blogging withdrawal

After spending a week away from blogging and on vacation in Maryland, I began experiencing the shakes, the jitters, insomnia.  Classic withdrawal symptoms, which I concluded, could only be treated with

brownies.

Not just any brownies mind you, but brownies that give you the "ooh, that's relief" kind of feeling. We're talking Supernatural Brownies, by Nick Malgieri.

Mr. Malgieri used to be Executive Pastry Chef at Windows on the World

and now directs the baking program at the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan.

The brownies are gooey, fudgey and quite out of this world.  I took my first bite after having eaten an assortment of cookies—macarons, almond horns, flourless chocolate cookies— and was underwhelmed. This morning, though, with no previous sugary sweet eaten, they were divine. (Yes, the brownies were part of my breakfast.)   I might try making them a bit thicker next time- 1½x the recipe, in the same size pan. Then, they'd be thick, gooey, and fudgey.

Divinely Delicious

Nick's Supernatural Brownies

16 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, 
cut into 1⁄4" pieces
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1⁄2 tsp. fine salt
1 cup flour

Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Line 9" x 13" baking pan with foil.  Grease the foil.

Pour enough water into a saucepan that it reaches a depth of one inch. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Combine butter and chocolate in a medium bowl. Set bowl over saucepan. Cook, stirring, until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Whisk together eggs in a large bowl. Add sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt; whisk to combine. Stir in chocolate mixture; fold in flour. Pour batter into prepared pan; spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on a rack. Cut and serve.