Homemaker Monday: The Brownie Recipe I've Been Searching For All My Life

Welcome to the 96th weekly edition of...

Thank you for joining us! If you're new to this carnival and would like to enter your post, please check HERE for the rules and regs.

YOURS: Today's "YOURS" goes to Ashlee over at I'm Topsy Turvy! She posts a tutorial on how to make the cutest felt flower headbands. And since I'm totally obsessed with gathering props for newborn photo shoots, I can't wait to try this! Take a look HERE. Thank you so much, Ashlee, for linking up and posting your tutorial. We'll look forward to hearing more from you! Please feel free to take the "I Was Featured" button from my left side bar. :)

MINE: The Most Decadent Brownies EVER...

True story...

So I find this awesome-looking recipe linked to my Homemaker Monday blog carnival, and I decide to make it for our Monday Family Home Evening treat. In case you didn't know, Mormons all over the world spend every Monday evening with their families. During this time we open our Family Home Evening meeting with a prayer, sing hymns, teach gospel principles, try to do some kind of fun activity, and end with a treat.

Actually, I decided that the 13-year-old boy would make the brownies, since it was his turn to be the dinner-helper for the month of June.

So he's getting the ingredients out, making a mess, mixing things together, and he says, "Mom. It doesn't say how much flour to put in."

"Yes it does, 13-year-old boy. Look harder."

"Mom, I did. It doesn't say."

So I get the baby off the boob, go over there to where the computer is, and sure enough, no flour measurement.

Now this is causing quite a problem because he already has half the ingredients measured out and in the bowls. So I send a quick comment to the author of the brownie recipe, Jennifer at Frugal Front Porch, hoping that she will just happen to be sitting by her computer and can tell me the correct flour measurement, but she doesn't respond. So....I just tell the 13-year-old boy to mix everything together and I will guesstimate how much flour to add judging by consistency...

And this was probably one of the most correct things I've ever done in my life. This became the brownie recipe I had been searching for all of my life, and I can't stop making them now and I am personally blaming Jennifer for the fact that I will no longer be able to lose weight.

Now the funny thing is, when she got back to me on the correct flour measurement, it was a cup more than I had added, and she had made another mistake as well. Her recipe had called for 1 1/3 cup cocoa, but she let me know that that had been a misprint, and that it was supposed to be only 1/3 cup cocoa. Apparently she had had a migraine while trying to post, but her error in judgment created a most delectable situation for our family.

After juggling the ingredients around a little more, this is what I came up with. And I have to tell you that these brownies are already making a name for themselves around town. In the last three days, two people have said, "Oh, are these the brownies you brought over to Kara's!" I say yes, and then a large smile spreads across their faces.

You're welcome... oh, I mean, thank you, Jennifer!

Oh, and P.S....two things...

I don't like to use a rubber spatula to get the batter onto the cookie sheet. If I did that, I wouldn't have THIS to snack on...

Also, if you would like to take these to the park or camping or the hair dresser or whatever, just cut them into squares, lay them on wax paper in about three layers, and place into a gallon Ziploc bag. Everyone around you will love you and they will stay looking neat and tidy...

Okay, NOW here's the recipe...

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter
1/4 cup water
4 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons sour cream or yogurt
3 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup flour
2 cups cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (optional)
1 1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional)
1/4 cup brown sugar, for topping

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt the butter.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the wet ingredients.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the large bowl and mix with the dry ingredients. If you are using the chocolate chips and the nuts, stir them in now.

5. Spread into a large, greased jelly roll pan.

6. Sprinkle with brown sugar.

7. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes, or until a clean tooth pick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.

These brownies are best when served after being cooled in the fridge. For easiest cutting, use a plastic knife. I don't know why, but it works!

Direct recipe link: http://beta.keyingredient.com/recipes/858010/the-best-fudgy-brownies-ever/

OURS: Okay, what tips, tutorials or timeless advice to all you homemakers have for us today. Link up and have a great Homemaker Monday!




Today on Whole Food Kids: Melon Popsicles...



Today on life in mexico {and other places} a picture a day: {campaigning}

Today on 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time: Squash-Pickin' Time