As a food blogger in constant search of a new recipe to invent and make your own, you often run the risk of overloading your senses. The need to conquer new ingredients often makes life in the kitchen and in your belly a little bit complicated, a little bit chaotic. When things keep adding on to your life, the only way to restore order is to start subtracting. I find this mantra extremely wise and useful, not just in my kitchen but in every walk of my life.
Earlier this week, my heart wished for a slice of brownie. Now I have
baked brownies before.
A lot of different brownies. But sometimes, just sometimes … you crave simplicity like nothing else. You don’t want the
tea soaking hoopla or the need-to-make-it-healthier dramas. You don’t want to worry about whether it is going to be gooey or whether to stud it with fruit. Sometimes, all you need is, just brownies! So I baked them. Just Brownies!
And they made me wonder Why? Oh why? Do we try so hard all the time piling on unnecessary baggage to complicate things, when the answer is so simple, just simple! Thought for the day
. Do you sometimes rebel and simplify? How do you do it? Do you find it calming? re-energising? Would love to hear your thoughts.
JUST BROWNIES
By Sneh Roy | Style : Baking | Category : Dessert
A stunning brownie recipe that is quick and simple. A true classic to make for a potluck or fancy dinner, this dense and moist brownie is a crowd pleaser.
Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Baking Time – 30 minutes
Makes – 16
Ingredients
200g dark couverture chocolate
250g butter, chopped
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
4 organic eggs
1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
1 cup plain flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Method
Preheat oven to 160C (320F). Grease and line with baking paper, a brownie pan (26cm x 16cm) or square tin (23cm).
Place chocolate and butter over low heat in a saucepan. Stir as it melts. Cook for a few minutes, stirring till it is smooth and glossy. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Place sugar, cocoa, flour, baking powder and eggs in a bowl. Add chocolate mixture and beat with an electric mixer for a minute until smooth. Pour mixture into prepared tin and bake for 30 minutes until set. Cool in tin.
Dust with cocoa powder and slice as desired. Serve by itself or warmed with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
Gorgeous Sneh! And I’m with you, sometimes, actually often, simple is best.
Jennifer (Delicieux)´s last [type] ..Mushroom, Chestnut & Thyme Couscous
I agree – sometimes (and by sometimes I mean MOST of the time) simple is just better. What a gorgeous batch of brownies!
Ashlae | Oh, ladycakes´s last [type] ..Coconut scones
Those are not just any brownies, they are FUDGY brownies! The best kind one can bake. Lovely.
I love those shots.
Cheers,
Rosa
How decadent, now those are brownies!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)´s last [type] ..strawberry sherbet
Abosolute perfection! I crave simplicity too – flavours, interior design, fashion.
Christie´s last [type] ..Maggie Beer’s baked red onions {vegetarian}
so very true!!! as much as i love searching for that ingredient sometimes we do just need to go back to basics
thanks for the reminder, it looks delicious.
muppy´s last [type] ..Honey Lavender Fillet of Beef
I’ve never cooked the brownies, thanks for the recipe!!!!!!
I can completely relate to you! I go through this confusion so often. Every time I see a new ingredients/produce I wonder how I can ‘create’ something interesting out of it. We bloggers definitely need a break sometimes and what better way to do it than bake some simple brownies
chinmayie @ love food eat´s last [type] ..Mango Granola Bars (Vegan)
I really want chocolate now!
penny aka jeroxie´s last [type] ..Chickpeas and smoked cod patties
Just yum!!!!!
Sara (Belly Rumbles)´s last [type] ..What’s on Sydney Foodie
Sometimes only a brownie straight up will suffice! I absolutely know what you mean about simplicity – I bake a lot of plainer things that never make it onto the blog but that me, my boyfriend, family and friends all absolutely love on a day to day basis
thelittleloaf´s last [type] ..Brown Butter & Buckwheat Milk Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Amen to this! Simplicity is something I’ve been sorely lacking, lately… and it sounds like exactly what I need! Wonderful post – just what I needed to read this morning!
Willow´s last [type] ..Fish Tacos with Pineapple Mango Salsa
I do believe in simplicity, whether it ‘s in the kitchen or the clothes I wear or home decor. I often think of that famous quote from CoCo Chanel advising women to take off one accessory before leaving the house. These brownies are the Audrey Hepburn of baked goods, a classic beauty. No need to add more.
la domestique´s last [type] ..Cook in the Moment: Grilled Spring Onions with Romesco Sauce
Yes, slowing down helps .. subtracting helps! Most of the time I make daal with all kind of greens or veggies .. or spices .. trying to give a new taste to the palate. And then I like doing what you did .. make daal, plain and simple
I feel like baking a plain chocolate now ..
kankana´s last [type] ..Day out in the city and Roasted Carrots with Garlic Spaghetti
i meant plain chocolate cake
kankana´s last [type] ..Day out in the city and Roasted Carrots with Garlic Spaghetti
I so love brownies I can eat a 12-piece box in one sitting! lol Thanks for the recipe, I hope my friend can help me bake this. I tried to bake brownies once and it was a disaster!
Georgina Clarke´s last [type] ..Cinco de Mayo Makeup Inspiration
It’s very hard to beat a simple chocolate brownie. And these ones are just beautiful.
Kathryn´s last [type] ..april in a photo a day
Your brownies look just perfect and just how I like them. If you could send this recipe to a few cafes I know where they are as dry as an old chip I’d be most happy.
Vintage Macaroon´s last [type] ..Fried Bocconcini with Gremolata Crumbs…The Gourmet Traveller Challenge. April
Oh my Sneh, I have been so busy and then when I saw that I have a few of your posts to read through in my reader it brightened ny day and this was the first one I clicked on! These look amaxing and I am am so in awe of hte beautiful light you captured. I too just want simple sometimes so that is what I have been doing and it feels good!
cakeboule´s last [type] ..Jammie Dodger Cheesecakes
Thanks a lot – now I want brownies!!!!
Noeleen´s last [type] ..Three Conclusions About Myself…
Love your composition. Love how little you cut these brownies into. Love the glossy look. Love the recipe.
These brownies look simply perfect. Sometimes, simple is the way to go. A perfectly ripe tomato, a slice of strong cheddar and a piece of chewy fresh bread… was there ever a more delicious lunch?
SarahKate (Mi Casa-Su Casa)´s last [type] ..Singapore- Izakaya Nijumaru
Will be making these tonight! I really appreciate your blog and your perspective. It seems so many things in life would be better if we could just simplify them, but food and the preparation of food is particularly susceptible to this dandying about with techniques and ingredients and methods. And while that’s fun and certainly distracting and absolutely draining on my pocketbook, in the end, i find that the simplest approach — indeed, the one I often began with! — produces the best result. Thanks for that subtle reminder.
These brownies looks so fudgy, exactly how they ought to be! Simplicity at its best!!
Oh yes please. Sometimes the original is all you need, right? Gorgeous post, Sneh.
Christina @ The Hungry Australian´s last [type] ..Red Quinces, Haloumi & Rye
Simple recipes are the best! Great food doesn’t need to be complex. Your photos evoke all the chocolate goodness of a classic brownie. An enjoyable post!
Delicious! So simple yet so darn effective
Nic@diningwithastud´s last [type] ..Berry & Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Lemon Drizzle
[...] done. No frills, no fuss, just plain old favourites prepared with the utmost simplicity. After some simple brownies and an old fashioned crumble, I wanted to share a savoury classic. Pizza. It is fast, cheap and [...]