Outrageous Brownies

Many years ago I saw The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten,  make  her Outrageous Brownies and I knew it was something I would one day have to make, so I added them to my Bucket List of Baking.   Today was the day!!  I have made several different brownies in search of the perfect brownie, and most have not been very good, but I must say the search is over!  Ina Garten creates some amazing dishes, she sacrifices nothing for flavour, in other words if you are eating these your diet is out the window!

• 1 pound unsalted butter (right there I knew they would be good!)
• 1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules(I omitted this)
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Butter and flour a 12 x 18 x 1-inch baking sheet.

1. Melt together the butter, 1 pound of chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl over simmering water.

Look at the shine on the chocolate sauce, you can see the camera in it

2.Allow to cool slightly.

3. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee granules, vanilla, and sugar. ( I didn’t put the coffee granules in only because I HATE coffee flavour in anything, they say it just enhances the chocolate flavour, but I did not want to take the chance, and after having them I am pretty sure they would not get any chocolateier)

4. Stir the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.

5. In a medium bowl, sift together 1 cup of flour, the baking powder, and salt.

6. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture.

7. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips in a medium bowl with 1/4 cup of flour, then add them to the chocolate batter.

8. Pour into the baking sheet.

9. Bake for 20 minutes, then rap the baking sheet against the oven shelf to force the air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Bake for about 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not overbake! Allow to cool thoroughly, refrigerate, and cut into 20 large squares.

To me a brownie is not a brownie without icing.  I prefer mine with vanilla icing, most like them with chocolate and some like without any icing, I tried to accommodate all.

The verdict? These are the most amazing brownies I have ever had!  Everyone was raving bout them.  I don’t thing I will ever make another kind of brownies again, they were perfection! Only one problem, I can’t stop eating them!!!

A Spectacular Treat!

I was out an about with my Mom the other day and we came across this  little piece of heaven on a stick…

Yes, you are seeing correctly, Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked (cookie dough and brownies) on a stick!!! Saw it and had to have it!

Brownies

I have been craving some brownies for quite some time now, so when Mike asked if I would make some I was all over it.  I really wanted to make my favourite brownies, but I didn’t have all the ingredients, so I had to settle for the Fry’s Coco Powder recipe instead, for the only reason that I had all the ingredients.  I wanted to be a little creative so I made 3 different kinds.

Fry’s Fudgy Brownies

1 1/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 cup Fry’s cocoa
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt in small bowl.
Melt butter in a large saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir in cocoa.
Blend in sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Blend in dry ingredients.
Pour batter into greased baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Cool.

In a pinch they were OK.  I will not make this recipe again.  I was not impressed.

This one I added a Peanut Butter Swirl

This one is topped with caramel and coconut