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November 17, 2006

Week 6: Cinnamon Fudge Brownies

The name of this one sounds ok. I like cinnamon. I like brownies that are fudgy. This should be pretty good. It was a last minute decision for this recipe based on my request for a brownie that had more than 1/4 cup of cocoa in it.

Analysis

This recipe was insanely simple compared to the past 2 weeks. It almost made the one bowl mark. There were actually 2 bowls required and I am really beginning to think these recipes were sitting around in peoples great-grandmother's basements before being submitted to the editors of the book. Every recipe has instructions for melting chocolate on the stove, in a double-boiler, no less. Hello?!? Can you say 'Microwave'.

In any case, this recipe had a low PITA score because it was straightforward. The only annoying part was the phone call from my mother during the mixing phase where I had to leave my 6 year old in charge of the mixer. "Can I turn it up to 10, Mommy?" This added 25 minutes onto the process.

Butter and chocolate went into the microwave to melt. Eggs, sugar and everything else in the mixer. Add the chocolate and nuts, put into a greased and floured pan and presto, brownies!

They actually taste ok. The cinnamon flavor is subtle and not overwhelming. The texture is good, but still a bit cakey. They are good, but not spectacular. I don't know if I will go back for a second piece.

Modifications

I melted the chocolate and butter in the microwave.

Improvements

Can't think of any. These are ok the way they are. I can't think of putting something in that would work with the cinnamon flavor.

My Rating - scale of 1-10

Posted by jamm at 09:22 AM | Comments (2)

November 10, 2006

Week 5 - Carmelastic Fantastic Brownies

Well, the recipe title appears to tell all. Will have to wait and see how they taste.

Analysis

Fantastic, these brownies were NOT.

PITA PITA PITA. I had to unwrap an ENTIRE bag of caramels. I really dislike that task because half of the time, the caramels are warped and the wrapping is stuck deep inside of them. When you go to peel it off, it rips and you have to dig the remaining piece out with your fingernail. These had to go in a pot on the stove with the sweetened condensed milk to melt and needed to be stirred occassionally while performing the 14 other steps in the recipe. Needless to say, it almost burned. I don't like to have to pay attention to things on the stove.

Then they wanted me to get out ANOTHER pot to melt shortening in (eeeww, gross). Haven't any of these people who write these recipes heard of the microwave??? Honestly, why didn't the editor add a note to say 'hey, all of you living in the 21st century, you can do this part in the microwave'? So now we have used 1 pot and 1 bowl and I still don't have brownies.

The next part was the part I like, dump the sugar and eggs in the Kitchenaid, beat like hell, add the melted shortening (eeww, gross) and cocoa, flour, nuts and chocolate chips and you've got brownie! But we're not done yet! Remember the caramels? This is where the recipe got really annoying.

I had to take 2/3 of the batter and put it in a greased pan (more shortening), cook it for 12 minutes and remove it from the oven. Then pour the melted, almost burned caramel mix over the top and try to keep it from becoming one with the brownie goo. Sprinkle on nuts and then take the rest of the brownie mix and spoon it on top. Then, they wanted me to take my bare hands (I was supposed to get them wet for some reason) and smooth out the brownie mix on top of the hot caramel in the hot pan. This didn't work out so well and was pretty messy. Then I got to run a knife through it all to try and create a marbled effect. Not my best work.

I didn't like these brownies. Not only were they a pain to make, they don't taste very good. They are too much of a sugar bomb, and the caramel flavor is not distinct enough from the brownie. Also, there is a variety in the texture, with the bottom part being denser and harder, like it was cooked too long and the top part being gooey. Also the caramel was almost carbonized around the edges of the pan, making it really difficult to remove the brownies. I was only able to eat one. I didn't even think about going back for a second.

Modifications

I would totally use vegetable oil in place of melted shortening. EEEEWWW, who melts shortening??

Improvements

Maybe a solid chocolate layer to hold in the caramel. Or a chocolate drizzle on top. Then again, maybe not.

My Rating - scale of 1-10

Posted by jamm at 11:59 AM | Comments (2)

November 03, 2006

Week 4: Trippple Brownies

Alright!!!! Trippple Brownies! With 3 'p's no less. These oughtta be good and chocolatey! Except one of the chocolates is white chocolate, which really doesn't count.

Coming next Friday: Caramelastic Fantastic Brownies

Analysis

Well, I asked for chocolate and I got it! A whole bag of melted chocolate chips plus white and milk chocolate chips in the batter. I was in heaven!

Once again, these brownies earned points on the PITA scale. It required that you melt the chocolate, sugar and WATER (weird) together in a pan on the stove. So there is one pot/bowl already.

Then you had to mix up eggs and butter in another bowl, let the chocolate cool (more waiting time) and mix it all together. Add the flour and then nuts (dirty chopper) and the chocolate chips. At least the majority of it was in one bowl.

What they neglected to mention is that you should probably put the chocolate base in the refridgerator BEFORE adding the chips. I had it cooled to what I thought was room temperature when I added the chips, but when I was pouring the batter in the pan, I noticed that the chips had disappeared. Poof! All melted and too late to make a correction for it.

Modifications

This recipie was near perfect in the yumminess. I wouldn't change anything, except to add a cooling time.

Improvements

None needed. These brownies were truly one of the best.

My Rating - scale of 1-10

Posted by jamm at 09:37 AM | Comments (7)