. These are especially good with a steak.