Memorial Day & Neiman Marcus Cake

I love what this day brings.

The sound of lawn mowers, children playing, neighbors talking in the early morning hours of a day that kicks off the summer and allows us to spend an extra day with people we love.

But let's not forget to honor all the men and women who have served our country...

While we get to be with our families, not everyone has someone to spend this day with, so please grateful and remember how much everyone means to you and how lucky you are.

Today I get to spend the day in Denver with a family that has become my family.

I met them in 2001 when I was hired as a nanny and worked for them for several years. Throughout the years I have spent many holidays and many summers in their home...

and trying to positively influence two teenaged boys.

I feel very lucky to have them in my life and never could've imagined that a job I needed to get through college would bring years of memories in my life.

Their oldest son is going to be a senior in high school this year so I'll be coming back soon enough for his graduation. (That makes me feel a bit older than I'd like considering he was seven years old when I met him).

We had a ton of good food that was enough to feed the ENTIRE neighborhood. I pretty much at breakfast, lunch and dinner over the span of six hours. It was nice. I am so full I have a stomach cramp...but that's normal right?

I had this phenomenol cake-like brownie dessert. It had this flaky goodness on top with some kind of cream with nuts in the middle and a brownie bottom...It was called a Neiman Marcus cake.

Neiman Marcus has cake??? Well if the actual Neiman Marcus had a cake, I am not surprised that it's this one, but I think it's just a cake called Neiman Marcus and there are lots of recipes online, but I have no idea where it originated from. Why haven't I heard of this?

It was so good I had two pieces......okay three. I don't know if ordinary brownies will ever taste the same. This has ruined me.

Here's the recipe-

Makes a 9×13-inch baking dish

Ingredients:
01. 18.25 oz. box of chocolate cake mix
02. 2 large eggs, beaten
03. ½ c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted & slightly cooled
04. 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate or white chocolate chips
05. Optional: ¼ c. chopped walnuts or pecans
06. 4 c. (1 lb. box) confectioner’s powdered sugar
07. 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese (⅓ less fat is fine)
08. Another 2 large eggs, beaten
09. 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions:
* Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Butter or coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking oil spray.
* In a mixing bowl, beat items 1-3 together until well blended. Pat mixture evenly in the bottom of your prepared baking dish.
* Sprinkle the chocolate or white chocolate chips along with the nuts if using evenly over top.
* Make the topping. In a mixing bowl, beat items 6-9 together until smooth. Pour topping evenly over the chocolate chips and nuts making sure topping entirely covers the top.
* Bake for 40 minutes.
* Cool in baking dish on a wire rack.
* Cut into bars and serve warm or at room temperature.
* Cover and store any leftovers for up to 3 days