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September 28, 2007

Week 30: Dodge Darts

It's brownie, no wait, its a car! Who cares what it is but don't get out of Dodge without one of these brownies!

Analysis

I am perplexed by this recipe. I can't understand why it is in the book. It is about as straightforward as a brownie recipe can be. Nothing strange, different or extreme, except they have a weird name.

Of course I needed to go to the store. All the eggs got used up for breakfast and I was out of baking chocolate. The trip was relatively quick and uneventful.

I had a helper for this recipe. Emily decided that she was going to be my assistant. She got aprons out of the drawer for both of us and opened the eggs and counted out the right amount. She unwrapped the chocolate and put it in the microwave, measured the sugar and flour, and stirred the chocolate to melt it completely. These brownies almost made themselves!

There was absolutely nothing eventful that happened during this recipe. It was even proportioned for a 9x13 pan, so I didn't even have to do any math. And the cooking time was spot on. I'm still trying to figure out how these got into the book. They got a 'WTF' subcategory just because of the name. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to make them in the shape of a car or Kansas.

Modifications

None.

Improvements


My Rating - scale of 1-10


Posted by jamm at 08:10 AM | Comments (1)

September 21, 2007

Week 29: Marjorie's Fudgy Brownies

Well, there is some fudge, but not as the main part of the brownie. I call this and oatmeal cookie with a fudge filling. They smell really good, though.

Analysis


Modifications

I had to use some cocoa and oil to make up for the chocolate I was lacking. I also did not use black walnut extract.

Improvements


My Rating - scale of 1-10


Posted by jamm at 07:39 AM | Comments (2)

September 14, 2007

Week 28: Chewy Honey Frosties

Welcome the brownie flowing with milk and honey. Well, lots of honey anyway. Read on to hear of this week's brownie making saga...

Analysis

Ok, so my uber-organized streak is over (if you can call one recipe without a trip to the store 'uber-organized'). Either that, or someone in my house used half a jar of honey between Tuesday and Thursday. Hey, it's not like it hasn't happened before. Fortunately, there was enough honey for the batter, but it did take a while to wait for it all to drip down to the opening. I probably spent and extra 7 minutes squeezing honey, inverting the jar, waiting for the neck to fill up and repeating. At least I could save my quick dash to the store for the honey needed for the frosting while the brownies were baking, so really no time lost. The check out guy even thought I was nuts, coming to the store at 11pm for only honey. When I told him I only needed 2 Tablespoons, he looked at me really funny. Oh well, one must suffer for one's art.

The actual recipe was simple enough, although a bit strange. Cream butter and cocoa in the mixer, add eggs and vanilla, then honey. Add dry ingredients and nuts and plop into a greased pan. Of course I had to double the recipe because it called for a small pan. I honestly don't know who makes those tiny pans of brownies. Why bother if you are not going to have enough to stuff yourself until you feel sick, or feed 20 people?

I got back from the store with 10 minutes to complete on the baking, which gave me enough time to make the frosting. This part did a number on my mixer. Butter, cocoa, and powdered sugar were all creamed together. It made a sort of hard, crumbly substance in the mixer, which was difficult for the beater to work with. The bowl kept shaking loose. The honey and milk came next and were beat up until smooth. This part took a bit longer for me, because I refuse to sift anything, so the frosting was a bit lumpy to start.

The brownies took an extra 15 minutes to bake - 40 minutes instead of the 25 suggested in the recipe. I let them cool overnight on top of the fridge, away from the hungry, chocolate loving beasties. The frosting was placed away from the ants on the counter (don't ask) and I went to bed. The frosting was added to the brownies and 6am.

They smell really good. Lots of honey flavor. The texture is more cake-like than fudgy. The honey really comes through in the flavor, but they are seriously lacking in chocolate flavor, even with the frosting. I think the brownie part would make a good cake layer, minus the nuts. Actually, I think the whole combo would make a good cake. As a brownie, it is ok, but not great. This is not a 'having seconds (or fourths)' brownie for me.

Modifications

None.

Improvements

Make it a cake, not a brownie. Add more chocolate, especially in the frosting.

My Rating - scale of 1-10

Posted by jamm at 09:23 AM | Comments (2)

September 07, 2007

Week 27: Old Vienna Brownies

What do almonds and Irish whiskey have to do with Vienna? I'm not really sure how these brownies got their name, but they should have called them chocolate covered almonds, or Irish Coffee brownies.

Analysis

The ingredient list on this one made me cringe. It has one of my most hated baking ingredients - almond extract. And something really weird called sweetened almond filling, which I was sure they wouldn't have at Kroger. All I could think of was something like marzipan. But, surprise! The stuff actually exists, it comes in a can and it looks like the frosting for a German chocolate cake without the coconut. It actually didn't taste too bad either.

This recipe was pretty much a snap. I was on top of my game on this one and had got everything I needed at Kroger the night before, including an extra bottle of almond extract, which I actually needed for some reason. The only thing I can think of is that my kids used it all up in some weird baking experiment. Actually, most of my extracts are empty. I certainly don't want to know what their creation tasted like.

The chocolate and butter were melted in the microwave. The almond filling was mixed into this. Eggs and brown sugar were beat together and everything was added to that. The only pain was the ground almonds. I had to use my chopper to chop them up. I certainly was NOT putting them in my coffee grinder and there was no way I was going to have to wash the food processor for a measly 1/2 cup of almonds.

The batter went into a greased and floured pan and into the oven for 45 minutes. While this was cooking, I made my weekly trip to the corner store to pick up the alcohol d'brownie for the recipe. The Irish whiskey was for the frosting, along with whipping cream, coffee crystals and some sugar. Just like a true Irish Coffee! Too bad it was so late, or I would have had a real one myself. It was at this point that I had to stop everything and get a bath ready for the kids. Which didn't matter too much since the brownies had to cool. After the bath scene, I made the frosting and stored it in the fridge overnight, since I figured it would have melted on the warm brownies and ruined the effect.

The brownies were frosted at 5:50am and popped on the back of the bike for the trip to work.


Modifications

None.

Improvements


My Rating - scale of 1-10


Posted by jamm at 07:38 AM | Comments (2)