Celebratory Brownies

Lots of things to celebrate this week, hooray. My clever little sister has got herself a job offer, I've got a Stylish Blogger award (last boast I promise) and PDKTC has REACHED 1,000 PAGEVIEWS! This is definitely a case for celebratory brownies, and possibly champagne and strawberries also. I actually made brownies a couple of days ago now, but since I only scoffed the last one this morning I still feel justified in writing about them.

To me, baking is something that's either in your blood, or it isn't. For me, sadly, it's the latter - I'm not one of nature's bakers. My Victoria sponges never rise properly; my pastry is usually too hard; I don't bake my own bread (often). But however nonexistent my skills, I still love to bake. Especially brownies. They are so simple and so satisfactory. That sugary chocolate crust, the way the insides teeter on the ledge between goo and cake, the way the pieces of nut balance out the taste and texture - perfect.

Incidentally, I actually left nuts out of my brownies as the Brother is allergic, but they are traditionally included so I have put them in the recipe below. If you or a loved one are in the same position, don't worry, it works fine without.

Join me now, dear reader, on a baking adventure.

Ingredients
(Makes around 16-20)

200g sugar
100g butter
75g chocolate (as good-quality/dark as you can afford)
Few drops vanilla extract (NOT essence, it's not the same thing)
2 eggs, gently beaten
75g plain flour
Pinch of salt
1 tsp baking powder
100g pecans, walnuts, macadamias or Brazil nuts (or a mixture!), quite finely chopped


Method

Pre-heat your oven to 180, and grease some sort of cake tin/baking tray with butter or vegetable oil. If you've got any, line the tin with greaseproof paper or even silicone baking paper, both of which will greatly increase your chances of prising out any brownies at the end of the process.

Next, melt your chocolate. Don't do this on too high a heat, or it will 'split' - go all weird and hard. You can melt chocolate either in a very low oven in a ceramic bowl, or in the same bowl oven a pan of simmering water, making sure that the bowl doesn't actually touch the water.

If your chocolate should happen to split, take it off the heat and add a dessert spoon, or a little more, of vegetable oil. Keep it warm and stir gently until it looks better. It won't be any good for setting, but you can still use it in your brownies :)

While your chocolate is melting away, cut the butter into small chunks and cream it together with the sugar until pale and creamy-looking. You can either do this in a food processor (easy and quick) or by hand in a mixing bowl (very slow but therapeutic and good for the biceps).

When it's really pale and creamy, which will take longer to achieve than you think (don't rush it...enjoy it), you can gently beat in your eggs, chocolate and vanilla essence until completely mixed. Then sieve in the flour, salt and baking powder, and fold until combined. If you're using nuts, mix them in at this point.

Turn the whole lot out into the baking tin and pop it in the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the top is crusty but the inside still squidgy. If you put it a skewer it doesn't have to come out clean - its not a cake!

While waiting, lick the bowl (disclaimer: licking the bowl is optional. If you get salmonella from the raw eggs, that's not my fault ok?).

Once your brownie is ready, take it out of the oven and either cut it into little brownie squares or leave it as one giant brownie, you greedy sod. Either way, leave it to cool for a bit but definitely eat the first one while they're still warm. Mmm, chocolaty celebration.

Extra brownie things

Some things you can add to your brownie mix to change it up (add when you'd add the nuts):

Cherries, either cocktail ones or sour ones
Dried cranberries or raspberries
Banana, sliced or mashed
Chocolate drops, white or milk
Little chips of toffee
...Anything else you fancy, play around!

Some yummy things to eat (and drink) with your brownies:

Ice cream and chocolate sauce
Ice cream and golden syrup
A nice mug of perfect Hot Chocolate
Strawberries and whipped cream

Forest fruit coulis
Strawberries and champagne

Have yourselves a big brownie celebration, y'all!