The KBAL Brownie Initiative

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.

• Prep time: 75 minutes total (includes the 25 minute phone call from my mother and having to stop and dig out the box of sugar from the bottom of my pantry)
• Cooking time: 35 minutes
• Total time: 1.75 hours

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

• PITA Rating: 2 (for actual recipe, 5 including the phone call)
• Difficulty Rating: 2
• Recipe Complexity (over a basic no-frills brownie): 2
• Texture: 6
• Flavor: 5 (Cinnamon is a nice subtle touch)
• Overall Rating: 4 (These are ok.)