SPECIAL Brownies

Get your mind out of the gutter. Not that kind... These brownies are indeed "special," though.  I made them with my Aunt, who by the way is the most fun woman in the world to cook with, and they were a big hit.  The foundation of the recipe came from Julia Childs Best-Ever Brownies (thank you Julia Childs!).  Me and my super-fly Auntie switched it up a little bit by adding a tablespoon of expresso and chopped walnuts, and eliminating 3/4 cup of sugar.  Here is the original recipe with our changes.

Word to the wise: I've learned from experience, that if you have a cocktail while baking, the fun-level cranks up a few notches.

  The recipe:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

8 ounces unsalted butter

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 1/4 cups sugar (original recipe calls for 2 cups)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon expresso

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

  Center oven rack and preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sift together flour and salt, set aside.  Melt butter and chocolate together in double boiler, stirring occasionally.  Add 3/4 cup of sugar to the mixture and stir for 30 seconds.  Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla and expresso. Pour the chocolate mixture into large bowl. Put the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and eggs into a bowl and whisk to combine.  Little by little, pour half of the sugar/egg mixture into the chocolate mixture, stirring constantly to prevent the eggs from cooking. Using the whisk attachment on an electric mixture, whip the remaining sugar/egg mixture for approximately 3 minutes, until the mixture is thick, pale, and doubled in volume.  Delicately fold the whipped egg mixture into the chocolate mixture.  When the eggs are almost completely incorporated, fold in the dry ingredients and walnuts.  Pour batter into an ungreased 9-inch square pan.  Bake for 25-28 minutes. They'll be perfect if they aren't completely set. 

Moral of the story?  When it comes to brownies, your definition of "special" will be forever changed.