Baking, Baking, Baking...

So, tomorrow I get to make four batches of brownies for the drama club. I could be like all the other mommies, and buy a brace of brownie mix, or order out from the grocery store bakery department.

But this is me, the Savage Chef, that we are talking about. I just happen to have developed the world's best brownie recipe. To make it, you need something called Black Cocoa, which is available from http://shop.bakerscatalogue.com/items/.

Because I am a merciful Goddess of Cuisine, here is the recipe:



Savage Chef's Cocoa Brownies


Melt 1 c. unsalted butter. Stir in 1/4 t. salt. Or, just save yourself the trouble and leave off the salt and use regular butter. Do not use margarine, or I will hunt you down and kill you like the filthy little reptile that you are.

Stir in 3/4 c. regular cocoa (I prefer Hersheys) and 3 T. black cocoa (see above URL).

Also stir in 2 t. vanilla extract and 2 c. sugar.

Beat 2 eggs, and stir them in.

Stir in 1 c. flour.

If you like nuts, stir in 1 c. walnuts or pecans or whatever, or some chocolate chips or whatever you litte heart desires. Scrape into a greased 8" pan and cook at 350 degrees for approximately 40 minutes, or 50 minutes with the chocolate chips added.

Yeah, Yeah, Corned Beef. But What's For Dessert?

This is what we're having tonight, after the corned beef, at the home of the Savage Chef and Grumpy. If you are the sort who enjoys battling crowds of drinking amateurs, then it would be good the next morning for breakfast, before you get to work at getting the green beer stains out of your best shirt. It is fragrant and delicious enough to eat without any icing. I usually sprinkle a bit of confectioner's sugar on top when I take it out of the oven.

Applesauce Bourbon Spice Cake


Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8-9 inch square pan.

Whisk together and set aside:

1-2/3 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1 T. cinnamon

1 t. clove

1/2 t. allspice


Cream together:

1/3 c. shortening

1-1/3 c. sugar


Beat in 1 c. applesauce and 1 large egg.

Stir in 1/4 c. bourbon and 1 T. vanilla extract.

Blend in the flour mixture.

Scrape into prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. While still hot, sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, unless you plan to ice the cake. If you do, this is a good one:


Quick Caramel Frosting


1/4 c. butter

1/2 c. dark brown sugar, packed into measuring cup

1/4 c. milk, plain or evaporated

Stir over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, approximately 5 minutes. Take off heat.

Stir in 1 t. vanilla extract and approximately 1 c. confectioner's sugar. Stir it up and let it cool until it is firm enough to pour or spread over the top of the cake. This frosting tastes like very sweet caramel-butterscotch candy; I generally save it for the conventional spice layer cakes.

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

I live in the kind of town where a local restaurant brags that they serve both Sloppy Joes and Pop Tarts.

Somebody wake me up, please. I am having a nightmare.

But hey, there is good news on the horizon. The area grand poohbah of the Catholic church has declared St. Patrick's day a Lent-Free day! On that day, and on that day only, the good local Catholics may consume the pink, stringy meat. Oh yeah.

As you may imagine, everyone here is pretty darned excited.

Too bad, all you Catholics in the other dioceses. Neener, neener, neener!

Memories

So I recently read that beauty experts say that perfume lasts for maybe six months, tops. After that, it sours. Hmmm...

I don't think so.

A few days ago, I finally pried up the stopper of some perfume I bought on Ebay. It had never been opened, and time had somehow managed to glue the little bottle shut. I was afraid that any vigorous attempt to open it would lead to a broken crystal stopper.

On that morning, my patience was rewarded. With a tiny sigh, the little bottle opened at last. The fragrance of more than a half-century ago filled the room. Deeply fragrant flowers, rich spices, warm musk and amber blended with the scent of dark pipe tobacco-saturated wood...

Memories that were not mine flooded my mind.

I dabbed the tiniest little bit on my wrists.

Days later, the fragrance lives on my skin and in my room. It will not fade away.

The scent of years gone by remains.

Still, it lingers.

Today in Excitementland

You know how you always seem to find change beneath your sofa cushions when you really need it? We just bought a new sleeper-sofa from our favorite furniture store, opened it up for our guest, and guess what? There was a quarter inside. I do not know what this means. Just thought I would mention it.