I feel a little bit like celebrating... just a little bit!
I haven't been baking much this week.  I kinda blew off my cooking/baking night to do something fun (yeah - whatever.  I'm not perfect all the time) and time just got away from me.  It's was a lot of fun though, did I mention that?
A post or two ago I was talking about my BF KT going through some serious medical crap and being worried but trying not to and all that.  I'm happy to report that her most recent medical experience has resulted in some good decisions regarding what her next steps should be and we're all pretty happy with that.  Sometimes just having somebody tell you what the next step should be is a huge relief, even if it's hard to take the step.  I'm just glad to get some momentum forward.  So, I'm breathing a little freer this afternoon.
Also, the weekend is a day closer.  I'm over the hardest bit of the week and feel no small amount of relief over that too.
Thirdly, it's been sunny and warm (for the middle of November at least) here in T.O.  That feels good.
 I feel a little bit like celebrating.  I was going to celebrate by making another recipe from the Ottolenghi cookbook but I got kinda sidetracked because it called for a pan that I don't seem to have.  Well, two pans actually and I only have one.  (Jeez, who has two of anything except underwear.  Really!)  So, I kinda ditched that plan in favour of another - Brownies.  I still tried the recipe in the Ottolenghi book.  It's good.  And, I made sure not to over bake them 'cause I like 'em gooey.


You could feel free to add some toasted Macadamia or Walnuts but I threw in no small amount of white chocolate and called it a day.  These are easy and bake up quickly and were a great middle of the week celebration.




Brownies (adapted from Ottolenghi: The Cookbook)

200 g unsalted butter (just under 1 cup)
280 g all-purpose flour (just under 2 1/3 cup)
1/2 tsp salt
300g dark chocolate, in pieces (about 1 3/4 cup)
2 lg eggs
220g sugar (about 1 1/3 cup)
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp instant coffee
200g white chocolate, in chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease and flour a 22 cm baking pan.
Place the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl and place over lightly simmering water.  Make sure it doesn't get too hot and that no water gets into it.  Once it's all melted, take it off the water and set aside.
In a bowl combine the flour and salt.  Set aside.
In another bowl whisk together the eggs and sugar.  Once whisked together, add in the vanilla and coffee.  Add the chocolate/butter mixture.   Mix well but don't over beat.


Add in the flour mixture and combine.  Once mixed, add in the white chocolate and mix them in.  Pour into the prepared baking pan.
Bake for about 22 - 25 min.
Cool for a few minutes before removing from the pan.