One Day, Maybe

Whew, this has been a long week! The weekend snuck up on me somehow - I didn't even get a chance to do a H54F post this week although there were some pretty nice highlights. I feel like somehow recently life has hit the fast forward button and I don't have time for anything extra these days! Sadly, that list has come to include baking & this blog lately. 

The good thing is my lack of spare time has *mostly* come as a result of picking up some extra farm sitting, and some fun nights out. Most recently seeing The Lumineers at Koka Booth Thursday night. Such a great show and the nasty storms that blew through brought some amazing weather behind them for the show. If you're into that kind of music and get a chance to see them live, do it! We saw them in December when they opened for DMB, and they were just as good then as they were last night. 

Oh, and there were food trucks. Our 3 favorite food trucks, even. Food trucks have exploded in our area and we're loving it for sure. Not sure what makes it so fun, but it is. And we have some really great ones here. 

Anyway, in light of all that stuff I'm really hoping things will slow down a bit someday and I'll have time to get back to baking. If When that happens, here's somethings I've been adding to my food board on Pinterest that I'd really love to try!

New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies - if you know anything about me, you know my love for chocolate chip cookies & my quest to finally make the *perfect* ones. If I accomplish nothing else on this list, I WILL make these.

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Cookie Dough Truffle Brownies - Cookie Dough & brownies?!? Two of my favorite things. I mean, really. Whoever thought to combine the two is a genius. Pure genius.

Lemon Yogurt Cake - I love lemon pound cakes. So good.

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And finally, this:

Hot Fudge Pie - I'm pretty sure the name says it all. If ever a dessert was meant for me, I'm pretty sure this is it.

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So, there ya go. A few things that are hopefully in my future. I'm sure I'll have time to bake all of these... one day. Maybe ;)

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

My new favorite brownies...

On Mother's Day I was looking for something simple to make with ingredients I already had in the house. I decided to make brownies, but I haven't found a brownie recipe I've been crazy about so I consulted my good friend Google. After looking at a few recipes I stumbled across this one on Recipe Girl and decided to give it a try. These are simple, quick and delicious. They're topped with a chocolate 'glaze' that turns more into a fudge after they sit awhile. Needless to say I've found my new favorite brownies. 

*Excuse the bad picture, they didn't last long enough for a better one & clearly I'm not a photographer!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped (I used a Lindt 70% chocolate bar)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I used mini chocolate chips)

GLAZE:
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (I used 4 squares of a Lindt dark chocolate bar and 0.5 oz semisweet Baker's chocolate)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 to 5 teaspoons hot water (or more, as needed)

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 8" baking dish with nonstick spray. Line with parchment paper (leave edges hanging over) and spray that also. 

In one bowl mix flour, baking powder & salt. In another bowl melt butter & chocolate in microwave. I do this 30 secs at a time. Usually takes 60-90 seconds. Stir together until smooth and then add in both sugars followed by eggs, the extra yolk & vanilla. Mix in flour mixture and then add chocolate chips.

Pour batter into pan and bake for 25-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean (there may be some chocolate from the chocolate chips).

Once brownies are cooled completely make the glaze. If you're using chocolate from a chocolate bar like I did you'll need to melt it first. Mix powdered sugar, chocolate, vanilla & hot water. Continue adding water 1 tsp at a time until glaze is just thin enough to pour over brownies. Let sit before serving. You can put them in the fridge to sit if you're in a hurry.

As always, eat & enjoy!