England has been my home for the last eight years and I have grown to love it almost as much as I do my fabulous British husband.
We are happy living in the East Midlands in a lovely, rural area. I grew up in New York State near Niagara Falls in the City of Buffalo where
I raised three children before emigrating to the UK.
I adore most things that are vintage and almost all things that are beautiful - no matter what the era.
Car boot sales are my favourite places to rummage around and find lovely things.
Up too late so this will be short! (I know, I know, that's not like me!!!) Wednesday book night has fallen by the wayside, it seems. So tonight's book is: Martha Stewart's Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat (Paperback) You can get it at Amazon. My sister has been writing to me, insisting I buy it! LOL! Now you either love Martha or hate her and I love her, but no matter which category you fall into, you have to agree she has some of the best recipes out there. So to all of my English and European friends, dig out gramma's old Imperial measures and get yourself a new book! I will be ordering mine very soon! If you try a recipe share it with the rest of us, okay?
xxx Maggie
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Today is the day for lovers - and in our house, we take that seriously!
And it includes making a 'new' traditional favourite - decadent chocolate brownie hearts!
When my children were young, I left chocolate Valentine heart lollipops and Valentine cards for them on the dining room table before I went to bed.
In the morning, they would hurry downstairs, getting ready for school, and find their surprise waiting for them.
It was a nice way to welcome their day and let them know how much they were loved.
Since I married my husband, Jim, and now live here in England, we have begun a new tradition: we celebrate the day with home-made, from scratch, brownies. I make them, bake them, and cut them into hearts using a cookie cutter.
Then we adorn them with fresh raspberries and a bit of vanilla ice cream.
I use a brownie recipe from Martha Stewart's Living Magazine, originally published in 2004.
I looked for it on-line, and it has been removed, so I cannot provide a link for you.
But I will place the recipe at the end of this post.
So here are some pictures showing the steps, and the finished product.
Enjoy and wishing you all new traditions to share and love in your hearts for Valentine's Day!
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
Makes about 8
Vegetable Oil Cooking Spray
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate (about 170 grams)
* I used Green & Blacks
¼ cup best quality unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
*I used Green & Blacks Organic Cocoa
¾ cup all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(about 180 C)
Line an 8” square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a 2” overhang on 2 sides.Coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
·Press the paper in the pan, trim to fit.
·Spray the pan first, and then replace the trimmed paper.
·Spray again. I used butter.
Melt together: butter, chocolate & cocoa in heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water. Remove from heat. Stir until smooth. Let cool slightly.
Whisk together: flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
Put eggs, sugar and vanilla into a bowl of an electric mixer fitted wit a whisk attachment.Beat until pale, about 4 minutes.
Beat in the chocolate mixture. Add the flour mixture. Beat until just combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
Transfer batter to the prepared pan. Smooth top with an offset spatula.Bake until a cake tester inserted between the edge and the center of the pan comes out with a few crumbs on it, about 30-35 minutes.Do not over bake.Let cool about 15 minutes and remove from the pan and transfer to a wire rack.
Martha Stewart Living magazine: 15 Years of Delicious Desserts
February 2006; Originally from magazine published in February 2004
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