Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Third Trimester Triple Chocolate Brownies



Foremost in my mind, of course, is the fact that I have only 3 weeks to go until my due date. Some days, it can't come soon enough, as I struggle not to complain about my aching bones and sleeplessness. Other days, like today, I don't mind a bit. I slept through the night last night (a victory already), and I'm feelin' fiiine.



It may be the triple chocolate brownie I just ate, though. There is more caffine in these brownies than you might expect. Whenever kids want a piece, I warn their mothers. They never believe me, but I always try.


One day last week, as I stumbled out to the van, dreading running errands and doing laundry, I decided that, in their place, stimulants like coffee and chocolate are not bad at all. It's not as if I rely on them for daily life. And so I made these.

3rd Trimester Triple Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup AP flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup President's Choice Decadent Chocolate Chips (major source of caffine)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350*. Grease a 9x9 inch pan.
2. Mix first 3 ingredients, beat in eggs.
3. Combine dry ingredients (except chocolate chips), gradually add to wet ingredients.
4. Mix in chocolate chips, pour into pan, and bake for 20-25 min.


Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup icing sugar
2/3 cup cocoa

Blend.
Then add:

1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp hot coffee

Mix it up some more, and spread on brownies.




Thursday, August 4, 2011