espresso brownies

espresso brownies (sorry for the bad pic the camera battery died)

Espresso Brownies

Ingredients:
2 cups light brown sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¾ cup butter (softened)
1 shot espresso (or 3 tablespoons very strong coffee)
1 tablespoon ground espresso/coffee
4 large eggs
2 ½ bars dark chocolate chopped into small pieces.

Preheat oven
Grease a 9in square baking pan

Beat brown sugar, butter in a medium mixing bowl.

Add eggs, vanilla, espresso and salt. Beat until well blended.

Stir in espresso grounds, flour and baking powder, mixing until smooth.

Fold in the chocolate chunks.

Spread batter into the greased pan

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45minutes.


Once cooled lightly dust brownies with icing sugar, cut the brownies and serve with whipped cream, drizzled cream or a dollop of your favourite ice-cream. Best served with a cup of espresso based beverage, for that caffeine kick.

cook's notes: the brownies turned out perfect, they did taste of coffee once cooled, but when still warm they mostly tasted of all the chocolate I added to the mixture.

my thought process on making the brownies went something like this:

"hmm I think I will make some espresso brownies for Frizbe's birthday."
*googles espresso brownies*
*reads a dozen different espresso brownie recipes*
"Hmm ok then but I don't have espresso powder I have ground lavazza espresso, and I'm not using a brownie mix"
*sets out ingredients to make brownies*
*pulls tattered favourite brownie recipe out of file*
*ignores every googled recipe for espresso brownies, flicks espresso machine on an expiriments*
*pops brownies in the oven and eats brownie batter while pretending to do the dishes*
*ding brownies are done*

M's Birthday

awesome coffee postcard

Yesterday was M's birthday so along with a amazon order of a book, a CD, and a box set (that still hasn't arrived *waves fist at the fluffy haired postie* I made the above card, well post card actually as I used the last card to make a birthday card for Flamesparrow (which I cannot post on here until she receives it as she will snoop). The card was made with a vintage music sheet hand stained with black tea, I drew a the coffee cup with pencil and my favourite ink pen, and stamped Awesome Coffee with my new alphabet stamp set and cherry red fabric ink (the only kind I have) then I used my little sewing machine to sew the music sheet to the recycled fiber postcard ( from a packet sold at Paperchase).



It was very important to H that we make something handmade for M, he said that it had to be a warmbag because that is what I make best, so he had a rummage though my small box of fabrics and dragged out some raspberry gingham from Laura Ashley (we have some cushions that were made with the same fabric that sometimes live in the lounge and sometimes migrate into H's room). I cut the fabric and sewed three sides then H helped to turn the fabric right side then fill it with high quality lavender and rice, then we used the ABC stamps to mark ML on a piece of natural coloured sewing tape. H then helped to sew the bag closed, pressing the pedal and listening carefully.

H was over the moon with excitement to give M the warm bag yesterday morning, and he made sure M took the bag with him to work today in case it is cold at the studio, bless. Instead of a cake H and I made some very decadent brownie cupcakes ( a slightly richer recipe than the one found on my blog here if anyone wants it I can write up the recipe and blog it for you) . I have some sewing to attempt to do now (doubtful) and I need to get at least one suitcase down from the attic before the day ends, as well as taking care of H who is home from school due to a rather chunky sounding cough.

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and I must have a shout out to Gill of Hollingdale Designs who made the beautiful button ends of Kerry's black Glitter (Midnight Meridian ~wink~ ) knitting needles in the previous post.

Cupcake Brownies

Brownie Cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup butter (softened)
4 large eggs
1 cup plain/dark chocolate chips

Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt, cocoa, sugar, vanilla, butter and eggs.

Fold in the chocolate chips and spread batter into muffin/cupcake cases about ¾ full. (Alternatively you could add nuts or dried fruit at this time) Makes about 24 cupcakes.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for roughly 20 minutes.

Cool for five minutes in the muffin tins before moving them to finish cooling on a wire rack.

Once cooled you can top the brownies with butter cream, whipped cream as I did, or a dollop of your favourite ice-cream, or drizzled pouring cream.

cook's notes:I had been meaning to try brownie cupcakes for awhile now, after the mums at H's school going gaga for my brownies, it made sense to try to make small individual ones that don't make as much mess as still warm brownies with a gooey centre. They still all sold in gooey form but individual portions in cupcake size will work better for the next cake sale to raise money for school activities. Sorry the picture is less than brilliant, it was at night and the light was terrible, and five minutes later, less than that actually, M had gobbled up my model brownie.

Brownie Mix in a Jar

brownie mix in a jar

For this recipe you will need:

a jar that holds 1 quart or 1.1 litres. (If the jar is airtight add the ingredients directly, otherwise you will need to place them into an airtight ziplock bag. )

Ribbon for decoration

a tag to write the instructions on

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar

3/4 cup cocoa

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Layer ingredients into the jar. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next layer.

Important: wipe out the inside of the jar with a dry paper towel after adding the cocoa powder for a cleaner. Neater finish.

Tag Instructions: Empty jar of brownie mix into a large bowl.
Add 3/4 cup butter (softened) and 4 eggs

Mix until completely blended.

Spread batter into a sprayed 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.
Cool completely in pan. Cut into square and serve

cooks notes: well I haven't actually cooked it just made the jar up, I have had the idea stored up in my brain from a cookie mix jar I saw many years ago and thought it was a clever idea. I looked over a few different recipes on the Internet and then scrawled out my own recipe version, I think it looks quite effective and hopefully the gift is enjoyed by those it is intended for.