Where’s my carrot?

Are you getting tired of the usual chocolate brownies you find in your favorite pastry store or bakeshop? Are you looking for a new twist to your age-old family-recipe brownies? Are you just plain craving for sweets? Well, look no further. I’ve got the perfect sweet treat for you. Presenting, my daughters’ favorite…..Blonde Brownies!!!

No, it’s not made by blondes (women or men). Yes, blondes. And yes, it can be decadent. But like in all other sweet recipes, all you have to do is substitute what is called for with low-fat/non-fat, artificial sweetener, and whatever else you prefer. Although, I must say, what’s the treat in that?

So okay, here it goes…

What you need:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoons salt
1 ¾ cups brown sugar
¾ cup butter (or margarine)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips (more is better)
1 cup chopped walnuts (or any nut you prefer, except peanuts)

What to do:

1. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together onto a bowl or parchment paper
2. Cream butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl
3. Add eggs and vanilla extract
4. Add the dry ingredients, do not overbeat
5. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts
6. Pour into lightly greased brownie or square pan (maybe 9×9 in.)
7. Bake in 350-degree oven for 25 minutes
8. Let cool then cut into squares (or eat the entire thing whole!)

Of course, when I cook or bake, there’s always a twist. The recipe I used on the brownies shown in the picture was reduced by a third of the measurements (because I only had half a cup of butter!). But it turned out alright.

Cooking, and even baking, is flexible. Most people would think that baking, unlike cooking where you play it by taste, has to be exact in measurements. To a certain extent, yes. But once in a while, use common sense when you’ve come across some ingredient bumps.

Enjoy!