CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Good Evening to you,

I am a little late catching up with you today, as Phyllis arrived yesterday to spend the Easter Holiday with us.... and as you can imagine there has been lots of chatting and catching up.  You would not think there would be so much to talk about, as we speak to each other on the phone, a couple of times a week.  But I'm sure you will agree, there is nothing like a face to face chat, with your mother, whilst enjoying a cup of tea.

So whilst we were chatting, I asked Phyllis what sort of cake she would like today.  She could not decide whether we should bake a chocolate cake or a fruit cake..... after much thought, she decided upon,

Chocolate Brownies, with ganache and strawberries. So Chocolate Brownies it is.

I also asked Phyllis which album she would like to listen to, whilst I was baking and she said she would love to listen to Johnny Mathis..... but do you think I could find Johnny Mathis.... no sirree.... I looked everywhere.  Firstly in the place that the album should have been.... the cover was there, but not the cd..... so I searched in other likely places, but no I could not find it.  So I asked if I could suggest an album and Phyllis was happy with that.  So the album I have chosen for us to listen to, is,

Eliza Carthy.  Now Eliza's music could not be further away from Johnny Mathis, but Phyllis has a love of music and was happy to listen to Eliza.  So with Eliza singing "Walk Away" it is time to put on my pinnie and organise my ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

400g soft cream cheese

500g caster sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoonfuls of vanilla extract

250g of unsalted butter

6 tablespoonfuls of good quality cocoa powder

200g self raising flour

FOR THE GANACHE

568 ml double cream

250g dark chocolate

TO DECORATE

225g Strawberries

1 bag of chocolate buttons

Oven temperature:  180C

Baking Dish:  32cm x 22cm

Lightly butter and line baking dish

HOW TO MAKE 

CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Mix together the cream cheese

with

2 tablespoonfuls of vanilla extract

and

25g of caster sugar

until

smooth.

Set aside for the moment.

Beat the eggs

and the

remainder of the caster sugar

until light and fluffy.

Meanwhile

place 25g of unsalted butter

and

6 tablespoonfuls of cocoa powder

into a small saucepan.

Gently heat until the butter melts.

Keep stirring until the butter and cocoa are thoroughly combined.

Then gently pour the mixture

into the sugar and eggs

and fold in carefully.

Sift the flour and

fold into the sugar, egg and cocoa mixture.

When thoroughly combined

pour half of the brownie mixture into the base of the 

baking tin.

Then add the cream cheese mixture

and smooth.

Finally,

add the rest of the brownie mixture

and smooth the surface.

Pop into a 180C oven and bake for 1 hour

or 

when a skewer is inserted into the brownie mixture

 it comes out clean.

Allow to cool.

THE GANACHE

Break the chocolate into pieces

and

place into a small saucepan.

Add the cream

and

place over a very low heat to

dissolve the chocolate.

Keep stirring

whilst the chocolate is dissolving.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

When the ganache is cool, whisk until 

it holds it's shape.

Spread the ganache over the brownie

and 

as if that was not enough chocolate,

place chocolate buttons into

the ganache.... 4 to a row.

Cut the strawberries in half and

lean them against the chocolate buttons.

You can see a rogue chocolate button

rearing it's head in the bottom left hand corner.

Allow the  the ganache to become quite firm

then,

there is nothing left to do,
but

enjoy the brownie,

with a lovely cup of coffee.

Don't you find that,

chocolate and coffee go together,

so very well.

Now, I know you make Chocolate Brownies, and you will have noticed the rather odd shape of my cut brownie.  Normally brownies are cut into squares, but Phyllis sliced the brownie and cut it the traditional way of cutting cakes.... that does not really matter, does it..... as the added bonus for us was,  we all enjoyed a larger slice of brownie..... not good for the waistlines, but oh so good on the palette.

Tomorrow is the day we hear who is the lucky winner of the Hillarys Blinds Country Craft Competition.....  I wonder how I will get on..... I will let you know one way or the other.

Take care and I will see you on Wednesday.

This week I will be joining,

Anyonita Nibbles for Get Him Fed Friday

and

Lynn from Turnips to Tangerines for the 4 Seasons Blog Hop

and

Natasha in Oz for Say G'Day Saturday

and
Cathy from A Peek into My Paradise