Old Fashioned Brownies

Great news! I got my Pinterest problem squared away, so you can now pin my recipes. Woo-hoo!



I tend to love classic, old fashioned things. Like my Mikimoto Pearls, which I inherited from my Grandma Burgos after she died. Wallpaper and mason jars, which, albeit are back in style for the moment. My great Grandmother Zuhelke's garnet ring which I was told (a bit rudely) by a local jeweler that is only plated in gold, rather than being solid, when I went to get it sized and was consequently denied becuase "plated jewelry just can't take heat."



my pearls and ring


This was after they told me that the same Grandma's earrings couldn't be switched from a turn screw style, to a normal backing for the same reason. Also, they couldn't change a link in my sisters watch because they were afraid it might break and couldn't replace it if they did. And my daughters gold necklace which had a knot in the chain couldn't be fixed, I'd have to buy a new one. Psssh. Can we just say, worst jewelry store ever? I once boycotted that store until my husband bought me a pair of diamond earrings from there when I had Olivia, and well, you can't very well turn down diamond earrings. I don't care who you are.

So, my Grandma's ring isn't very valuable. It doesn't make it any less special to me because it was hers and looks like the coolest cocktail ring ever. Other old fashioned favorites of mine are lemonade, card games, luncheons, sun brewed tea, pin curls, red lipstick, 5 o'clock cocktails, 1930's dresses, Chanel no. 5, capri pants, lace, Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, Elvis, Billie Holiday, black and white movies, vintage cars, pie, cobbler, fishnet stockings, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers, Grace Kelly, Doris Day, night blooming jasmine, potato salad, picnics, fried chicken, and real brownies.

Anabelle is Danielle's daughter and she likes to help with the brownie making. Can you guess with which part?

When my friend and I needed a brownie recipe, we looked no further than Alton Brown. He had our trust, implicitely. These brownies are deep cocoa and thick, chewy, and a perfect cross between cakey and fudgey. Of course, I added lots of walnuts to my batch. Walnuts are mandatory in my brownies.

I'm mad for brownie sundaes and this recipe would stand up to ice cream perfectly. When I was pregnant with Isabella, it seems I couldn't eat enough of them. I also gained the most weight with her than any of my other kids. Go figure. With Jeremiah I craved salads. Talk about a lucky break. Then with Olivia, it was bagels and cream cheese. Dang. In my non-pregnant life, the brownie sundae is still champ. I've cooled it on the bagels, and upped my salad intake, so...It should all even out, eh?

• Old Fashioned Brownies
• adapted from Alton Brown
• makes 9 brownies 
• 
  
• Soft butter, for greasing the pan
• Flour, for dusting the buttered pan
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar, sifted
• 1 cup brown sugar, sifted
• 8 ounces melted butter
• 11/4 cups cocoa, sifted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup flour, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 to 1 cup chopped walnuts, (optional)

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch square pan.

In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs at medium speed until fluffy and light yellow. Add both sugars. Add remaining ingredients, and mix to combine.

Pour the batter into a greased and floured 8-inch square pan and bake for 45 minutes (Ours took about an hour to bake) Check for doneness with the tried-and-true toothpick method: a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan should come out clean. When it's done, remove to a rack to cool. Resist the temptation to cut into it until it's mostly cool.

Dear Katie Krysh, 

I know you noticed that I have the same exact watch as you. Please know that while I did ask for a Michael Kors watch for my birthday, I picked out a different one. However, when it came, my friends who were giving it to me said the face was much too huge and blingy, and  looked a little gaudy in person. So it got returned and replaced with this one, which is better anyway. But of course, that means we have the same watch. But I figure you live in Ohio, so it's okay.

Sincerely, Krysta

Dear Everyone Else Who Reads This Blog, 

I'm sorry for the personal message above.

Sincerely, Krysta