Brownies & Blondies, Part 1

I am a fan of the blondie and brownie, but I haven't spent much time making them. Most of my time and efforts have been focused on the humble cookie...or the more spectacular cake (although my cakes don't quite reach "spectacular"...yet). Whenever I want to learn a recipe, or just need a quick recipe that I know people will like, I reach for the Better Homes & Gardens New Baking Book. Unfortunately for those who don't already own it, this book was taken out of print recently - which I discovered when I tried to buy a copy for a friend for Christmas. Boo. Find a used copy if you can, because it's great!

Anyway....so when I decided it was time to make brownies, I reached for the "Easy Fudge Brownies" recipe. This is a great recipe because it's one bowl - not even a bowl, but a saucepan. I love one bowl recipes...so much less to clean up! These are great, if basic, brownies. They're also easy to change up - I mixed in some mint chocolate chips at the very end, and they baked up perfectly.

Easy Fudge Brownies

Adapted from BH&G New Baking Book

1/2 c. butter

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. chopped nuts (Optional - I didn't use them)

1/2 c. mint chips (Like white chocolate chips, but mint. I like the green ones, they make the brownies pretty.)

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Grease an 8"x8" pan.

3. Melt the butter and chocolate in a medium saucepan over low heat.

4. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the sugar, eggs, an vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon, just until everything is mixed...not too much or the brownies won't rise correctly in the oven.

5. Mix in the flour, nuts (if you're using them), and mint chips.

6. Bake for 30 minutes, then cool the pan on a wire cooling rack. After the brownies are cool, cut them into bars...and try to avoid eating the entire pan.

P.S. Future entries will have more pictures. I'm just getting back into the blogging thing - so I have to remember to take them.