Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Sweet and Simple Bakes: Snow-Flecked Brownies


This month this is the wonderful recipe Maria and Rose chose for us.
You can be sure that their recipes are as the group's name implies: in fact they are a joy to bake even if you do not have time !!
Even if Maria warned us not to I split the recipe and diminished the sugar a little bit the results are fantastic !
Please visit the site from the 2nd to see more brownies !

here is the recipe :
Snow-Flecked Brownies

Ingredients
375g best quality dark chocolate
375g unsalted butter at room temperature
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract
6 eggs (large)
350g caster sugar (superfine)
1 teaspoon salt
225g plain flour
250g white chocolate buttons or chips, or white chocolate chopped into chunks (or your own choice of chocolate)
2 tsp icing sugar, for dusting

Tin measuring approx 33cm x 23cm x 5.5cm

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4/350F.

Line the sides and base of a 33 x 23 x 5.5com baking tin with foil or baking parchment.

Melt the butter and dark chocolate together in a large heavy based pan.

In a bowl or wide mouthed large measuring jug, beat the eggs together with the caster sugar and vanilla extract.

Allow the chocolate mixture to cool a little, then add the egg and sugar mixture and beat well. Fold in the flour and salt. Then stir in the white chocolate buttons or choped white chocolate. Beat to combine then scrape and pour the brownie mixture into the prepared tin.

Bake for 25 minutes, You can see when the brownies are ready because the top dries to a slightly paler brown speckle, while the middle remains dark, dense and gooey. Even with such a big batch you do need to keep checking on it: the difference between gungey brownies and dry ones is only a few minutes. Remember, too, that they will continue to cook as they cool.

To serve, cut into squares while still warm and pile up on a large plate, sprinkling with icing sugar pushed with a teaspoon through a small sieve.




TWD: Rosy Poached Pears and Pistachio Tart



Lauren of I'll Eat You had the chance to choose this beautiful and wonderful tart.
The preparation is a bit time consuming but I'd love to have a picture of the happy face my two lucky neighbours had when they opened the door and saw it !
I made it exactly as the recipe but didn't have pistachios left to caramelize so I used almonds.
Please visit Lauren for the recipe and the blogroll for more !