The Perfect Brownies for a Lovely Sunday Evening

Perfect Chocolate Brownies

Hii..
Can you believe it I am actually blogging after a gap of a year..My goodness really its been toooooo long..Well what kept me busy..Apart from work and the usual things, planning an amazing trip to Europe last year was one of the High Points of the previous year..It was a gorgeous vacation to Norway, Denmark, Belgium and our family favorite Switzerland. Europe has always been my love..Why ..There is something so different about it..From Old Cities and Architecture to some beautiful landscapes, it has it all. And ofcourse the Food, always makes me smile.
Since I am a foodie I have to just have to mention about this Papiroen Street Food Market in Copenhagen..Its something I have never experienced before..Its a huge area next to a canal with hundreds of people gorging on some amazing food from all over the world (there must be around 200 food stalls)..It is a mind blowing experience and if your are a foodie and happen to visit Copenhagen then this place is NOT to be missed!!!

Now coming back to the Brownies..Initially I wasn't a huge fan of brownies..the primary reason being I mostly found them too dry and also I am not fond of walnuts. Then one fine day 'Theobroma' happened and I found the perfect brownies that I always wanted, they were gooey and moist with a crust, simply perfect.
Since then I had this great urge to try baking a brownie myself. And so I jumped to my favorite website 'Joy of Baking' and grabbed the easiest Brownie recipe available. And Boy o Boy it turned out so so good. Gooey, Moist with a thin crust..a 10/10.. It is an extremely simple recipe with nothing much to do. We don't even need an electric/hand mixer. A simple whisk will do the job.
Note: I have not added any walnuts but you are most welcome to do so


PLAIN CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Makes: 16 pieces of 2X2 inches brownies

Ingredients

Ingredients

150 grams semisweet chocolate chopped

1/2 cup (1 stick) (113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2 tablespoons (15 grams) cocoa powder

1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 large eggs

3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place the rack in the center of the oven. Butter (or spray with a nonstick cooking spray) an 8 inch (20 cm) square pan, and line the bottom of the pan with parchment or wax paper.

Preparing the Baking pan

2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a large stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water.

Melting the Chocolate and Butter

3. Remove from heat and stir in the cocoa powder and sugar.

Adding the Sugar and Cocoa Powder

4. Next, whisk in the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Finally, stir in the flour and salt

Mixing the Eggs and Flour

6. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a little batter and a few moist clumps clinging to it. Do not over bake.

Pre-Baking and Post-Baking

7. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Cut into square pieces. Remove the pieces individually from the Pan. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

The Perfect Brownies

Thanks for Reading!!!

Cheers to Life with Chocolate Mousse Shots

Chocolate Mousse Shots

Hii. Back to writing after a gap of seven whole days. It has been really a very scary weekend. Reason - EARTHQUAKES.

Me-High Rise Buildings-Earthquakes, its been a long association, Since I was born we have been living in High Rises well almost all my life. And earthquakes have always been quite prevalent, yet every time there is one, I get scared to a whole new level.
This weekend has been quite an adventure with a couple of shakes last afternoon and one today. Looking at the devastation that has happened to our neighbouring country Nepal, I can't help but Thank the Almighty for life. And my sincere prayers to all those who have suffered losses.

All these incidents make me wonder about Life and its Unpredictable Nature, Every moment is so sudden yet there is so much hatred jealously enmity amongst people. I think we should just be Happy and Thankful to be alive each moment and Celebrate that and ignore all issues which cause any turmoil in our minds. But as they say easier said than done. Though no harm in trying..

So Cheers to Life with these CHOCOLATE MOUSSE SHOTS (Recipe for the Chocolate Mousse taken from JoyofBaking)

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE SHOTS

Makes: 8 shots

Note: The chocolate cups should preferably be made the previous day. 
Vegetarians: Skip the Egg part of the recipe. The mousse won't be as fluffy but will still taste extremely good.

Starting with the Chocolate Cups

Ingredients:
Dark Chocolate – 360gms
Butter – 30gms
Eggs – 2 large
Vanilla Essence – 1/2 teaspoon
Heavy Cream – 120ml
Sugar – 4 tablespoons

The Disposable Cups and the slit

Procedure:

1. Take Half of the Dark Chocolate (180gms) and chop it into small pieces.
2.  Microwave on High for around 90 secs
3. Take out and stir well with a spatula till it melts completely and tempered to room temperature (Make sure the chocolate doesn't get over heated)
4.  Once the chocolate is melted, take 8 small plastic (disposable) glasses and make a small slit on the side (top). See Picture Above
5. Pour 1 tablespoon of the melted chocolate and rotate the glass so that the entire inside surface is covered with chocolate . Pour the extra chocolate back into the bowl. Repeat for all Eight glasses and keep the glasses to refrigerate. (preferably overnight or atleast 4 hours)



Covering the cups with chocolate

6.  Take the two eggs and separate the egg yolks and egg whites in two small bowls and cover with a plastic wrap and keep aside till it room reaches temperature.



Starting with the Mousse

7.  In another bowl take the second half of the chocolate and the butter and melt it over a double boiler.
8. Let it cool then add the egg yolks and mix well and keep the chocolate mixture in refrigerator.



Melting the Chocolate over the double Boiler

9. In a bowl take the egg white.Beat with a stand or hand mixer till foamy, Now add 1/8th teaspoon vinegar. Keep beating. Add 2 tablespoons Sugar gradually and keep beating till soft peaks are formed.
10. In another bowl take the Heavy Cream, Vanilla Essence and two tablespoons of Sugar and beat well till it forms peaks.
11.  Take the chocolate mixture and add the beaten egg whites in three parts. Keep folding it in slowly.



Adding the Whipped Cream and Egg Whites

12. Now add the whipped cream mixture gradually and fold it in the chocolate egg mixture. The mousse is now ready.
13. Take out the chocolate cups and peel off the plastic (starting from the cut we made on the glass) very carefully trying not to break the chocolate cups inside (This step is tricky)



Peeling off the Cups and Filling the Mousse

14. Divide the Chocolate Mousse into the chocolate cups. Decorate it any way you wish and keep it in the refridgerator for a couple of hours
15. Take them out just before you'll serve or else the outside chocolate cup will melt.
    

    

    The Chocolate Mousse Shots ready to be served

    My Life's Motto: Do what you love with the people you love in this very life. Because There are no second chances. Live Love and Enjoy, Travel- See the world, Eat Well Sleep Well Work Well and Help others, Try not to have Regrets!!
    LIVE YOUR DREAMS!!!
    Ciao and Thanks for giving my blog a part of your precious time! :) :)