Day 33

Today, instead of slogging through hours of schoolwork, we baked brownies.

Actually, we did the schoolwork too. The brownies came along later when my Internet was nowhere to be found (thank you yet again, Comcast, we are so glad you monopolize our neighborhood). I don't bake brownies from a box. I love my box-mix-using friends dearly, truly, but I'm sorry - brownies need love.

And over half a pound of chocolate crammed in a 9" x 13" pan.

This was several years, houses, and pant sizes ago. Baking brownies is educational.

Here's what you need to make these.

brownies:
4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
2/3 c shortening
2 c sugar
4 eggs
1 1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 heaping cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, dark : pick your poison)

Preheat the oven to 350˚ and grease a 9" x 13" pan. On stovetop, melt chocolate and shortening. Stir in sugar and eggs. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread evenly in pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.

frosting:
3 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
3 tablespoons shortening
2 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c milk

On stovetop, melt chocolate and shortening. Stir in remaining ingredients until smooth. Spread over warm brownies. Try to wait until they cool before you eat them.

A couple of brownie words of wisdom for you:

1. Always use a glass pan (ovenproof, of course).
2. When in doubt, underbake. I know this flies in the face of every salmonella-mongering mother out there, but there's a little-known secret about brownies : they continue to bake after they leave the oven. Trust me.
3. Frosting is a must, don't listen to the man in your life telling you that, "they'd be just fine without frosting." Pshh. And take the three minutes to make it instead of opening up a can of that brown goop that passes for "chocolate frosting." Don't do it, man!

Okay, so that was a few and not a couple of tips. But the friends and family in my life who have had my brownies know that you can never take these things too seriously. Your friends and family will thank you.

Tomorrow, homeschool PE. Someone has to work off all those brownies.