Double-Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Last weekend, I returned to New Haven for my tenth college reunion.  I missed my five-year reunion and I hadn't spent more than a few hours on campus since I graduated. 

Yale is as lovely as I remember.  There are memories on every corner, behind every gate... some that I wish to forget (but know that I shouldn't because I learned from the experience) and others that I hope to hold onto forever.  I was able to take Rob on my favorite run up Prospect Street and he listened patiently as I said "that is where I took X class" and there is [insert something Rob isn't really interested in here]".  There are early morning runs that I remember so vividly... the sunlight shining through the changing September leaves... a few minutes to myself to process the craziness that is college.

I have no recollection of this, but apparently my senior society did an exercise just prior to graduation where we all answered five questions about what our life would be like in ten years.  Miraculously, one of us held onto everyone's answers and the eight of us who were at the reunion were able to read what our 21-year-old self expected of us.  I read my responses with great trepidation - how could I possibly live up to what I thought I'd become?

Oddly, I felt sort of disappointed to find that I have become essentially what my 21-year-old self thought I'd be... I am a lawyer who is married who loves travel and is close with her family and still dreams of going to Asia (yes, even then I wasn't too specific)... I did say I'd live in Washington, D.C. and have a daughter but otherwise I was spot on.  It was eerie... and, like I said, a little disappointing.  Didn't my 21-year-old self have higher expectations for me?  Does this mean I didn't take enough risks in my 20s?  Should I have challenged myself to do "bigger" and "better" things?

I'm not going anywhere specific with this but just reflecting as one is likely to do when they return to the place where adulthood started and where it seemed every door was open.  In the end, I am so thankful for where I am today and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Oh, did you read this post hoping to find a great brownie recipe?  Sorry about that!  The Desserts from the Famous Loveless Cafe Cookbook is one of those cookbooks whose origins I can't trace.  Obviously it didn't just appear in my kitchen, but I can't remember what prompted me to purchase it - probably some fabulous-looking dessert I found on Pinterest.  Before we left on our trip, we had a relaxing, fun evening with some dear friends and their adorable daughter.  I needed something quick and my go-to brownies are a bit fussy - they require mixing and a double boiler and I just couldn't do it.  Enter these incredibly simple, one-bowl wonders from The Loveless Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee.  Has anyone been to The Loveless Cafe?  Do tell!  Any other desserts I must make that you've had at the actual cafe?

Back to the brownies.  You need a microwave, a large bowl, a sifter and a whisk.  You'll have these in the oven in minutes.  They will be eaten quickly and people will love the richness, the slightly fudgy texture, and the surprise chunks of chocolate.  The next time you need an easy dessert for a BBQ or picnic, look no further. 

Double-Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Yield = 25 small brownies
Desserts from the Famous Loveless Cafe Cookbook

Ingredients
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2½ ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3 eggs
1¼ cups sugar
1 teaspoon finely ground coffee beans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preparation

1.  Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square cake pan, or baking dish and line the bottom with parchment paper.  Grease the parchment paper.

2.  Place the butter and unsweetened chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.  Using the lowest heat setting or the defrost setting, melt the butter and chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring until melted and smooth.  If you don't have a microwave, this can be accomplished by using a double-boiler.

3.  In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar, ground coffee, and vanilla.  Whisk in the melted chocolate mixture.  Sift the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder over the batter in the bowl.  Fold a few times, add ¼ cup of the chocolate chips, and fold until well mixed.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and scatter the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips evenly over the top.

4.  Bake for 30 minutes, until the top feels slightly firm but not at all stiff or hard.  Do not wait for the brownies to pull away from the sides of the pan; they will be over baked at that point.  Let the brownies cool completely in the pan.  Lift the brownies from the pan using the parchment paper and cut on a cutting board.  Feel free to make the brownies larger, but they are dense and rich and I thought small, bite-size brownies were perfectly sized.

Comments

[talley]

I don't remember our class doing that exercise at M&C but I wonder what I would have written. I certainly wouldn't have expected to live abroad, and I probably would have expected I'd be employed (going to get back on the job apps this fall), but goodness it really is interesting where 10 years can take you. All in all I say it's a good thing that you've fallen in line with your aspirations, now you can break out of them without any guilt that you didn't achieve them. I'm heading back to New Haven tomorrow for a wedding and I'm looking forward to visiting all my favorite haunts.

These brownies look INCREDIBLE. I'm heading to a bachelorette in a couple weeks and I think I might bring these along with me. I know the girls will love them.

Love that first brownie shot!

Looking forward to Berlin pics :)

[Darcy Eden]

Thanks, Talley. There are things that I certainly didn't expect (living in Denver, for starters) - I think the whole exercise just caught me off-guard. My M&C class did a lot of (weird) introspective stuff. I guess senior year will do that to you. Have fun in New Haven!

The brownies are simple and delicious. Sometimes it is so refreshing to make something simple, you know?

Berlin... must get to the photos this weekend!

[ali]

Darcy these look ridiculously delicious. I am going to grind a teaspoon more coffee tomorrow morning to ensure I can enjoy one of these after lunch with my afternoon coffee when the kiddos are both sleeping... heaven!

And I believe you have taken plenty of risks/adventures/challenges in your 20's and that's most important. I wouldn't be disappointed. And I LOVE all the New Haven pics. It's such a great place. I'm headed back there next spring. I cannot wait!

[Liam]

The brownies look really delicious. Yale sucks though. The reunions part especially. :)

[Darcy Eden]

Liam, you are biased! But I might still just bake you some brownies. We'll see.