A Delightful Gift of A Book & Homemade Chocolate Brownies

I’m not sure if you recall that I was delighted to celebrate with a ‘dear’ Blogging friend Aparna @ My Diverse Kitchen her very first year of blogging? If you would like to refresh yourself with my post and view photos of my baked Hummingbird Cake and where the recipe originated from please click [here].

I am extremely honoured to announce that with 60 outstanding entries that Aparna received from around the Blogosphere my Hummingbird Cake won her judges over!!! No one was more flabbergasted than I that my cake had been chosen to win!! I am also the proud and very fortunate recipient of Asha Khatau’s Vegetarian Cuisines of the World cookbook, which was the winning prize for one sweet/ dessert submission for this event. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to send my many thanks to you Aparna for such a wonderful book. I am totally in awe of it with so many beautiful recipes. Your personal inscription in the front cover of the book, letter and beautiful bookmark are very touching and I feel extremely privileged to have received this gift! I have a few recipes already bookmarked that I would like to try out first. My many thanks once again to you Aparna - Hugs & kisses Rosie.

My love affair of homemade chocolate brownies began only a few years back. This came about after purchasing Nigel Slater’s, The Kitchen Diaries cookbook when it first came out in print. I was drawn like a moth towards light when I discovered Nigel’s 24-carat brownie recipe, which by the way is phenomenal! I enjoyed that gooey centre with an intense chocolate flavour, which a brownie always seems to deliver. Although these brownies are not Nigel’s they are definitely good with a hint of added coffee to enhance the chocolate flavour. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream it makes a perfect dessert to revel in!

Chocolate Brownies

Makes 24 pieces
Ingredients
100g (4 oz) unsalted butter + extra for greasing
200g (8 oz) dark chocolate 70% coco solids, broken up
250g (9 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1tsp strong brewed coffee, cooled
60g (2 ½ oz) plain (all-purpose) flour
60g (2 ½ oz) cocoa powder

Method

Preheat the oven 180°C/fan160°C/350°F/gas mark 4. Grease and base line a 20.5cm x 25.5cm (10 in x 10 in) brownie or baking tin.

Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and melt over a bowl of gently simmering water. Remove from the heat to slightly cool a little until required. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Gradually add the eggs one at a time, and then add the vanilla extract and cooled coffee beating in. Add the melted chocolate and mix well. Sift the flour and cocoa powder into the mixture and carefully fold in until all incorporated. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top over with a spatula. Bake for 20 minutes until firm but fudgy – the chocolate will continue to cook a little more removed from the oven. They are meant to be gooey in the middle – it’s what makes them so gorgeous! Put the tin on a wire to cool a little more before cutting into pieces. Delicious eaten with Vanilla ice cream!

I leave you with a few more pics of the snow we have here.