In Honour of Gilthalion

I'm baking brownies!! I tried a new recipe so I'll have to let you know how they came out... But with a title like The Ultimate Brownie, I don't thinK I can go wrong!!

Chocolate Fuge Brownies???

"Mmmmmmmh! Brownies!"

"I don't deserve the honor!" the little hobbit protested. "But I will take a brownie," he added, hopefully.

Eruve said she'd send you one by postman, hope the horse is fast enough to get to you when the brownies still can be eaten

Can I have some PLEEEEEAAAASE?

They aren't bad at all... The only problem is, the recipe doesn't make many, but I'll give out the recipe. They're very easy to whip up and there's not too many ingredients!

The Ultimate Brownie
1/2 C. (one stick) butter
1/3 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 C. sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
scant 1/4 C. flour

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour an 8" square baking dish. Melt butter and chocolate chips in microwave (about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes). Transfer melted butter and chocolate to medium mixing bowl and blend in sugar. (I did everything by hand.) Add eggs and vanilla and blend again, mixing well. Sift the four over the mixture and fold just until four disappears; do not over mix. Pour into pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Baking longer gives a slightly cakier texture.

These won't raise up, there's no leavening in them... I frosted with vanilla frosting and sprinkeled more chocolate chips over top... There's not too many left!

Wow, sounds really good and REALLY easy, I'll have to try it, but first I must try poutine

I'll make them tomorrow I think. I've been having a craving for brownies ever since this silly brownie business started, Gil.

For what it's worth, me and the Mrs think that the finest entertainment on satelite television is Two Fat Ladies!

Let me share a little thing we whipped up...


MANGO CREAM PIE

2 Large Graham Cracker Pie Crusts (Made by Keebler Elves!)
2 Cans Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 4 oz. Cream Cheese
2 Large, peeled, pureed Mangoes! (1 jar from Produce works)

Thoroughly mix sweetened condensed milk with softened cream cheese. Mix in mango puree (some small chunks OK). Pour into pie shells. Freeze overnight. Serve 1 pie to guests. Greedily keep other pie hidden in freezer. Tell no one.

***

And one day, when the sky is bright and the day is fine, I will tell you of the world's greatest Spagetti Sauce!

The sky is bright and the day is fine here!!!!
(Well, in fact it's 1AM and the sky is not SO bright but...)

PLEASE tell us!

You did not have to beg!

But I must be off to work!

Like as not, I will have time during lunch to post this simple, but most audacious recipe.

You will be amazed and astounded!

I can post my spaghetti sauce recipe while we're waiting. My mother-in-law got this recipe from a Syrian lady, so, although it's called Italian Spaghetti, it's got a hint of the Middle East in it, too. This makes a lot, but I make a big batch and divide into smaller quantities and freeze so I always have some on hand. You can substitute ground turkey or tofu for the beef, if you're so inclined.

Italian Spaghetti Sauce

2 cloves of garlic, diced
2 med. onions, chopped
2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (depending on how hot you like it)
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp mixed spice (We have this in Canada, but I don't know if it's in the US. It's a mixture of cloves, cinnamon, and some other spices. If unavailable, add a dash more cloves and cinnamon.)
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp (or more to taste) red pepper flakes
1 13-0z. can tomato paste
1 48-oz. can tomato sauce
2 bay leaves

Brown meat with onions and garlic in a large pot until no longer pink. Drain if necessary. Stir in the spices, mixing well. Add tomato paste and mix well. Stir in tomato juice and bay leaves. Bring to boil, cover, but leave the lid @#%$ed open, reduce heat and simmer for at least 2 hours. You can leave this to simmer all day if you want, it will just thicken, so simmer until it reaches the consistancy you like. Serve over cooked spaghetti.

Is that common elsewhere to make spag sauce in great qt then freeze them? Cause, here, in Quebec, it seems pretty common, my mother does it too and lots of people I know.

And, do we really have to serve it over cooked spaghetti?

I don't know how common it is to freeze the sauce. We never have it around long enough to go bad!

And it is delicious eaten like a Sloppy Joe on toasted hamburger buns spread with mayonnaise! Or on a plate covering toast, like SOS! (Spaghetti On a Shingle)

This should make a VERY meaty sauce!



THE WORLD'S GREATEST SPAGHETTI SAUCE

2 lbs lean ground beef
1 large onion, roughly diced
1 can tomato sauce
1 (small) can tomato paste
1/2 bottle Manechewitz kosher Blackberry Wine (thick sweet!)
3 heaping tablespoons sugar
99 shakes of oregano
6 big shakes garlic powder (or more!) (or fresh!)
1 can drained, large pitted black olives
1 can undrained mushrooms

Brown the beef with lots of oregano and garlic powder. Remove from skillet and drain.
Saute onions with more garlic and more oregano, set aside.
Return beef to skillet. Add mushrooms, more oregano, more garlic, olives, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Stir until blended. Add wine to dilute sauce until too runny. Add sugar and cook on medium, stirring occassionally until liquid is reduced, about 20 minutes, long enough to start the water for the noodles. Serve on hot (angelhair) pasta. Top with sauteed onions. Get out of the way! (My cousin suggests a little fresh crushed red pepper and parmesian cheese on top.)

In less than half an hour, from start to finish, you have created a dinner for four or more very greedy hobbits, fit for the board of an Elven King! Salad and garlic bread can round out the meal if you want to really impress. I use a homemade ranch dressing consisting of garlic powder, onion salt, finely chopped green onion, and equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream.

//drool

I'll have to make an Entmoot dinner one of these days. Spagetti, poutine, and brownies for dessert

I do believe this is the first time for me to read a thread that made my mouth water...

Awww, now you've made the keyboard all drooly
Here's my recipe to add to the list:

Gunky Thingamujigs (yes, that's what they're called; I didn't name them )
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 12-oz package chocolate chips
2 cups graham cracker crumbs

--Mix all ingredients together
--Put in GREASED pan
--Put in 350 degree oven until brown (It takes a while, but I can't remember the exact time. They're almost impossible to ruin)
--While waiting, lick mixing bowl, spoon, and sweetened condensed milk can
--Remove from oven
--Turn off oven
--cut into pieces and eat

They work well for a really easy bake-sale item if you need one in a hurry

Why cut into peices? Am I supposed to share them or something?

This one's been in the family for many years. We hardly ever serve it to company, but it's been a tradition for generations, going back to the Fell Winter when there wasn't much to eat...


MOUSE-KEBOBS

12 rodents, skinned and dressed (6 if large)
salt, pepper, garlic, onion, whatever you've got

Catch a dozen mice. Clean and dress. If you can't catch a dozen mice all at once, catch them as you can, and freeze in snow pit until a dozen or so are acquired, if you can wait. Season the mice with any thing you have left in the hole. Skewer them on a stick. Turn over a fire until cooked enough to eat. Feeds one starving hobbit.

there goes my hunger