Brownies -a Sure Cure for the Mean Reds!

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I have had the worst case of the “mean reds“- as Holly Golightly called that kind of indescribable anxiety in Truman Capote’s novel Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I have just been avoiding everything I love to do and feeling kind of apathetic towards all of my favorite things. But recently I can see the sun again  and I’m feeling a little more like getting back to it. These Brownies are a sure cure for a brown study, the blues or even those evil mean reds.

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Brownies are a favorite treat around our house.  We make them often and of course I’ve posted about them before.  One of my new rules is that I can have a treat if it’s homemade so I know what ingredients are in it and also make sure it is worth the calories.

I can never understand why people use mixes for these. Made from scratch in under a half of an hour with basic ingredients you can keep at the ready, they are easy and so much better when made with real butter and chocolate. I play around with the flavors now and again but the basic recipe remains the same:

Brownies Master Recipe

  • 1/2 cup butter- if you even think of using margarine stop now and don’t make these
  • 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate- I usually use Guittard Oban buttons
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • Optional add-ins of Espresso powder, chopped chocolate bits, nuts, dried fruit, spices etc. (e.g. chile powder and cinnamon for mole brownies) can substitute other extracts for part of the vanilla such as  peppermint, almond or orange etc.

Prepare an 8″ x 8″ pan by buttering and flouring it or lining with parchment- I use parchment because it is so much easier and cleans up fast- I cut two pieces the width of the pan and cross them to completely line the pan.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Melt the butter and chocolate over low heat until smoothly melted remove. In a medium bowl, place the sugar and pour the melted butter and chocolate into it. Stir until cooled. Add the eggs, one at a time and beat in. Add the pinch of salt and vanilla or other extracts. Stir well. Add the flour and any dry spices you might want to add. Stir just until combined. Add in chocolate, nuts or dried fruit now if desired.

Spread in pan and bake in oven for about 20-25 minutes or just until set. Cool (if you can stand to wait) and cut into squares.

xo

Gabi

Here Comes the Sun and the Son!

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I am so happy today- I know I’ve been off of the blog for a while more on that later- but today I just wanted to write and say how happy I am to be an American and how much I commit to serve my country and the world right along with President Obama. Nothing is stronger than love, hope, and doing what is right. It’s a new dawn- it’s a new day…. Bless all who are good and who seek to change the world for the better.

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My own son came back to America on Saturday- his days in Iraq are now behind him and Hallelujah!- he came back safely and whole. He’ll be home on leave in a few weeks and out of the Army completely by the Fall- hopefully. Knowing what a strain it is for families to have their loved ones away at war -I send my love out to those whose sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers were not as lucky.

xo

Gabi

Healthy Chocolate-Cherry Almond Biscotti for CEiMB

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Whew! Happy New Year everyone! I’m hoping that in finally coming up for air after all the holiday craziness- I can actually get back into the swing of posting here. I’m sorry I’ve neglected you all as the time has gotten away from me during the last several weeks or so. I am also changing the way I eat and that is affecting everything else.

One of my friends asked if I am low carbing- no- I am increasing my nutrition to calorie ratio by including more fruits, vegetables and healthy beans and whole grains- easy peasy. And deliciously good for you I might add- full of fiber and micro-nutrients.  In all of the “diets” I’ve seen out there I’ve never heard or read any of them say to stay away from vegetables and leafy greens. Have you?

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I recently read Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and I have to say I already agreed with most of what I read there. It made complete sense to me- if a bit difficult to put into practice- given loving food and living in a world that doesn’t equate food solely with health. For instance the recipe below would not be in accordance with the Eat to Live principles, but even Dr. Fuhrman allows that you might like an occasional treat and advocates trying to eat healthfully as a percentage in your life with celebrations allowed. I am determined to improve my own healthy body and I am of the opinion that if you put lots of healthy foods in- the not so good stuff will have to make way and you’ll be naturally fuller and healthier. We already eat a lot of vegetables around here but making an effort to eat more in a conscious way doesn’t hurt anything. So healthy- happy new year everyone!!!

I still have packages to mail to a few of you- the post office and I were unfortunately not destined to be with each other in recent past. But I will get them out and you’ll have something to look forward to soon. I promise. 🙂 xoxo

I am catching up on Craving Ellie in My Belly here too, I did make these yesterday but missed posting them here. So without further digression….

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Chocolate-Cherry Almond Biscotti from page 302 of The Food You Crave by Ellie Krieger. I almost chose these myself last week so when Leanne of Enjoying My Favorite Things chose them I was very happy to make them.

FYI- One tip I’ve learned as I’ve baked lots of biscotti is to let them cool completely before slicing and re-baking no matter what the recipe says- that way they slice easier and they don’t fall apart. It takes a little longer to complete the process but they turn out loads better.

I think that these are quite good- they do taste a bit healthy with the whole wheat flour- but they don’t taste like cardboard which is a plus- as Rick my favorite in house taste-tester said. He gives them a thumb’s up for adding whole grains- being relatively low in fat and still being a treat worth its calories. Much of the flavor is due to the additions- I personally think you can’t go wrong with dried tart cherries, almonds and dark chocolate. Lots of things in there to add to your healthy bottom line and give great taste.  Get the book and give them a try.  Go on- have a healthy tasty start to better nutrition you don’t have to punish yourself to be more healthy.

xox

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