Come celebrate with me!
Today is National Brownie Day and I can't think of a better way to
celebrate than to get out the mixer and fix my family up with some ooey,
gooey, good BROWNIES!
I think the thing I like the most about BROWNIES, is that they can be a
very plain (but still delicious) dessert, or you can dress them up in so
many different ways to make them look picture perfect for any company you
may have.
Did you know that the first brownies recipes were published around the turn
of the century about 1904. They were part of regional cookbooks and
often found in newspapers. That is a pretty long history if you ask
me. And they are still favorites all around the country.
Chocolate brownies are number one with "Blondie" Brownies coming a close
second.
What's a Blondie? Let's set the record straight, it has nothing
to do with Hair! Blondies are cousins to Brownies, just made without
the chocolate, hence the lighter color and name!
Did you know that there are several myths about where Brownies first came
into being? One myth has a baker accidentally mixing liquid chocolate
in a biscuit recipe. Oh happy accident if that is the way it
happened. Another myth is that someone making a chocolate cake forgot
to add the flour to the recipe and then there's the one of the housewife who
ran out of baking powder and decided to serve her guests "flattened
cake". This last one is my personal favorite because I have been
known to do without certain ingredients and adding others in their stead,
when making a recipe. Sometimes it works and sometimes it is a
disaster.
But let's get back to the good stuff. Brownies are a favorite in most
families and I know from past experience that they are wonderful sellers at
any "Bake Sale." Simple brownies are just made in the pan and cut up.
Dressing your brownies up with frosting and sprinkles or nuts can give the
lowly brownie a very dressed up, decadent appearance suitable for any
company!
You can also find many recipes for Brownies and some of the best are the
ones that have been shared in regional cookbooks and simple cookbooks put
together for School or Church fundraisers. You know you are getting
tried and true recipes from these sources. It's a matter of pride for
the bakers who attach their name to the recipe!
So no further stalling, here is a great recipe that I have used and
loved!
Originally found on Ricardocuisine,com:
INGREDIENTS
-
6 oz dark chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- optional ingredients can include chopped walnuts, chopped hazelnuts, broken pieces of candy canes, mini marshmallows (either the plain or fruit flavoured)
DIRECTIONS
- Oven rack should be in the middle part of the oven pre-heated to 350 F.
- Butter or spray with non-stick spray the bottom of an 8 inch square baking dish. Use parchment paper and let the excess hang over the sides of your baking dish.
- Using a bowl, over a pan of boiling water, or alternately in the microwave oven, melt chocolate and butter. Let cool.
- In a separate bowl, combine eggs, brown sugar and salt with a whisk until the mixture is smooth. Add chocolate/butter mixture and flour and stir until smooth. Pour this all into the prepared pan.
- Baking time about 23 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out just a little bit moist (If it is dry you will have very dry brownies and should use icing to get some moisture back into the mix)
- Let cool in the pan and place the pan on a rack. It will take about 1.5 hours. Remove from pan and cut into squares. Or if you want to get really artistic, you can cut them into any desired shape and eat the extra pieces from between! Serve warm or cold.
These are plain brownies with great taste and nice presentation. But, and
this is a big BUT, you can add other ingredients to this basic brownie
recipe to make something even more special! Add chopped nuts, or
marshmallows (the little mini ones), crushed peppermints are a great add
too, or leave the recipe as is and make an icing for them. The
combinations are endless and each will have a slightly different flavor when
you are done.
All I know is that your family will enjoy this treat and you just might
find yourself making them more than once in a while.
These days I make these brownies for the family, but, I myself will not
indulge. I will make the recipe that our own Margaret Schindel has
finessed to fit with my
Keto Lifestyle! So I still get to have some Brownie fun without all the carbs!
You can find her recipe
right here:
and a whole lot more.
Now I'm going to make another suggestion for all of you! If you have
children, grandchildren, nieces and/or nephews, invite them over to share
all these wonderful Brownies you've made and then spend the afternoon
writing letters to SANTA!
Did you know that you could write to SANTA, send your letter in the mail
and get a response from him and all it will cost you is the time to write
the letters?
Canada Post and all their "ELVES" make sure that letters addressed
to Santa, get to him! His address is very simple:
SANTA CLAUS
NORTH POLE
CANADA
and don't forget the postal code:
HOHOHO
No Postage necessary, the elves will get the letters to Santa, but be
sure to send a return address!
Now everyone's tummy is full of goodness and the letters have been written,
so it's time to settle in and wait for that wonderful holiday that is just
on the horizon!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Yes, indeed, a favorite treat! Love brownies better than any cake or cookie dessert. Particularly chocolate with walnuts.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that in the US Navy it is traditional when a supply ship meets up with your ship to send over fresh baked brownies as a thank you?
Happy 'Brownie Day' to you! :)
Olivia, as you already know, I’m a huge brownies fan! Thanks so much for including a link to my low carb keto friendly triple peppermint cheesecake brownies in your post today.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun reading about the brownie “origin myths” (so to speak) you mentioned. And your traditional brownie recipe sounds scrumptious. I bet the rest of your family adores them! I like the idea of using brown for extra moistness, chewiness and a slight hint of caramel flavor. Thanks for sharing!
I love brownies! Brownie recipes always seem so easy, using the basic staples already in a kitchen. However, when you taste them,it is hard to believe they are so very easy to bake and serve.
ReplyDeleteThank you for alerting me to National Brownie Day! Now I must run and bake the brownies you have made me crave.
This dessert definitely deserves its' own day! A favorite and I agree, now I am craving an old fashioned brownie!
ReplyDeleteLove Brownies and how great they have a Special day! I agree they are so versatile that you can have them plain or really "dress them up" depending on the occasion. Just gorgeous !! Thank you for the great recipe :)
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