Chocolate Brownie Delight

This week the weather here in Dublin has been beyond Gorgeous. The sun has been out and everyone has been going around with smiles on their faces because if the sun is out then it must be summer? Right? Well we'll see how long it lasts. I've lived in Ireland for 30 years I know how it goes :-) 

Anyway my point being it was hard to get my arse into the kitchen to make some delish treats .Instead I took a half day from work today and took myself out my back garden with a few blankets and a book. I had just finished a lovely girlie book which  I will admit are my guilty pleasure and I was just starting the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I had finished the first book last week. Well in advance for the film coming out last weekend, but yet to see it. This weekend fingers crossed. I did a review for The Hunger Games for work on the YAPS blog check it out if you get a chance.

I eventually got myself into gear and started my brownies. Now I am one of those people who are always on the look out for the best brownie recipe ever. I've made brownies time and time again. So I try use a different recipe ever time i make brownies or I try add something to the recipe to make it better. 

I found this recipe awhile back, not sure where but it so easy my boyfriend could even get it right and that is saying something. Although he's not the worst at cooking he's also not the best :-)

Now I use the American Measurements (cups) for these brownies as its very quick and now weight scales is needed. You can Convert them here.

Ingredients 

1½ cups sugar
¾ cup flour
¾ cup cocoa powder 
3 eggs
¾ cup butter, melted
½ teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)
¾ cup chocolate chips
Marshmallows (optional) 

Now before we begin, Chocolate! Yes Chocolate is important. And these brownies will only be as good as the chocolate you use! Just think about that when you are gathering your ingredients. 


The assembly is about as easy as you can get. Combine the sugar, flour, salt (if using unsalted butter), cocoa, eggs and melted butter and mix.

Do this by hand, until the dry ingredients are just incorporated into the wet, and stop. You don’t need to beat it, and you want to avoid producing gluten from the flour. This will make it Chewy like bread and you don't want that.

Now its time to add in the chocolate chips and whatever else takes your fancy. Play around and see what works for you. I throw in some marshmallows this time and it worked out really good but its whatever works for you. Mix them in real good till they are covered in the Chocolate mixture.


Line a 9×13 baking dish with grease proof paper. Grease the paper with either butter or I like to use Low fat spray hey why not something healthy to add to it. I over-do it a little because I want to be absolutely sure it doesn't stick. As long as you cover the bottom you should be good, as it will pull away from the edges while baking.


Poor your mixture into the baking dish and using a knife or the tip of a rubber spatula spread it out. 
Bake at 325° for 20-30 minutes. It’s done when a toothpick/ or old knitting needle inserted in the tallest part comes out clean. Keep in mind you’ve got chips in there. If you hit one with the toothpick it will have melted chocolate on it. You might need to poke a couple of spots to make sure you aren’t hitting a chip.


Very Carefully Take the paper out of the dish and Peel the edges and let cool for a few minutes before slicing. I get very impatient and cut it before and it usually crumbles but it still tasted damn good. 

I hope these brownies go down a treat just like they did with my girls at tea.


Let me know how you get on.


Until next time 
Elle