Cooking Diva

Over the past 11 years I have come to love to cook...shocker I know. I love coming up with different recipes, taking old recipes and refreshing them, or making food to bring the family together. The other night I made a bbq beef brisket with a potato gratin and had Dave's family over. It was so nice to have a family party for no reason other than to visit and enjoy each other's company.

Marion brought her delicious raspberry spinach salad and homemade rolls. Steve and Nancy brought a delicious apple cake and Steve's famous chocolate chip cookies. It was quite the feast!

I think it would be so much fun to have a cooking club. How about..."The Cooking Diva's?" It has a nice ring to it, right? For one of the cooking night's it would be fun to have a chocolate night. Anything chocolate. I would love to see how many things we could make with chocolate being the star ingredient. From chocolate chip pancakes to chocolate pasta in a raspberry sauce to chocolate cheesecake. What a way to spend a day.

I have heard of people not liking chocolate. To those people I say...are you kidding me? I mean I have my likes and dislikes too but come on, it's chocolate people! You just haven't found the right chocolatey treat. For those out there that are skeptical, maybe you should start with a classic chocolatey brownie. I highly recommend Ina Garten's Outrageous Brownie's. They are to die for!

Outrageous Brownies:

• 1 pound unsalted butter
• 1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Butter and flour a 12 x 18 x 1-inch baking sheet.

Melt together the butter, 1 pound of chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl over simmering water. Allow to cool slightly. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee granules, vanilla, and sugar. Stir the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.

In a medium bowl, sift together 1 cup of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips in a medium bowl with 1/4 cup of flour, then add them to the chocolate batter. Pour into the baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes, then rap the baking sheet against the oven shelf to force the air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Bake for about 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not overbake! Allow to cool thoroughly, refrigerate, and cut into 20 large squares.

I hope the few people that actually might read my blog will give this recipe a try. You wont be disappointed.

Bon Apetit!