Sunday, May 4, 2008

Still not 100% but baking anyway :)

I'm feeling much better....but STILL not 100%. Ugh. Nonetheless, at least I'm living life again....and baking! I went to a picnic this weekend and made my tried and true brownie recipe: Hershey's Ballot Box Brownies. Despite the dumb name, these brownies are awesome!! I also add a little cinnamon to the batter :D

Ingredients:

* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
* 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
* 2-1/4 cups sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 cup HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
* 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
* CHOCOLATE FROSTING (optional)
* Red, white, blue decorating icing in tube or can

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

2. Melt butter in medium saucepan; add cocoa, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Add sugar, salt, eggs and vanilla; beat with spoon until thoroughly combined. Add flour and baking powder; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Spread batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake 30 minutes or until top is dry and brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Frost, if desired. Cut into bars. Garnish with Vote theme, using red, white and blue icing. About 36 brownies.



CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat butter in small bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla. About 1 cup frosting.

The frosting is NOT optional. :D

1 comment:

Amanda said...

The brownies were delicious... and I don't even like brownies! Glad to see you are back in the game, even if it isn't quite your A-game.