Thursday, October 11, 2007

I'm back! With really nice brownies

Classic brownies

I’m back from my trip and all I can say is that I’ve had the time of my life. Something that I had wanted to do forever, a dream come true.

I want to thank you all for your best wishes and your words - it's fantastic to know I have so many great friends!

Now I’m back home and back at work too, but haven’t cooked anything different. I haven’t baked either. Luckily, I made these brownies a few days before my trip, as a gift for my dentist and his assistants (the same people I baked these cookies for) and by the look on their face when they received the boxes (especially the girls, I have a feeling that maybe my dentist thinks I'm trying to ruin their teeth with all those sweets) I am almost sure they liked it. :)

These brownies are really, really good. Simple, quick to put together, but the result will surprise you in a wonderful way. I used a recipe from this book (hey, Bri!!) and adapted a little the types of chocolate used.

It’s good to be back and I can’t wait to see what you all have been cooking and baking – looking forward to visiting your blogs and catching up!

Classic brownies

Classic Brownies
from Baking: From My Home to Yours

5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter, cut into 5 pieces
112g (4 ounces) semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
56g (2 ounces) bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
¾ cup (150g) sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional, I used it)
¼ - ½ teaspoon salt (according to taste, I used ¼)
1/3 cup (47g) all purpose flour
1 cup (115g) chopped walnuts

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 160ºC/325ºF. Line a 20cm (8-inch)* square baking pan with foil, butter the foil and place the pan on a baking sheet.
Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Put the butter in the bowl, top with the chocolates and stir occasionally until the ingredients are just melted - you don’t want them to get to shot that the butter separates. Remove the bowl from the pan of water.
With a whisk, stir in the sugar. Don’t be concerned when your smooth mixture turns grainy. One by one, whisk in the eggs. Add the vanilla and give the ingredients a vigorous whisking before gently stirring tin the espresso, if you’re using it, salt and flour; stir only until incorporated. Switch to a rubber spatula and fold in the chopped walnuts.
Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top with the spatula.
Bake the brownies for 30 to 33 minutes or until the top is dull and a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool the brownies for room temperature.
When the brownies are completely cool, turn out onto a rack, peel away the foil and invert onto a cutting board – if you do this, the cracked top might be ruined. I preferred to use longer foil pieces, forming “handles” in the baking pan – then I just lifted the whole thing, placed onto a cutting board and cut the brownies, removing them carefully from the foil.
Cut into 16 squares.

* I used a 25cm square pan so my brownies were a bit flat.

Makes 16

Classic brownies

63 comments:

Amrita said...

Finally! You're back! :)

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! Lovely brownies, I'd have one anytime...

Anonymous said...

Welcome back Patricia. And bearing yummy brownies too!

Belinda said...

Welcome back, Patricia! I've been peeking in to see if you have returned from vacation...I'm so glad you had a wonderful time. You will have to share photos. :-) And these brownies look delicious! I love the walnuts in them, and I think I will add walnuts the next time I make brownies. I think brownies always make a perfect treat. :-)

Haalo said...

Welcome back Patricia!

Anonymous said...

Yay for being back! There's nothing like brownies to settle back in. I'm glad you had such a good vacation!

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Welcome back! We've missed you. Those brownies would be wonderful to come home to -- they are always right, for any time of day.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Welcome back, Patricia - we missed you! And those brownies are very welcoming too!!

Deborah said...

Welcome back!! Isn't it funny how you automatically associate Dorie's book with Brilynn?!? I do the same thing! These brownies sound wonderful!

Peter M said...

Welcome back Patricia and I hope you're well rested after your holiday.

Your brownies look yummy...bookmarked!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back Patricia, we've been anxiously awaiting your return. I hope your trip was marvelous.

Graeme said...

Good to hear from you again. Great looking Brownies. Very homely.

Anonymous said...

Yeah! You're back! I hope you had a fabulous vacation. I missed you.

Peabody said...

Glad you had a great time!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Welcome home Patricia!
I loved these brownies! and sure loved the espresso powder and wouldn't leave it out!
Also love this book.

Anonymous said...

Good to have you back!

If you're bringing good things like these brownies to your dentist's office I'll bet you're their favorite patient! If they try to convince you that you need to schedule visits more frequently, I'd be very suspicious.

Anonymous said...

Let me add my own, "welcome back, Patricia" to the pile. I'm looking forward to photos and stories of Paris! In the meantime, I love the brownies, complete with the hand snatching one away. I know I'd do the same.

Anonymous said...

Hey Patricia, welcome back! It's so wonderful to see your cheery writing and photographs again, and I'm happy that you had what sounds like a wonderful break. :)

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Pat, welcome back!

Anh said...

Pat, thanks God you are back! I have been missing you terribly! *hugs*

ilingc said...

Welcome back Patricia! Glad to hear you had a great time. :)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

It's so great to have you back Patricia! Classic brownies= classic yum! :)

Brilynn said...

You just can't go wrong with a Dorie brownie! Glad to hear you had a good trip!

Eva said...

Good to see that you're back and that you've had such a wonderful time! This week, I made my first brownie ever (a cheesecake brownie) which tasted ok but I won't make it again. Yours look so much better! Maybe I should give your recipe a go before deciding that I don't like brownies after all...

Kirsten said...

Welcome back!!!!!!!

What delicious brownies! Can't wait to see what you are up to next with cooking/baking.

Toni said...

Welcome back Patricia! Like everyone else in the food blogging universe, I've missed you! And brownies? What a way to come back, girl!

Will you share some stories of your vacation with us?

Manggy said...

Welcome back! Lovely brownies!

Truffle said...

It's so lovely to have you back and even better to know you had a wonderful time!

Pat said...

Welcome Home Patricia!!!! I am so glad you had a lovely trip!!! I have missed your lovely posts. Thanks for this one... the brownies look scrummy!!!

Wendy said...

Welcome back!!

Nic said...

Welcome back!! Those are gorgeous brownies!
I'm dying to know where you went on your travels, hope you share them with us!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back Patricia! Yum, brownies! Lately in my brownie recipe, I've been using coconut oil, and it's a wonderful tropical touch. I'd love to know where you went on vacation. Good to have to back!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Amrita, tks, sweetie!

Linda, have as many as you want, dear!

Veron, thank you, my friend!

Belinda, I will! Photos will be posted soon. I took so many I have been having a hard time choosing! :)

Haalo, my dear, tks!

Hillary, I did! And will tell you more about it soon.

Lydia, I have missed you, too, sweetie!

T.W., I have missed you too, my dear friend!

Deb, you are so right, it's automatic! :)

Peter, I am rested and already thinking where to go next year. :)

Dayna, you are so sweet, I appreciate it! Gotta check what you have been cooking asap!

Graeme, tks!

Lynn, I missed you too, sweetie!

Pea, I did! Tks!

Tanna, this book is a keeper. My sister loves it too, even though she still can't read English. :)

Julie, my dear, tks! I had a laugh with your comment. Maybe I'm spoiling them. But I don't care. :)
Oh, and I can't wait to try that salad you last posted. I'm a sucker for salads.

Terry, my friend, you will have photos of Paris, Berlin, Rome and London! It's João's hand, by the way. :)

Hannah, it was! And I will tell you more about soon, sweetie!

Hey, dear, tks! That baked rice of yours is already tagged - how delicious is that????? :)

Anh, many hugs right back at you, darling! Missed you too and can't wait to see what you've been cooking and baking!

Ilingc, I did, tks!

Susan, tks, I feel very welcome by you!

Bri, you are sooo right, dear friend. Her recipes are always a hit!

Eva, gotta check that cheesecake brownie of yours. The name is making me drool already. :)
These are so simple to put together, give them a go sometime.

Kirsten, I have missed cooking and baking, sweetie!

Toni, you are so sweet, my friend, tks! I missed you too!
I will share stories and photos, very soon!

Manggy, tks!

Truffle, thank you!

Pat, my dear, I missed you, too. Gotta check what has been made in your delicious kitchen!

Wendy, tks!

Nicisme, I will gladly share, very soon!

TBC said...

Those brownies are absolutely gorgeous!

Mallow said...

Beautiful brownies, and so glad you're back!

KJ said...

Hi Patricia, welcome back. Beautiful brownies. I could really do with one of those now. I'm off to find some chocolate.

Oh for the love of food! said...

Patricia, You were gone way toooooooooooooo long! So glad that you're back. The brownies look absolutely scrumptious!

Oh for the love of food! said...

I had an award for you two posts ago!

thecoffeesnob said...

Welcome back!

Those brownies look heavenly.

Susan said...

Patricia, can't wait to see your holiday photos. Perhaps you'll feature a recipe from a memorable meal during your travels? Meantime, brownies work for me. : )

Kelly-Jane said...

Welcome back, glad to hear you had a great time away. You'd always be welcomed back, but bearing these magnificent brownies too, bonus :)

Karin W. said...

I have missed you too.
Did you spend your vacation in Europe and Paris? I bet you have eaten a lot of good food. A friend of mine was au-pair in Paris when she was young. Her weight went up 15 kg (ab. 33 pounds) in a year.

pam said...

Welcom back Patricia! You're brownies look lovely!

Stella said...

Bienvenue chez toi Pat!!
I'm glad to hear that you've had heaps of fun, & back with such finger licking good brownies!!!

Veggie said...

mandei uma arquivo em mp3 pra sua mailbox, espero que nao fique cluttered :$

Anonymous said...

Thank you thank you for the comment!
Please send me a piece of those brownies :))

Kajal@aapplemint said...

Its nice to have you back ! I like flat brownies ...these look just perfect. I bet your dentist cant wait for you to spoil him some more :)

Sarah C. said...

Thanks for commenting on my blog! Your brownies look absolutely delicious. Keep stopping by, I like the company! :)

Abby said...

Glad you had a lovely time! And I'd like to sink MY teeth into those brownies - scrumptious!

Janet said...

Welcome back Patricia... and those brownies look good enough to eat!! :-)

Amy said...

Welcome back! I'm so glad you had a wonderful vacation, you deserve it! These brownies look perfect! Nothing like a classic brownie. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, another brownie recipe that is a must to try soon! Lovely!
Hope you had blast on your vacation!

Anonymous said...

Did you save any for me? I only want a few...or maybe a lot. You can never go wrong with good brownies. :)

Cheryl said...

Wow, those look really gooey and moist. My favorite kind.

Figs, Bay, Wine said...

Patricia, you take such good care of everyone! You're unbelievable. So glad you're back, and thanks for the gorgeous recipe.

Cynthia said...

I am so glad you're back! You've been gone for ages! :D

kickpleat said...

those brownies look great! i hope you had a wonderful vacation and i look forward to hearing all the highlights!

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

It feels like you've been away forever! Glad you had the time of your life.

These brownies look fab - lucky dentist staff!

Patricia Scarpin said...

TBC, tks!

Mallow, thank you, sweetie!

KJ, I'd trade them for some of those lamingtons you made. ;)

Carol, tks, dear! I'll check your blog in a minute!

Hey, sweetie, thank you!

Susan, Joao has lots of requests for me to recreate, I'll have to work hard! :)

Kelly-Jane, you are so sweet, tks!

Karin, I did eat a lot and now I have extra pounds to lose, my lovely friend. :)

Pam, tks, darling!

Merci, sweet Valentina! xoxo

Ivan, adorei a música e obrigada por me apresentar à banda. ;)

Tea, tks for stopping by! Your blog is so beautiful!
Have as many brownies as you want!

Kate, I'll have to go back there in a couple of weeks. :)

Sarah, my pleasure! And thank you for visiting me, too!

Abby, I did! Have some, dear!

Janet, tks, sweetie!

Amy, I'd trade a couple of these for those wonderful muffins you've baked recently!

Bea, thank you for stopping by! I did have a wonderful time, tks!

Sher, I'll bake more for you, fresh from the oven!

Cheryl, tks!

Amanda, you are so sweet, you made me blush here, dear!

Cynthia, almost a month, my friend!

Kickpleat, you were in Europe, too! :)

Amanda, I missed you guys a lot!

Anita said...

Belated welcome back, Patricia! Can't wait to hear about your vacation!

eatme_delicious said...

Yumm those brownies look good. They look really dense and fudgey which is how I like my brownies!

Ploplop said...

I made these brownies and it was delicious! Thank you for the recipe!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Hi! I'm so glad to know you made the recipe - thank YOU for letting me know how they turned out!
xx

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