Recipe: Good Ole Basic Brownies (No need for a box)

Let me start by saying I am not a baker.  I am much more comfortable with something simmering on the stove top then baking in the oven.

I do have a couple of specialties like my creole cream cheesecake with decadent chocolate mousse (look forward to that recipe making an appearance on this blog) and my molten lava pudding cake which my husband will tell you is the number one reason I am married right now.  What it boils down to is unfortunately I am quite mediocre when it comes to baking.

The measuring is usually the biggest issue for me.  In cooking you can pretty much approximate everything but baking is a science and unfortunately science has never been my subject.  I mean how am I supposed to keep up with how many cups of said ingredient I have put in this dish? I am way to easily distracted for this.

One of my BFF’s Lindsay would love to share the story of the infamous honey cookies I made in college.  Apparently powder sugar and flour look exactly the same in generic canisters. Unfortunately flour is a key ingredient in cookies. Those cookies could have been so good..OOPS!

There is a reason I am rambling on about my previous baking faux pas.  You see, this batch of brownies is probably the worst I have ever made.  I don’t know what I did, I may have put too much flour or I might have just overcooked them.  Unfortunately they were far from perfect.

However, Mom, Nana T and I have been making this brownie recipe for YEARS and I know that the error in this batch of brownies was definitely the operator and not the recipe.

This recipe is just as easy as a box and WAY more delicious so please do us all a favor and quit settling for boxed brownies!!

I need to note 3 things about the above photo
1: The players who make these brownies delicious
2: The yellow cookbook, Pots, Pans and Pioneers III is where this delicious recipe is found.
3: On the right you will see Chef John Besh’s beautiful face watching me as I screw up  a batch of brownies.  Isn’t he dreamy?  Sorry Hunter

“Sifting” the dry ingredients, a mesh strainer works fine for this task.

This is definitely my favorite picture of all!  Don’t you just want to lick the batter of that mixer?  Oh, it’s just me?  AWKWARD

This photograph serves absolutely no purpose.  I just liked it because it looks like delicious chocolates floating in a brownie batter ocean.  I really want to swim in that brownie batter ocean. Oh it’s just me?  AWKWARD again

The finished product is in a disposable pan because  I doubled the recipe and brought half to a friend who just had a beautiful baby girl.  I am sorry Heather, I will make it up to you with a much more delicious batch of brownies!!

Recipe: Good Ole Basic Brownies

1/2 c melted butter (1 stick)
1 c sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 c flour
1/3 c cocoa
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c nuts (omitted because of that semi-picky husband of mine)
1 c chocolate chunks (this is optional but strongly suggested)

1. Mix butter, sugar and vanilla with mixer; add eggs.
2.  Sift dry ingredients together and add to mixture from step 1.
3. Fold nuts into batter and pour into greased (just spray it with some pam) 9 inch pan
4. Sprinkle with chocolate chunks
5. Bake in 350° oven for 20-25 minutes.  Cut into squares and ENJOY!

SERIOUS Disclaimer:  While I suggest the above mentioned batch of brownies was a failure I must confess that I ate the entire pan within 3 days.  4 lbs later I would say that it was indeed a big, FAT FAIL!