matthew

My company put me up in a 16th floor suite for the next few days over looking the beach in Myrtle Beach, SC... Life is good...

Baldur

Well look how time flies,,,, it's been ages since we have had a cooking episode.
Baldur has shamelessly lifted the following recipe off of a blog called 'Bearly Edible', that is, cooking for bearish men.
They had borrowed the recipe from a local newspaper.
I have not tried this yet but will do so as soon as I can find the ingredients.
********************

The West Point Market in Akron, Ohio is recognized as one of the nation’s leading gourmet markets. (I know what you are thinking… in Akron? You have to be kidding!). They are known for these brownies. It is a much sought after recipe. In May of 2006, the Akron Beacon Journal printed the recipe for West Point Market’s Killer Brownies. There are quite good with a ribbon of caramel in the center. It would be a crime not to share this recipe with you. It takes some effort to make but is well worth it when you cut into them fresh out of the oven.

21 TBS. unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup Droste cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
1½ cups cake flour
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup walnut pieces
12 oz. Kraft caramels
4 to 6 tbsp. whipping cream
1 cup semisweet Belgian chocolate chips
½ cup confectioners’ sugar

In a mixer bowl, beat 10 tablespoons butter until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together 6 tablespoons cocoa, 1 cup sugar and ¾ cup flour. In a small bowl, lightly whisk together 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add egg mixture alternating with cocoa mixture to butter until well incorporated. Stir in ½ cup walnuts.

Spread mixture evenly in a buttered and floured 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 6 minutes, until the batter has risen in the middle. Remove from oven and tap pan firmly on the counter to make brownies fall. Be careful, some batter may splash out at this point. Place brownies in oven for another 5 to 6 minutes. Brownies will not be fully baked at this point. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate at least 3 hours, or until thoroughly chilled.

In a double boiler, heat the caramels with 1 tablespoon butter and 4 tablespoons of the cream until melted and smooth. If necessary, stir in remaining 2 tablespoons cream to achieve a consistency that is pourable when warm, and thick but oozing at room temperature.

Pour caramel mixture over chilled brownie layer, taking care to push the caramel into the corners. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips. Freeze at least 4 hours, until caramel is very firmly set.

Make another batch of brownie batter, as before. Carefully spread batter over the frozen caramel and chips layer, being careful not to disturb the caramel or chips. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until the center looks done. Because of the chocolate and caramel layer, the toothpick test or shaking the pan are not good methods to determine doneness. Brownies will fall as they cool; this is desirable.

Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight. This allows the caramel and chocolate chip layer to set. Cut into squares and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Store in the refrigerator or freeze. Bring to room temperature to serve.

Baldur

(Any mispellings or grammatical errors South of the foreshortened apostrophes are not of Baldur's making.)

lilalee

These are the best brownies!! We go to Akron alot in the summer, and they have a dowtown, that is busy and fun. Market Street is the main highway to all theeir goodies downtown. Quaker Square is a good place to visit. But those brownies are the best in the world!!

Qsilv

............fascinating!
This is a whole new game... and doesn't the technique just impel you into tinkering with variants?

(yes yes, the original should be sacrosanct unto itself... but *besides* that?)

you are single-handedly doing great damage to my dieting willpower....

belladonnis

We love brownies at my house! We make them all the time! That does sound delicious! When we make ours sometimes instead of dusting the pan with flour we dust it with sugar and it makes them crispy, chewy on the bottom. I also like to take brown sugar and drop spoonfulls in the mix when it is in the pan and that gives it a carmel like taste.
I agree Q this does not help with the diet! But I have to say that I have lost 5 pds on my goal to lose 10 for the Scale Back Ala program! My team the GoLitely's is losing.......pounds! lol

belladonnis

Talking about brownies, we have had some bad news at our house. My ex called and said that someone came by and picked up Zoe's pup Brownie right out of their yard! Dawn had let him out to do his buisness and when she openend the door a car was pulled over on the side of the road and took off when she started calling for him. At least thats what they think happend when he didnt come right away. He never strays out of the yard. He was a little brown dachshund and so sweet. Zoe and Ash are heartbroken.
What would make someone do that?

Baldur

Thank you lilalee, what a small world this is.
When I stumbled over that recipe it never occured to me that someone might have actually had them.
Now I want to try them even more.

And belladonnis that is horrible. One can't get much lower than stooping to steal someone else's housepet.

AuntieB

Happy Birthday Baldur!

I had Diego bake you a lovely cake.
It 'was' a bittersweet chocolate fudge 6 layer cake with raspberry conserves spread in between and a shiny brittle chocolate glaze of top.
He made a loverly arrangement of marzipan ranunculus on top.
Unfortunately a huge slice disappeared from it while he went out to do the marketing so I feel funny about giving it to you.
But it's the thought that counts
Happy Birthday

polenta

http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=89492

Happy Birthday BALDUR!!!!

Don't tell me you will buy the cake.... you are the best chef......... happy 106??????

indigo

http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=89497



Have a Happy Day!........106!!? ;o

Heidi2323

Happy Birthday!

Qsilv

Happy Birthday! (Be sure drop by Auntie's and blithely request she serve you each some nice hot tea, along with a slice of whatever seems to be on hand.)

marius

He liked his argyles, tweeds and spats,
His beaded windows and many cats.

He liked to cook on a winter's day,
And helped his neighbors without pay.

He wasn't common, or too weird,
But for Santa's need he dyed his beard.

All Hallow's Eve was quite the riot,
When he went to a party as a gay-bear pirate.

And, don't forget his joy of thong,
A brain malfunction gone somewhere wrong.

But love him we did and still we do,
He's the cat's meow and then some too. ; )


Happy Birthday Dear Earl of Baldwick!

puzzler

Happy Birthday Baldur!

Baldur

Thank you everyone, you are all so kind.
It's not everyone who gets poetic tributes on their birthday.

I also got the coolest gift in the mail
A 'resurrection plant'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_lepidophylla

lilalee

A joyous Birthday, Baldur!! I do love that plant, as it is interesting what it becomes in three hours!! Keep us posted on it's survival, please!!

Login

Here is the HB song in German, and don't ask me why they sing it in English ... I never did find out:

Heppy bursday to you
Heppy bursday to you
Heppy bursday dear Baldur
Heppy bursday to you.

My apologies to all Germanic TDers ... this is not mockery ... I love the way you sing this celebratory ditty.

Robindcr8l

Yes, yes, Happy 106th birthday, you old fart!

Working on my taxes diligently today. Leaving for Vegas in the morning.

Someone sent me this video, and thought we were about due for another musical segment on Channel Baldur. Do enjoy...

Robindcr8l

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-BEwPfOzEw