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Thursday, May 31, 2007

I am a Browniebabe! I am!

Did you guys know I won the very first Browniebabe challenge? I DID!!! I KNOW!! How exciting is that?? squeeeeeeeeeee!

So after fearing that my brand spanking new "Browniebabe" embroidered apron had ended up in a painful death somewhere in the US postal system, I emailed the lovely Myriam with my fears.. imagine my embarrassment the very next day when it arrived. Doh.

But now I have my prize, which is a lovely fit (it's HUGE - Thanks Myriam, and my hips thank you too!) and I've been wearing it proudly although I'm scared to get it dirty so I fold dish towels around it so it will be safe. Kinda defeats the purpose, I know - but I NEVER win anything and I'm going to keep my first prize in pristine shape as long as I can. :D A picture will be shared in the near future, but I'm waiting until my own personal trainer gets here (Am so excited!! More on that later) so that I can maybe work those hips down a tad before sharing the horror. heee!

Chocolate Crunch Brownies

Anyhoo.. for my submission to Browniebabe Round 2 there was a lot of pressure. Pressure I put on myself, of course. I wanted my 2nd submission of delectable brownies to be as droolworthy as the first, so I spent most of our allotted time researching recipes and writing down ideas. Although I don't feel that this month's brownie packs as much punch as last month's.. I can confidently say, if you like super rich, super decadent and complete unnecessary over indulgence, then these are the brownies for you.

When I say, cut the brownies into 1" by 1" squares, I'm not kidding. These babies will guarantee a 2 pound weight gain and your teeth will beg mercy from the sweetness if you go much bigger. They are almost like candy.. seriously.

I'm a big fan of chocolate and crunch. I love chocolate covered pretzels, potato chips, celery, grasshoppers, etc. 'kay not so much the celery and grasshoppers, although I can't imagine either not benefitting from a dunk in chocolate. Hello? Chocolate makes ANYTHING better. These brownies start with a chewy brownie base, then they are covered in sweet and melty marshmallow topped off with a mixture of melted chocolate and peanut butter combined with corn flakes. Yes. Corn flakes. The kind you pour into a bowl and cover with moo juice. Those corn flakes. Yes.

Chocolate Crunch Brownies

I know!! Weird, eh?

But ohhhh sooooo good.. and sooo very very bad.. hee! They are already packed up and ready to go to work to be devoured by the sugar fiends in a matter of minutes. Thank the baby Jebus.

Chocolate Crunch Brownies

I made some alterations to this recipe, which I found on my favorite Recipezaar.com. The first thing I changed was the recipe called for only 6 TEASPOONS of cocoa powder in the brownie base. Huh? The batter wasn't even brown after I mixed the original amount in. So I threw in a few more HEAPING TABLESPOONS to get it to the color and taste of a fakkin brownie. The next change I made, was it called for 12 oz. of semi-sweet chocolate chips. I only had a 9 oz. bag of chocolate melts (the bigger, flatter, nickel sized chips which are a new product from Baker's Chocolate) so I improvised the last 3 oz. with milk chocolate and peanut butter Nestle chips I've had hanging around for God know's what. And finally, I didn't have the originally called for puffed rice cereal in the house, so I used corn flakes. And frankly, without even trying this with the puffed rice, I know the corn flakes made it even better. The crunch is much more pronounced and that's what I'm talkin' bout. ;)

Chocolate Crunch Brownies

Many thanks to Nancy Alexander and Country Woman magazine (the recipe is available online, but you must be a subscriber to read it so I couldn't link), as well as Recipezaar for sharing this recipe. =)

Chocolate Crunch Brownies
Chocolate Crunch Brownies

The recipe below is written with my changes. Go here for the original recipe.

Serves 36

1 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1/3 c. baking cocoa
1 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. vanilla extract (I used vanilla paste)
1/2 tsp. salt (I used 3/4 tsp. to give it a lil more saltiness with all that chocolate)
1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow creme
1 c. creamy peanut butter
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)
3 c. corn flake cereal

Preheat oven to 350ยบ F. Grease (or spray with Pam w/flour baking non-stick spray) a 9" x 13" x 2" Pyrex baking dish, set aside.

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar; add eggs. Stir in cocoa, flour, vanilla, and salt.

Spread into prepared baking pan.

Bake 25 minutes or until brownies test done.

Cool. Spread marshmallow creme over cooled brownies.

In a small saucepan, melt peanut butter and chocolate chips over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in the cereal. Spread over marshmallow layer.

Chill before cutting.

Chocolate Crunch Brownies

My Notes: The brownies rose as if they were going to be cake-like in the oven. But once they started to cool, they flattened out and were of the chewy variety, as I was hoping for.

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Comments on "I am a Browniebabe! I am!"

 

Blogger breadchick said ... (6/01/2007 7:39 AM) : 

I think I just gained 2 lbs LOOKING at those brownies. Congrats on winning the Browniebabe! Of course you will always be a browniebabe to me!!!

Hugs

 

Blogger Cheryl said ... (6/01/2007 8:45 AM) : 

You've always been a babe, now a browniebabe.

I think I will make these brownies my wallpaper at work. The employees will love to see my drool all day. Jesu are they sinful.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/01/2007 8:58 AM) : 

Good heavens! Those things look sinful :)

 

Blogger Laura said ... (6/01/2007 9:53 AM) : 

One minute you're talking about salads and the next your churning out pure food porn! You shouldn't be allowed to mess with a persons head like that Ms. Browniebabe!!

 

Blogger Brilynn said ... (6/01/2007 10:15 AM) : 

The epitomy of Go Big or Go Home!

 

Blogger Helene said ... (6/01/2007 10:43 AM) : 

Lisa Lisa...the salad post and now this....you want to kill me! These are outrageous!!! Great pics!

 

Blogger MyKitchenInHalfCups said ... (6/01/2007 10:50 AM) : 

You are just getting to be a better and better Browniebabe!!
Looking very good and I know I'm loving the crunch.

 

Blogger Peabody said ... (6/01/2007 11:06 AM) : 

Congrats on you brownie babe win...I did not know that you won! I'm thinking you might win again with these!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/01/2007 12:45 PM) : 

Wow...I wish there were more people in my life who liked sweets, so I could try to make these! But I'd have to eat them all myself and that would be really, really dangerous. Sigh. They look awesome.

 

Blogger Deborah said ... (6/01/2007 1:25 PM) : 

This is the reason you won the first go round - you are truly a browniebabe!! These look so amazing!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/01/2007 2:29 PM) : 

Oooh I'm doing the happy dance here. Congratulations for being the winning the browniebabe...and since we're sisters , do I share that honor too ;).
Those brownies are very evil looking...it mesmerizes me to no end.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/01/2007 4:22 PM) : 

Oh Lisa, Your brownies look utterly amazing! What a creation! I laughed at your comment about giving them away...

Here's lookin' at you, browniebabe! ;)

 

Blogger Kelly-Jane said ... (6/01/2007 4:40 PM) : 

You might be getting a second apron with this as your second entry (you could have a best one and a using one! haha).

They look absolutley amazing! Oh how I want to taste one (some). :)

 

Blogger Chris said ... (6/01/2007 9:45 PM) : 

oh....you're so wrong for this.....but so very right at the same time! :)

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/01/2007 10:23 PM) : 

Dear goodness!!!

Those brownies made me try to eat my flat screen. When I found out I could bite my screen, I settled for licking it. I imagine the warmth of licking my screen is much like the warmth of those brownies. Mmm...

 

Blogger Jenny said ... (6/01/2007 10:55 PM) : 

Oooh they looked so good until you said peanut butter! Cause I didn't find the corn flakes odd.
Oh well!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/02/2007 1:17 AM) : 

lol moo juice! haha. I thought of making some smores brownies when I was waiting for the bus today (I like to think about food when I'm spacing out), with graham crackers and marshmallow creme. This is really similiar but with corn flakes instead of graham crackers. :D These look so fudgy and delicious. *drools*

 

Blogger Lis said ... (6/02/2007 6:17 AM) : 

Mary - Awwwww you rock =)

Cheryl - hahahaaaa! Another visual I'm lovin'

Shawnda - Oh they don't just "look" sinful.. hehehee

Laura - I KNOW! I thought I'd be getting lots of pointing and staring after I had just begged for salad recipes.. but I was runnin outta time. hehe

Bril - You ain't just whistlin' dixie cups!
Helene - hehee I didn't mean it. :P

Tanna - Yay! I miss you! How's your trip so far??

Gracie - Thank you! Thank you! =)

Laura - Yeah I know.. if I knew I wouldn't have a roofing co. full of sweet toothes to take these to, I never would have made them. =)

Deborah - Thanks, sweetie!

Sis - Of course you do!! I'll send you 1/2 the apron? hehee

Gilly - lol You should have seen their faces when I layed the platter out on a desk.. was priceless.

Kelly-Jane - hahaha! Why thanks =) But I don't feel these are quite worthy of another Browniebabe win.. considering they are too candy like.. but well.. I'd never say no to another apron! :D

Chris - I know. ;)

Marvo!! yay! I'm so happy you've found a new relationship with your monitor. ;)

xoxo

 

Blogger Adela said ... (6/02/2007 12:17 PM) : 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHH:::!
I'm looking those marvellous brownies and I can't understand why I'm so far from you !
O MY GOD ! Looks incredible.From Argentina , congratulations baby !

 

Blogger Kirsten said ... (6/02/2007 1:22 PM) : 

Yay! Congrats on winning!!!! :)

These look SOOO delicious. I could eat one right now for breakfast with a cup of strong coffee. Yum!!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/02/2007 6:28 PM) : 

Congratulations on your win! And these brownies here... wow, you are one creative gal. I'd say more but I'm afraid I'm using most of my brain power to obsess about these decadent looking brownie photos!

Ari (Baking and Books)

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/02/2007 8:10 PM) : 

Mmmmm...look at all that luscious chocolate -- and the cereal flakes? That sounds fab. AND peanut butter. Sheesh. Those are seriously "stylin'" brownies.

I made brownies last week and still haven't posted. What a complete loser. But not you. And an apron. Are you rockin' you brownie babe?

Hugs:-)

 

Blogger Sara said ... (6/03/2007 2:05 AM) : 

oh. my. GOD! please send me some asap.

 

Blogger Valentina said ... (6/03/2007 9:34 AM) : 

Lis, congratulations!! and oh my God it did inspire you even more as this one recipe here is tough to beat. Woman, this is one serious naught brownie.

 

Blogger Mandy said ... (6/03/2007 4:54 PM) : 

what a smart substitution of using cornflakes! I have had chocolate covered corn flakes snack before, but not chocolate covered cornflakes in a brownie! it must be really really crunchy and chocolatey. Congrats on your last win and all the best for the next! :)

 

Blogger jasmine said ... (6/03/2007 10:27 PM) : 

Well...I always knew you were a babe and you are so sweet, you had to be a browniebabe!

Congrats on winning (and wrestling the apron away from the Posties).

I really wanted to participate this round, but I took forever to find a brownie recipe I liked and then it got too hot to bake...maybe next time...

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6/03/2007 11:59 PM) : 

You have just sent me into brownie cardiac arrest. These look heart stopping good. What an incredibly rich and delicious recipe. I haven't seen the other entries, but I predict another brownie babe win.

 

Blogger Freya said ... (6/04/2007 7:13 AM) : 

Wow, those brownies are super-stuffed (as would I buy if I ate more than one, I suspect!!). Where's the picture of you wearing the apron though, that's what we want!!
Great pictures!!
p.s. Paul and I are still working on our answers but we'll get there soon!

 

Blogger Callipygia said ... (6/04/2007 5:35 PM) : 

Congrats on the win! I think you should proudly wear your apron with all kinds of chocolate smears o' love. As for these, swoon worthy and deserving of another prize- I love cornflakes!

 

Blogger Sharona May said ... (6/04/2007 6:11 PM) : 

Those brownies look soooo good. I think I might actually give them a try.

Sharona
http://birdfood-sharona.blogspot.com/

 

Blogger Lis said ... (6/05/2007 6:40 AM) : 

Adela - Thank you so much! I KNOW! Why can't we all be neighbors? =)

Kirsten - Thanks sweetie! Yes, coffee would go great - milk also!

Ari - lol you're so cute! Thanks =)

Kelly - You must post brownies!! You've still got 5 more days. :D

Sara - They wouldn't make it in this heat.. but Christmas time they would....

Valentina - I know *blush* thanks sweetie!

Novice - Yes, very crunchy! Thank you! Also - from what I've seen.. you are far from a novice baker. And don't forget pastry chef's make mistakes once in a while too. =)

Jasmine - Aww thank you! I look forward to drooling over your brownies in Browniebabe III!

Kristen - Well you rock! Thank you! And yes, more than 2 small squares of this brownie will assure some kind of mycardio infarction, for sure. heee!

Freya - It's coming! heheh I can't wait to read your answers to the interview meme. =)

Callipygia - Thanks sweetie!

Sharona - I hope you do! I'd love to see someone else's reaction to the decadence. :D

xoxo

 

Blogger Helene said ... (6/05/2007 11:30 PM) : 

Ok, I *had* to make these...just like I *had* to make the previous ones...comment from us and the neighbors: you should be arrested...or they should be made illegal!

 

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