Spring in the Garden

Brownies and more brownies

It's been quite a week, I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  Between the heavy snow fall late last weekend, spaying my cats and having one of them go through some complications (she's doing well now) I'm finally able to just relax this weekend and do nothing (except bake brownies!)

Last weekend (pre kitty surgery) I was at petsmart to pick up some fresh litter for my little ones when I realized I need some stainless steel water bowls, those things can be quite expensive and an unlikely but great place to look for them is at a winners or home sense (TJMAXX/Home goods?) and lucky for me I stumbled upon a store in the same mall.  I went in and WOAH (unfortunately for me!) the pet stuff is near the kitchen stuff and there is a TON of stuff on clearance, which resulted in a huge shopping haul. 

As if that wasn't bad enough I found one set of these nice curtains that would suite my new windows, but only one set in the desired colour so I had to stop into every Winners (and home sense!) store in my area to locate another 3 sets. 

More stores, more stuff, and my car was pretty full of things. By that time I was also hungry and one winners has a whole lot of food items (close to expiration) on sale so I got a tin of cookies to munch on in the car, quinoa, pasta, chocolate, just a load of goodies for my pantry. 

Among the hoard of things there was this brownie pan, normally I don't go for infomercial items or "As seen on TV" products but this was dirt cheap and looked interesting enough.

Since I brought it home I've baked 2 batches of brownies, the first one was experimental, I just went with my regular brownie recipe and baked it on a lower temperature.  The brownies slid right out of the pan, no problem there! 

The only issue was that they turned out more fluffy, puffy and cake like than actual brownies, and I figured it's because of all that metal and even with a lower oven temperature there is too much heat going around that each piece cooks very quickly. 

This weekend I attempted to try again, making 3 times the brownie recipe in the 9X13 inch pan and using just oil instead of butter in my recipe. 

While baking the brownies puffed up like mad, I thought for sure they'd overflow but they didn't (PHEW!) instead they settled down but left that shiney crackly layer on top (which I think all brownies should have!) and a soft chewy centre developed as they cooled.  The baking time only took under 30 minutes!! 

I used my favourite brownie recipe (here ) this recipe is adapted from another recipe by adding another half a recipe to one batch and then baking it in a smaller pan for a higher chewier brownie.  It's been a reliable recipe for me.

For this pan I went with 3 X the original recipe or twice my recipe (since mine is 1 1/2 so doubling that would make 3 batches) and crammed it all into the 9X13. 

Brownies 

1 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or sunflower)

3 cup sugar (2 brown, 1 white sugar) 

3 tsp vanilla extract

6 eggs

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

2/3 cup cocoa plus 6 tbsp

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt 

Chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). If using a glass pan put oven on 325 F.

(Grease a 9X13 inch baking pan - or you're cool brownie pan with insert -use a mister filled with oil to spray this type of contraption - outdoors preferably!)

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in oil. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir the cocoa into the liquid mixture until it's lump free and chocolaty.

Gradually stir flour mixture into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. (add metal divider insert here, add garnish to individual brownies if desired, I used walnuts on some and sea salt on others then left some plain) 

3. Bake for 30-40 minutes (or 30 minutes if using my brownie pan, must set the brownie pan onto another baking tray as the label instructs!)  (this is just approximate time so keep an eye out!) or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan.

Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares or frosting/glazing it.

In my case I let it cool 5 minutes then released the divider by pulling it out gently.

Store them away after cooling in a glass pan covered with plastic wrap so they don't dry out. 

(recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com Mmm-Mmm Better brownies)

Hope you guys enjoy!

I threw in a pic of my pizza because it's another thing that got me super excited, the Calphalon pizza grate/pan I got on clearance, cooks my homemade pizza super fast and with a perfectly golden crust, how exciting!

.... And for this summer, I'm predicting there will be Paella :D

And of course the brownie pan box makes the best toy in the world!

New Year's banner

Tinsel + cardboard = fun new year's banner!

Holiday Dinner leftovers + Bread = Delicious sandwich!

Holiday 2012

This year we had no snow so we made it snow indoors!

How you may ask?

The secret is..................


Marshmallows!! Whether they're big or small, and even if they're a bit stale just thread them onto a fine cotton thread with a needle and hang them up one thread at a time, the more you've got the better it looks.  Keep the marshmallows at different heights and you got to do a double loupe around the marshmallow to keep it in place.

I also finally got around to using my hot cocoa nuggets, you can find the recipe here.  It really is SO Delicious especially when you sweeten with sweetened condensed milk! 

I also would like to say that these glass straws are totally amazing! This one you see is the bubble tea straw, it's very wide and great for slurpees too.  I got an Iced tea (bent) straw and 4 standard style glass straws for entertaining.   Can't wait to try them out (and will be featuring them soon - maybe New year's? )

So far we tried out the bubble tea straw and it's really great, perfect for smoothies too, not too wide and I think it's fun for kids too.

And last but not least meet our new "Christmas Cats" Two lovely girls (sisters) that we just adore! We've only had them for a little over a week but they are little treasures and we're enjoying every moment of their company!

Happy Holidays everyone!

I'll miss you Apricot Girl

Today I lost my dear companion kitten, eight month old bengal lost to Feline Infectious Peritonitis.
She was sweet, loving, very talkative and a foodie cat, she reminded me of myself in so many ways, we used to prep cook and photograph food together, she always made her way into the shots somehow though she was camera shy compared to her lovely sister.

We lost her sister in August after a month long battle with wet FIP.

I miss you both <3