Chocolate Brownie, Dressed Up?

Desserts! What is better than something warm, sweet and satisfying? Not much in my opinion, but hey i am a woman that likes to eat. More than being a foodie, i have a sweet tooth and in most cases would prefer to eat dessert before eating anything else.

But like all great eaters, i love food!

Anyway what is better than chocolate, not much in my humble opinion, yet i am always looking for ways to dress up any dessert, chocolate or otherwise. Usually turning a basic good dessert into something spectacular and over the top.

For me this is an expression of creativity at its height, because you get to enjoy what you have created. There is nothing better than being able to consume your culinary artistic expression and food satisfies my tastes at all levels.

A basic chocolate brownie is one of those items i love turning into an elegant addition to any meal or just as an overall treat. Making brownies is not a hard thing, yet starting with a great basic brownie batter will always give you a leg up when you are trying to create something scrumptious.

Brownie's story

It was first created by a chef at Palmer House Hotel for a lunch box meal requested by Bertha Palmer, it had to be "smaller than a piece of cake and easily eaten out of the lunch box". The original recipe which called for apricot glaze and walnuts is still being made at the hotel.

The name "brownie" first appeared in an 1896 cookbook, the reference was for a molasses cake.

Then in 1907 a second recipe was introduced that added an extra egg and chocolate making it a fudgier version. The Bangor version arrived on the scene later and became one to the top 10 snacks.

Basic Chocolate Brownie Recipe, homemade.

What you will need:

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder or 2 cups of semisweet morsels

4 eggs

1/4 milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2/3 cup butter

What to do:

1. In separate mixing bowls add all dry ingredients ( sifting is recommended ) together and stir, before adding your wet ingredients from another bowl.

2. Mix well together, until mixture is well blended

3. Pour half batter into a 8 inch square glass baking dish or all the batter in a 9 x 13 glass baking dish, already buttered and floured.

Place in preheated oven set at 325 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool before cutting.

Or this kid easy recipe

Quick and Easy Brownie Recipe

Ingredients:

2/3 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
5 tablespoons butter (melted)
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F and lightly butter a square baking dish (8x8).Place cocoa powder, sugar and melted butter in a large bowl. In a separate bowl beat the eggs. Add beaten eggs to cocoa/sugar mixture and mix well. Add flour until just combined. Do not over mix. Transfer batter to baking dish. Place in preheated oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes. Do not overcook. Let cool for 10 minutes, slice and serve.

Basic Brownie - Boxed.

Go ahead and choose your favorite brand and make it according to all the directions. In a pinch it saves you time, since most of the work has been done for you already.

Hint for close to homemade, go ahead and add vanilla, half butter for the oil and half cream to the liquid count that is required. Tweaking standard boxed recipes are more enjoyable, at least for me.

Basic Chocolate Brownies - Premade.

If you have a favorite store brand or favorite bakery brownie, I suggest you start with that if you know that you won't have the time to bake or just don't bake. Dressing these up for a dessert party or end of meal treat is just as fun and satisfying.

Garnishing a basic chocolate brownie is fairly easy. The choices are endless, amping up the deliciousness several notches. Some of my personal favorites are simple but the combination is oh, so, mouth watering.

1. Powdered sugar, simple but beautiful, adding sliced strawberries adds color and texture
2. Cocoa powder, this can be your baking cocoa, or a flavored version
3. Vanilla ice cream, choose your favorite, suggestion something with vanilla beans
4. Whip cream, homemade ( heavy whipping cream whipped to a soft peak with a little powdered sugar, vanilla is optional) or from the can - use real cream,
5. Crushed Butterfinger candy bar, while still in the wrapper smash the bar into little pieces then pour over the cooled brownie
6. Chocolate icing, homemade or favorite pre made or a plain chocolate glaze, chocolate fudge is good as well
7. Cream cheese icing, stir together soft cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and a 1 tsp vanilla
8. Molded chocolates, turns plain ole chocolate brownies into an elegant party addition

Dressing anything up with these toppings send them over the delectable edge and causes your taste buds to dance a jig of pure joy. Adding any of these accessories in combinations of two or three is always an option, for example sprinkling powdered sugar, cocoa powder and molded chocolate pieces is awesome.

Another option is a chocolate glaze or icing topped with powdered sugar, Or whipped cream with butterfinger pieces sprinkled on top.

Warning don't over indulge in any of these desserts. Eat a small amount to satisfy your cravings.

Rated as one of the top five chocolate manufacturers and marketers since 1852, Ghirardelli offers some of the best chocolate or cocoa powder to be found in the U.S.

The Ghirardelli product is so rich and flavorful, that it takes very little to satisfy any chocolate craving. Unlike the cheap versions of cocoa, it adds a bang for the dollar, when used in baking. As well as making cocoa, they offer solid eating chocolate as well as an assortment of goodies that incorporate chocolate in a variety of forms.

As a baking chocolate Ghirardelli, is one of the best in my opinion, but you have to be careful since it can be overpowering compared to it's competitors, so you should always start with less than is called for and adjust the amount per your taste for rich tasty cocoa powder.

Ghirardelli, an Italian name, for Domingo Ghirardelli, an Italian, the company's founder may explain why it tastes like a European, old world quality product. The company also controls the whole process so that. that also makes a huge difference in the end product.

Taste it, bake with it and enjoy!