Frosted Fudge Brownies with Pecans from Ramona's Tree

Every year in late January, my dear neighbor Ramona hires a man to come with a machine-a-ma-jig to knock the pecans off her stately tree. The first year when the pecan-shaker came, I thought it was an earthquake and sent the kids to stand in doorways while I shouted instructions about covering their heads. I got that from my good old fashioned Los Angeles upbringing. But it was just the rumblings of the pecan-shaker and not a 6.3 on the Richter scale. We could relax and enjoy the pretend earthquake, kind of like a Disneyland ride. We got into the swing of things and we really started looking forward to the pecan-shaker. Afterwards, Ramona's yard was always full or pecans. They needed to be collected and sorted. If you don't hustle over to help Ramona, you won't get the chance. She is spry and hard-working AND she has dozens of helpful grandchildren. If you want to help Ramona, you better not procrastinate or there will be nothing left to do. Here are my Ramona, my two charges and cousin Reeve collecting the nuts. West is making sure it's a good nut before he tosses it into the basket. (We need those little Willie Wonka scales for good nuts and bad nuts. )Sailor has a handful of perfectly good pecans, ready to be shelled and toasted and made into all sorts of lovely things, like the glazed pecans that Ramona brings us every year for Christmas. Since it was getting late in January, I asked Ramona when the pecan-shaker was coming for our annual thrill. But this year, all the pecans fell off by themselves. No shake, rattle or roll was necessary. When Ramona saw that we were disappointed, she brought us over another bag of sugared pecans and a whole bag full of pecans. We've been in heaven. To show our gratitude, I decided to bake Ramona some chocolate frosted brownies with lots of pecans. I spotted the recipe on Cookie Madness, my friend Anna's baking blog. The brownies were utterly divine. They were rich and fudgy and full of buttery pecans. (They've gotten nothing but rave reviews from everyone we've shared them wtih.) They are relatively inexpensive to make since they don't require any baking chocolate; just plain old cocoa powder does the trick here. You could swap out the pecans for another sturdy nut like walnuts, but I think the pecans are worth the splurge. Or you could move onto my street and wait for sweet Ramona to bring you a basket. Frosted Fudge Brownies with Pecans from Cookie Madness
Estimated Cost: $4.00 for 9 servings
4 oz (1/2 cup) butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 scant teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup Hershey’s natural cocoa (not sure what results you’d get with Dutch)
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Frosting
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) or 9 pecan halves
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8 inch metal pan with foil and mist the bottom with cooking spray.
Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Whisk in the sugar, then whisk in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Gradually add flour mixture to the batter. Stir in the pecans (if using). Pour into pan and bake for 20-25 minutes (I baked for 20). Pull from oven and make frosting.
Frosting: Stir together cocoa powder and powdered sugar. If you have time, you might want to sift it. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the milk. Stir it into the chocolate/sugar mixture. Stir in the vanilla. Add pecans if using. Pour over the warm brownies and kind of spread it a little to cover. Garnish with pecan halves.
Let brownies cool completely. Lift from pan, set on a cutting board, trim edges and cut into squares. I trimmed the edges and made 9 large squares.

Chocolate Covered Fudge Easter Eggs

Crazy, I tell you. This day has been CRAZY. Sometimes I think I should rip the pages out of my planner and put them in that old circular file. Because what's the point in planning when most of what happens upends the best laid plans? And here's the kicker: I kind of like it that way. There is never a dull moment around here. Take last night for instance. While I was away teaching my college students about Mary Wollstonecraft and the roots of feminism and the Quiet man was trying to get the charges into the tub and finish off some of his paperwork, he heard a spine tingling crash followed by lesser pings. The little neighbor boy, in a burst of impulse, threw a few rocks at our front door and shattered the glass. The Quiet Man called the parents, who were just as nice and gracious as they could be and the little boy came back, in tears, completely repentant. It will all be fixed and all will be well. But for now, the front door is completely out of commission. Which means, everyone must tromp through West's room, which happens to be a mess of Star Wars Action figures, among other things at the moment. And wouldn't you know it, today was the day for a slew of visitors, who stand at the shattered door, wondering what to do. There have been no less than 14 rings on my doorbell this morning. 14! We had a neighbor who needed to borrow garlic, a cousin, who wanted to borrow a bathing suit, the UPS man with my new mixer (Thank you, French's!), a sister who pulled into town with her five children, my parents, two dear, dear friends from California, a couple of neighborhood kids who heard about the door and wanted to get the whole story, and I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. Come on in, everybody! Welcome to Insanity; pull up a chair and stay as long as you like. And please keep in mind, that we are still doing spelling tests, piano and violin practice, history lessons on the Civil War and Medieval China. And through all of this, I've been a chocolatey disaster, dipping these eggs for my promised posts, and chuckling to myself about this messy, unorganized, imperfect thing called Life. And I wouldn't change one thing. I have to go-the doorbell just rang. I'm serious! It's the glassman to measure the door-Hooray!
Chocolate Dipped Fudge Easter Eggs

Estimated Cost: $5.00 for 10

Notes: I used the Nestle Toll House fudge recipe, since it's not overly rich (ahem, for fudge) and it's pretty sturdy.

1 and 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk (5 ounce can)

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

2 cups mini marshmallows

1 and 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Place sugar, milk, salt and butter in medium saucepan. Bring to a full ROLLING boil. Cook, stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in marshmallows, chips, walnuts, and vanilla. Pour into 8 inch square dish. Let cool for ten minutes. Scoop out 1/3 cup portions and shape into eggs. You should get about 10-12. Place on waxed paper that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Refrigerate until firm, at least two hours. Here are some fudge eggs, before dipping.

To Dip in chocolate,

Melt 2 cups chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons shortening in medium bowl on lowest power setting in microwave. Stir often. Don't scorch your chocolate, or it will become grainy and you won't be able to use it at all. When chocolate is smooth and melted, immerse cold fudge eggs, one a time, in chocolate. Slide your spoon underneath the egg and pull it out gently. Place on waxed paper. If too much chocolate pools on the side, run a toothpick or sharp knife around the edges when the chocolate is almost set.

You'll have a bit too much chocolate, but it's necessary to get smooth eggs. Here's one when I skimped on chocolate. See the bumpy top.

For a little extra treat, throw marshmallows, nuts and dried fruits into the leftover chocolate in the bowl and remove spoonfulls to waxed paper to set. That way nothing goes to waste.

When you finish and the chocolate is set, you can decorate with frostings, candies, or piped colored candy melts. I haven't made it that far yet, but here's what I did last year.

Here's the link for the Peanut Butter Easter Eggs Recipe-my absolute favorite!

Happy Easter Everybody! Much love to you and your families.

Chocolate Oatmeal Almost Candy Bars

Welcome to tempting Tuesdays, the day in which I bake an alluring treat with members of my on-line baking club, Tuesdays with Dorie. Hubba, Hubba-This one's a corker. First you lay down an oatmeal cookie crust, then you top it with fudge-you know that same fudge we were all busy eating during December...

Last, comes aother sprinkle of cookie dough, encasing the fudge in a chewy oatmeal package, just like a candy bar.

And here is where the story ends, or rather begins. Because as soon as I pulled it out of the fridge from cooling, my sister and her six kids showed up for their MLK weekend visit. I couldn't slice these bars fast enough. Poof!-gone, just like that. They are mighty, mighty good.

Are you still on a January diet? Then bookmark these babies for February. Recipe here.

And for the sweet love of Pete, please head over here and vote for WEST in the Jif's most creative peanut butter sandwich. Just take ten seconds to register and then vote for his MORE ROCKIN MOROCCAN PEANUTTY PITAS. There's a hefty $25,000 scholarship as prize.

Next Up:

Muligatawny (Chicken Curry Soup) in the Crock Pot

Love Thy Neighbor...with Pretty Sweets

Do you know how I decide what to give the neighbors for Christmas? For me, it's all about packaging. Last year, I found these little red boxes from Martha Stewart at Walmart. They had four compartments inside, so I made four different treats, including the world's easiest fudge and English Toffee.

Then I sent the Quiet Man and his posse off for delivery. Check.

This year I went back for more beautiful red boxes, but there were none to be had. Isn't that the way it always works when you find something you love?

But I did find these fun Christmas tree baking pans.

It is a foregone conclusion that on a chilly December night, everyone on planet earth on would like a warm cinnamon roll, frosted in creamy maple icing. When I'm done baking, I never ever deliver the goods. It would be like an author peeking over the shoulder of an editor reading his latest manuscript. I'm completely smitten with whatever I just baked, and I'm afraid I'd even hold on to my creation a bit too long, and stare longingly as I gave it away. So it's probably better if I stay home licking the spatula, in the kitchen, where I truly belong. My delivery team was at the ready. And every one of my neighbors got warm, fresh cinnamon rolls. They were all home. Isn't that a Christmas miracle?
Next Up:

My Sister Michelle's Best Ever Sugar Cookies