Bites of My Life

The busyness of spring came the second March hit. Anyone else feel it? I don't necessarily mind the busyness if it keeps the work week feeling short, but I hate how fast the weekend passes too. I can't stinking wait to get through this week to spring forward next weekend. I have spring fever for sunny mornings and evenings that are still light out past 5PM. 

Bites of my life comes in the form of many delicious and indulgent eats and drinks last week. A fun soft opening to attend, trying a new juice bar, crafting cocktails with Vim Vitae, a sushi dinner with my best friends (and froyo to follow) then copious amounts of junk food during a movie marathon on Saturday. 

-Why you should join StudioHop, my reasons here. 
-We are working away like crazy to get to bring these delicious eats to OKC so soon at The Jones Assembly! Follow us here and here and here (because it's me posting and we need your support)!
-Welcome back lunch board, I forgot how much I love you. 
-Two weeks strong with my spaghetti squash. Current dinner obsession. 
-Finally got my booty to Wheeze the Juice after getting my booty kicked at Beyond Studios. This little downtown juice bar located in the shipping containers off 2nd, is supreme. Bottle juices, milks and drinks, with smoothie and smoothie bowls to order. 
-Got a sneak peek at 3Sixty Restaurant & Bar. Officially opens on the 13th. Let me highly recommend sitting at the bar and ordering the shrimp & gouda bread bowl dip. YUP. Bread bowl dip.
-Took so many sips in last weeks post with Vim Vitae. Their new line of limeades is killer!
-When you plan to make chocolate chip cookies and already went to the store because you were out of flour, but got home to realize you were also short on chocolate chips. Made due with leftover Valentine candy and s'more accoutrements.
-Turns out my hodge podge mix of chocolates and a little flakey sea salt on top of my normally Perfect CCCs is what made them even more perfect this go around.   

Annie

Perfect Fudge Brownies

If you've been reading my blog or following me on Instagram you probably remember last year when I set out on a quest to find my perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. I found it, and you can get the recipe here. Well now I have put it on myself to find my perfect brownie recipe. Like CCCs, people differ in how they like their brownies. My brother-in-law is a brownie connoisseur. He even had brownies and milk instead of a groom's cake he and my sister's wedding. 

I was excited and he was excited as I began my brownie recipe testing, only to find out we have very different opinions when it comes to brownies. I like mine dense, fudgy and super chocolatey. He likes his cakey and fluffy. I'm sorry John, but no. 

With my flavor and texture profile in mind, I did some research, developed a recipe, and to my excitement I found it on the first try! My cookie quest took four rounds of testing... This brownie recipe checked all of my required boxes. Dense, fudgy, strong chocolate flavor, and makes more than an 8x8 in pan. I know that is a funny requirement, but I always feel like 9 square brownies from an 8x8 is not enough. This recipe fills a whole 9x13 pan! 

I gave out lots of samples to gain feedback (completely ignoring my B-I-L's opinion). There was a "Stop testing, you found it" and my favorite compliment, "These remind me of 501's." Cafe 501 is a local restaurant that has my favorite brownies. I had them in mind the whole time I was developing this recipe. So, if you are like me and want your brownies, dense, fudgy and chocolatey, keep reading. 

Perfect Fudge Brownies
yields 9x13 pan, 18 brownies

Ingredients:
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
4 eggs
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 Tbsp. ground coffee (enhances the chocolate flavor)
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 cup flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan and set aside.

Melt the butter and chocolates in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments until fully melted. Stirring between each 30 seconds. Make sure to scrape the bottom to keep from burning. In a separate bowl, use a hand held mixer or a whisk to beat sugar, eggs, coffee and vanilla together. With a wooden spoon, stir in the melted chocolate mixture. Fold the flour and salt into the mix. Pour into your prepared pan and bake for 25 to 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Annie