Sorry about the picture, but I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention! Yes those brownies were every bit as good as they looked, actually almost fudge like…sigh
It’s been a killer week so far, and sometimes a guy just needs some chocolate, and when I want chocolate at its best, I always turn to Alice Medrich aka “The Queen of Chocolate”! In fact those Brownies were so rich and delicious, I actually cut them into 4 small pieces each. Of course I still eat 4 of them, but it keeps me from trying to eat two of the full size brownies!
I had so many plans for over Winter Break, and believe it or not I did get some things accomplished, but no where near all that I wanted to do, and now it’s back to work, and three full weeks before we get an extra day off…sigh My wife laughs when I talk like that, she remembers when even national holidays didn’t always guarantee I would be off from work, and now as she says I think like a teacher, counting down the days until the next holiday. But seriously, I had computer problems since the end of December when I had to return my old computer for a newer model, a refresh as they call it……let’s just say things don’t always work out as well as you planned, and after another trip back to Charlotte over winter break, and 2 days with 3 different IT departments, things seem to be working ok. I will give those guys in IT a lot of credit, to be able to do what they do to get things running from 1000 miles away, is simply amazing, especially when they’re talking to non computer people like me. I will tell you in a frenzy to get it up an running when it came back, I evidently did something to the computer, they had never seen happen before, so I’m sort of a legend at the home office now (not in a good way either….sigh). So now everything works and the mad rush to close out the month is at hand.
You may have noticed my little announcement Tuesday, but if you didn’t the news is, I am a part of a 24 Chef Team from around the world who will be giving Live Classes on Google+ Hang outs! The deal is we all set up the classes that we want to give, and people from around the world get to attend in the privacy of their own homes in their own kitchens, and I’ll be with them to show them what to do, and watch them do it. The really fun thing about these classes is that you can book them for your friends and family and use them as a get together, I mean what’s more fun than cooking, and eating, unless of course you get to do it with friends!
And where can you find all of this happening? You can find me and 23 other chefs at ChefHangouts.com ! Stop by and take a look around and see all the different types of classes offered. My fist class will be this Saturday at 4 pm Central time and we will be making my Famous Wings and any version that you might like of the brownie I featured today, check out my class on Buffalo Chicken Wings and Brownies !
I know you came from Brownies, and I’m talking shop…..sorry Here is the recipe for Alice Medrich’s, Best Ever Cocoa Brownies…..just kicked up a notch, oh yeah you’re going to love these brownies!
- 10 Tablespoons (150 gm) (1¼ stick butter)
- 1¼ cup (250 gm) sugar
- ¾ cup plus 2 Tablespoons (105 gm) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 gm) salt
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 2 cold large eggs
- ½ cup (60 gm) all purpose flour
- ⅔ cup pecans (100 gm) (chopped)
- ½ cup (75 gm) semi sweet chocolate chips*
- ½ cup (75 gm) Milk Chocolate Chips
- ½ Cup(75 gm) White Chocolate Chips
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and get a 9″ square baking pan.
- Line the baking pan with parchment or aluminum foil with an overhang on opposite sides so you can lift out the brownies from the pan.
- Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa and salt in a heat proof bowl and place it over a small sauce pot with simmering water, to create a double boiler.
- Stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Remove the bowl from the heat and allow to cool just a little bit.
- Add the vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon.
- Add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one (I’m not too sure just how vigorously you can stir chocolate with a wooden spoon but give it a go).
- When the batter looks thick, shiny and well blended add the flour and stir until you can no longer see it , and then beat it vigorously for 40 strokes with your wooden spoon.
- Add the nuts and chocolate chips and spread evenly in your baking pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minute’s or until a toothpick comes out slightly moist with batter.
- Let cool completely on a wire rack.
- After the they have cooled lift the brownies out of the pan and gently remove the foil or parchment from the sides of the brownies.
- Cut the brownies into squares and enjoy!!
Ask Chef Dennis
Google+
I feel like I’ve been beating a dead horse here telling you about the reasons to get behind this, and its for one very important reason…..I want you all to be at the early stages, because this is going to be huge. I know everyone see’s the people on facebook and twitter than have 25,000 followers and just wish they had gotten on earlier…..we all mean too, its just that somedays one more thing to do just isn’t in the plan.
I know that as well as anyone else, but seriously, this is your chance to be that person with 25,000 followers when Google+ explodes as I think we all know it will. Now don’t just go sign up and leave it at that….fill out your profile with a good picture of yourself, and lots of pictures of your food. Add all your sights to the sidebar so people can find your blog, or find you on twitter or the many other social networks we belong too!
Once your on find me, just type in Chef Dennis and I’ll come up, add me to your circles and let me know your there, and I’ll send you my list of active food bloggers that you can circle to get you started. I have over a hundred in that circle, but more than twice that in another circle with food bloggers who don’t post regularly, I really don’t know why they don’t! It’s as easy to post as facebook, all you need is a link, you write a sentence and share it to the public or your circles, it takes two minutes!
I will say that the number of hits I got from google used to be so small it was embarrassing, Google is now become one of my largest sources of hits on my blog, and its been steadily growing. Google says the more your name is added into posts, the more you will show up in searches, it makes sense to them but the competition isn’t happy with it. The complaints that when you google something all the information from people in your circles shows up is not the problem it was made out to be. There is a little tab to make your search world wide , not just your neighborhood…..I mean really are you going to use Bing?
Here’s another little tidbit if you hadn’t heard it already, Google Friend Connect is going away. First all the non Blogger Blogs will lose it, then eventually all will, its Google’s little push to get you into Google+……I don’t really like that, but they didn’t call to ask my opinion or give me a vote, so there isn’t a whole lot I can do about it.
That’s it for today my friends, but I do want to remind you that you can email me anytime with your questions, suggestions or just to say hi, I always love hearing from you!
These look marvelous! I’m a sucker for a good brownie.
Not sure I can get behind Google+… but I might be forced to.
They were so good, gotta love a good brownie!
I don’t think its a matter of liking it or getting behind it, but its only going to keep getting bigger. I have found it a lot more interactive and interesting than facebook, I never really got the hang of twitter, so this worked out well for me.
lol the comp and the brownies….and the holiday! you’re like me. congrats on selection to chefhangouts. wishing you terrific times there. at times it’s a holiday from words for me.
You’re right about that brownies ! It really looks insanely DELECTABLE
Ugh ! no more Google Friend Connect ? tsk tsk Anyway , will go lurk at your Google+ now 
Those brownies look fantastic, I’ll have to try. Good luck with your classes, they sound like a great idea.
These brownies look amazingly sinful! And thank you for the encouragement on Google+. I’m one of those that is signed up but rarely go. You have encouraged me to use it more often. Thanks!
Gosh…those brownies are really a killer….I would love to take a bite but it has got to wait till I get the pecans
and for the time being virtual feasting first before the real thing comes :p Thanks for the info on Google+ now I get a clearer picture about what it is all about. Chef, have a great day!
Regards,
Elin
These look fantastic! Definitely going to bookmark these and make them soon! Just have a quick question. In step 4 where it says “Stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth” does that mean the sugar should be completely dissolved at this point? Thanks!!
the sugar will be mostly dissolved at this point but not completely, as you continue to mix everything in it will continue to dissolve.
I’ve never gotten into Twitter beyond the very basics. You’ve pushed me enough now that I really do need to go sign up for a blog account with Google +. Thanks again for all of the tips! Have an excellent night.
(Those brownies look SO good; I’ve decided they are evil and must not be made. However, they will be pinned, so that I can easily find them in a moment of need!)
I want! want want want want want! They look soo good!
Great post Dennis! Have a Happy Wednesday
Love Alice. Her brownines are fab. I checked out the chefhangout.com. Really neat idea. I can’t wait to see your first class.
Those look marvelous and what an exciting endeavor! I am sure you will do awesome!
Brownies are amazing, but these look even more amazing and I love that you used pecans! I don’t think you could have chosen a better way to photograph these either with a nice tall glass of milk. Great recipe!
Good grace, chef, you’re ruining me! That looks amaaazing!
These sound delicious. Thanks for the info about google+ I was definitely a hater before, but now I am going to look into it!
Thanks for the Google + info, Chef Dennis! You have me convinced. I just signed up today
Those brownies look amazing! I haven’t really tried google plus, but I’ve been a facebook user since before they opened it up to everyone. I already spend so much time on my computer each day I don’t know that I have the time for google plus.
Congrats on the new endeavor with chefshangout, sounds like a pretty good program. Also, I find it sad that GFC is going away, like disappearing. I do need to improve my Google + profile. I would think that if you are GFC and get on Google + it would just flip. The way you put this here is that GFC will not matter and will not impact google +. That means back to zero followers instead of flipped-please clarify.
Also, these brownies look like the perfect fix for a chocoholic-delicious.
Holy smokes those brownies look dangerously fabulous. Seriously thinking about the Google+ thing, Chef. Thanks for the push, my friend!
its a photographers paradise, Foodies come in second….so you two have the best of both worlds, let me know when you join I’ll get you a push in the right direction!
Great info! I added you to my circle
the brownies look fabulous!
I had brownies on my mind all day! these are heavenly chef!
I have only recently joined Google+ and I am still floundering around trying to find my way… It was a good read! Thank you for sharing, Chef Dennis! And those brownies…They look absolutely perfect! Yum!
ah Dennis Im happy to see you again I had your old blog, These look amazing like all you make and the pictures are amazing(lol)
Oh my, these look decadent! And the best brownies are the super decadent ones.
I really need to get myself set up on Google+–I was waiting to see if it would pan out before setting up an account, but it looks like it’s the place to be now!
I love that you have “insanely delicious” in the title. It looks quite fitting. Those are some gooood-lookin’ brownies!
I haven’t gotten into Google+ much yet, but thanks for the encouragement to do so!! Adding it to my list!
Chef D these look absolutely delicious! I have been delaying move into Google+ but you may have just pushed me to get into it. There are so many social media options out there – it is almost overwhelming. Well, you will likely see me in Google+ soon!
I saw you over at chefhangout and then I looked at the times and I gotta think about setting the alarm
I am on G+ but I rarely go there. Thanks for the nudge. I find it difficult to tweet, facebook, work, blog and comment, much less cook. I’m running out of hours.
Insanity is staring at these brownies and not being to have them right this moment. They look amazing and thanks for the Google+ tip.
These look sinful and delicious! Thanks for the Google+ advice as well!
Ooohh fudgy brownies are my favorite! I love the pecans too, these look amazing! Congrats on the Live Classes, very cool!
Mmmmmmm…these have my name written all over them. There’s not a lot of flour in there, so maybe I could convert them to a “gluten-free” recipe with some success. If I do, I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Thanks for the tips Chef!
Oh, yum. I never get brownies with nuts in them.
Yummm…these do look insanely delicious! Seems we were on the same page this week–I just posted my recipe for Caramel Nut Brownies, a riff on the same theme. Congrats on your new appointment to the Chef Team on Google +!!
Oh, I love fudgey brownies like this!! Delish! And thanks for the tips on Google +, I need to try to use mine more!
Oh my word, those do look insanely delicious! Stumbled them!
Your brownies look spectacular, Dennis! I’m a huge fan of Alice Medrich, too!
PS…thanks for your quick help with my blog. Unfortunately my blog designer has to do it with my current template, but at least I gave it a shot
Brownies…like fudge…all sounds wonderful to me. I kind of feel like it is not some days but most days I could use a treat like this.
Those brownies look divine!
Hi Dennis! Glad to hear you got your computer working so you can keep up your wonderful blog
! These brownies sound increadible! Fudgy brownies are my favorite and judging by the photos yours are super fudgy and delicious! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Um, yep, adapting these this week as I MUST EAT THEM!
Do you have a personal Google plus page set up in addition to your blog page (that’s how I’m set up in Facebook but google is driving me bonkers and I’m not sure how to keep my personal lie protected there.
No I don’t because my name is basically my brand, so I’m sticking with just one page, it gets to be too much work maintaining all those pages! Now the good thing about G+ is in how you set your circles up, because what you share depends on the circles you choose or you can just hit public which goes to everyone. You can have secure private conversations with your family just by addressing it to the person or circle that you are speaking with. You can set up as many circles as you want, like family, just mom, or just sis, and send out announcements to all the family or have a private conversation with just one of them. And still be able to share your posts with the public.
if you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact me!
Chef, I just gotta tell ya that you’re forcing me to break one of my rules. I promised myself that I would nevah evah respond to the taunting call of a brownie recipe! (Isn’t that ridiculous?) I mean, I already have WAY too many bownie recipes! Even more than are posted on my site. Good grief…
Your recipe, however, simply cannot be ignored! You had me with the photography, and then with Alice Medrich, and then I read the recipe. Mercy, mercy, mercy, I’m a goner! There’s no hope. This is my brand-new top fave brownie recipe. Thanks!
But I’m nevah evah gonna respond to the taunting call of another brownie recipe….
Thanks Michele, I hope your stomach thanks you after you try it! And aren’t brownies just wonderful…sigh
Holy wow Chef. Its been one of those weeks (months… starts to the year???) Even I have been hoping for a few snow days to give me an excuse to just catch up. It’s not going to happen this season is it?
But – these brownies? Yeah, they need to happen. The picture did get my attention and now it’s all I want.
My jaw dropped when I saw these-AH-MAZING! I love love love your blog, I can’t believe I haven’t seen it before now. I just wanted to stop by and thank you for the FoodBuzz FR and tell you how great your blog is and how insanely perfect all the food looks!
hi Kayle
thank you so much for your kind words, I am so happy to hear that you liked my blog! It so nice to meet you and I look forward to reading your blog!
Denns
omg amazing!
These were absolutely amazing, and definitely a “do again”! I used room temp. coconut oil in place of the butter and white whole wheat flour in place of the white flour. Only had one kind of Chocolate chips in the house, but they turned out nicely. They will make a nice Christmas gift all wrapped up in parchment paper and twine. Thank you!!!!
thanks for letting me know Audrey, glad to hear it’s so easily adapted! I hope everyone loves those delicious brownies!
I have a pecan fudge bar that will not be eaten. What recipes can I use so the fudge does not go to waste. Thanks
hi Julie, off hand I don’t have any recipes using something like that, You may try chopping it up and using it in the middle of a cake with the frosting as a cake filling, people often use candy bars for that.
Thanks so much