Welcome to Plaid Eggnog!

Welcome to Plaid Eggnog!

Apr 20, 2010

SuperBrownies

by Chefs Julie & Steve

Have you ever looked for the world's best brownie recipe? This one may well be it! That's why we've dubbed it "SuperBrownies."

These brownies turn out oh-so-gooey in all the right places, and they rise so high that they are easily mistaken for cake!

SuperBrownies also garnered rave reviews from folks in our churches in both Hudson Bay and Arborfield (120 km / 80 miles from here). These are people who KNOW cooking...farmers, home canners and bakers extraordinaire. With them, these brownies were such a hit that if you blinked, you'd miss getting one. (Hence the lack of photo with this recipe - the brownies just disappeared too fast!)

Curious yet? Or maybe a little hungry? Without further ado, here's the recipe:

1 cup flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 9-inch square baking pan with enough foil to overhang two sides by 2 inches. Coat foil with cooking spray.  Combine flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder; reserve. In microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips and butter on high in 20-second intervals, stirring each time, until melted. Whisk in sugar, eggs and vanilla until blended. Stir in flour mixture until smooth. Spread in pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until pick inserted into centre comes out clean. (Do not overbake. Cooking and testing by 5-minute intervals toward the end helps.) Cool on rack 15 minutes. Use foil to lift from pan. Cool completely before cutting. Makes 16 good-sized servings.

Variations we recommend:

1. Strawberry White Chocolate SuperBrownies
Prepare batter as above, then stir 1/2 cup strawberry (or other berry) jam into batter. Then stir in 3/4 cup white chocolate chips (not melted). Bake 40-45 minutes, testing as in regular recipe. Meanwhile, buy or prepare 1 can vanilla icing, then stir into it 1/2 cup berry jam, plus pink or red food colouring. (The  jam in the icing tastes amazing - it's Steve's invention.) Ice brownies when cool. Garnish with fresh berries, if desired.

2. Mint Chocolate SuperBrownies, aka St. Patrick's Day Brownies
Prepare batter as above, then cut 10 mint Oreo cookies into quarters. Stir into batter. (If you cannot find mint Oreos, use regular ones. Then, for the mint flavour, substitute mint chocolate chips for semi-sweet ones in the regular recipe.) Bake 35-40 minutes, testing as in regular recipe. Meanwhile, buy or prepare 1 can vanilla icing, add green food colouring, and add mint flavouring if desired. Ice brownies when cool. Garnish with Oreo pieces or crumbs.

3. SuperBrownies with Ice Cream
Friends in Arborfield, Ken & Betty Edwards, suggested adding ice cream as a topping to any of the above SuperBrownie variations. It's to die for...give it a try!

- recipe is modified from Woman's World, p. 27, 8/3/09.

Apr 2, 2010

Good Friday Prayers - from Julie

On Good Friday, there are so many different ways each of us can remember Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross, and then offer our grateful devotion to God. How are you spending Good Friday this year?

Steve is wearing the "priest hat" today, as one of the organizers of a service involving several of the churches in town. Meanwhile, I'm reading the story of Jesus' crucifixion and doing something I've wanted to do for a long time but never seemed to find time for...preparing a prayer corner at home - putting up photos of people I want to pray for every day, to remind me to do so.

Here are two prayers for today:

ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.


ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
- from the Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Church of Canada