peanut butter brownies

I saw a few commercials for Reese’s peanut butter cups and it got me craving chocolate and peanut butter.

I kind of eyeballed it with a few things; the chocolate was leftover from 2 open bags I had; the can of condensed milk was also opened and partially used and I just added the peanut butter to my taste in the melting mixture. I always disagree about with people who say baking is an exact science. While certain things like flour and leavening ratios should always be kept in mind, once you made something enough times you should be able to play with it to see what happens. Baking is not so precise that you would be always in danger of messing up.

Peanut butter brownies

• 10oz chocolate chips
• 12oz condensed milk
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (or butter/shortening)
• 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter (add more for a stronger taste)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 335°F. Melt chocolate, coconut oil(or butter or shortening), condensed milk, and peanut butter thoroughly in (a heatproof)mixing bowl over slow simmering pot of water. Take off heat, mix in eggs and sugar, then dry ingredients. Grease and fill square(8×8″ or 9″x9″?) baking pan, bake for 30-35mins (I was using a heaving glass baking pan) till center just sets.

-Lina

lovely fudgy brownies

This is my new favorite brownie recipe, I came up with it while trying to use up some cans of condensed milk. It has a shiny crispy skin on top and dark moist center, and can be thrown together rather fast. Melting and mixing can be done in one bowl; so there’s less to clean up.

Fudgy Brownies

• 12oz chocolate chips
• 14oz can condensed milk
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (or butter or shortening)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• pinch salt
• oil for pan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt chocolate, coconut oil(or butter or shortening) thoroughly in (a heatproof)mixing bowl over slow simmering pot of water. Take off heat, mix in condensed milk first, then eggs, and vanilla. Add rest of ingredients, mix till smooth (use an electric mixer or do it in a stand mixer bowl to begin with). Pour batter into an oiled 12x16in baking dish, spread evenly. Bake for 20-25mins depending on the material of the baking dish. The top should be dry and shiny, the center dark and moist.

-Lina

Cocoa cravings…

For a change of pace from all the recent eating out entries, here’s something homemade.

On Amazon I bought some baking items in bulk. I got 4 containers of Spectrum Organic Shortening, 4 bars of Green Black Organic 72% Baking Chocolate, and 5 canisters of Ghiradelli Cocoa Powder. With these, I can start my own chocolate truffle business. But instead I’ll be baking chocolate goods for months to come. I was going to go all organic but they didn’t carry Green Black Cocoa Powder and the other organic brands weren’t ones that I’m used to baking with. The Ghiradelli was great price for the quality and quanity, I gave one to my cousin (also an avid baker).
I mainly use Spectrum Organic Shortening for my baking because the hubby refuses to eat butter. Sometimes I like to use Earth Balance Whipped Spread for a buttery flavor or as a ghee alternative in curries. Here’s a quick brownie recipe I threw together to use some of that cocoa.

Quick Brownies

1 1/4 cup organic shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup hazelnut flour
3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
pinch of salt 

These are moist soft fudgey dense brownies, so you don’t have to worry about leavening agents. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream the shortening and sugar till smooth then add in one egg at a time incorporating fully before adding another (using a mixer). Then gently fold and stir in the cocoa powder with a spoon or spatula (it can fly everywhere using the mixer).  Mix in the vanilla and pinch of salt, then add the flour and hazelnut flour and finish mixing with mixer. Pour and spread out the thick batter evenly onto a greased 8×8 inch pan. Bake for 20-25mins, test with a toothpick after 20mins and determine if it’s done or needs another 3 or 5mins. It shouldn’t come out completely dry and clean when you poke it. After taking it out of the oven, let cool for 10mins and you have warm brownies.

 -L