Perception is a funny word isn't it?
Have I mentioned that Klecko likes girls?
When they talk.....I love to listen to them.
When woman talk about brownies....I love to watch them.
Girlfriend Nation practically goes balistic at the mere thought of the word..........
"brownie".
I have known rich girls, poor girls, happy girl and yes....even a few sad girls, but if there was just one thing that God put on this planet to unite their souls.......
One common denominator that levels the entire feminine playing field........
It would have to be brownies.
Now the last thing I want to do is offend somebody and come across as sexist, but I'm just a guy who has baked for 30 years.
Over this time I'm sure I've met some guys who have "liked" brownies, but they simply don't worship them like my girlfriends do.
Maybe that's because brownies may be this single greatest thing to entice ladies.....
Excuse me my love.....what can I get you, diamonds, money or brownies?
The answer really could be any of the 3, but most Klecko girlfriends place brownies on the top of their priority pyramid.
So today, I pose to you....
What constitutes the "Perfect" brownie?
I could tell you the observations I have made, but I would be intrigued to hear it straight from your mouths.
The first question most people ask when broaching the great brownie debate......
"Fudgy or Cakey"?
I a "simple boy" prefer the cakey version.
Often times when you run across a brownie recipe, you can use it's generic meassurments and just do a little tweaking of your own.
The fudgey brownies have eggs, or a higher egg ratio, so when looking at your recipe, realize that you can alter your texture by the inclusion (or leaving out) of eggs.
Bake time is another big deal.
In almost every form of baking, the general rule of thumb to determine when a "cake" or "quickbread" type object is done, that we should insert a toothpick in the middle of the pan, and when we pull it out clean....the product is ready.
However....however....many of my female brownie zealots will pull their brownies while beads of cake still cling to the tooth pick.
Obviously one doesn't want their treat to be raw......but with a little practice you can learn to cut 3-5 minutes off your "standard" bake time to increase your goo factor.
Others will pull their brownies out of the oven when the toothpick pulls clean in the portion of the brownie that rests at the pans perimeter.
For cakey brownies, it is also smart to employ some kind of energy source. Most peeps use B-Powder
While Fudgy Girl will often times reduce her energy by 1/2....or if she is a real Rebel-Rebel, she'll omit the entire enrgy source alltogether.
Butter.....
What about it?
Well Cake Girl likes hers to be room temp, soft and pliable, where the Fudgy Girl simply melts it to create a complete fudge like texture.....
We could talk about nuts......
We could talk about whether we should add them or not.
We could also talk about whether we would roast those nuts or not. It certainly would enhance the flavor.
But wait, thats right....todays modern woman often times refuses to roast nuts because this process strips the nut of much of it nutritional value.
Anyways, it's nice to have a moment alone with you ladies, I'm going to leave now and turn the microphone over to you guys.
That way you can talk about your decadent comfort food, without any stupid boys around.
Have I mentioned that Klecko likes girls?
When they talk.....I love to listen to them.
When woman talk about brownies....I love to watch them.
Girlfriend Nation practically goes balistic at the mere thought of the word..........
"brownie".
I have known rich girls, poor girls, happy girl and yes....even a few sad girls, but if there was just one thing that God put on this planet to unite their souls.......
One common denominator that levels the entire feminine playing field........
It would have to be brownies.
Now the last thing I want to do is offend somebody and come across as sexist, but I'm just a guy who has baked for 30 years.
Over this time I'm sure I've met some guys who have "liked" brownies, but they simply don't worship them like my girlfriends do.
Maybe that's because brownies may be this single greatest thing to entice ladies.....
Excuse me my love.....what can I get you, diamonds, money or brownies?
The answer really could be any of the 3, but most Klecko girlfriends place brownies on the top of their priority pyramid.
So today, I pose to you....
What constitutes the "Perfect" brownie?
I could tell you the observations I have made, but I would be intrigued to hear it straight from your mouths.
The first question most people ask when broaching the great brownie debate......
"Fudgy or Cakey"?
I a "simple boy" prefer the cakey version.
Often times when you run across a brownie recipe, you can use it's generic meassurments and just do a little tweaking of your own.
The fudgey brownies have eggs, or a higher egg ratio, so when looking at your recipe, realize that you can alter your texture by the inclusion (or leaving out) of eggs.
Bake time is another big deal.
In almost every form of baking, the general rule of thumb to determine when a "cake" or "quickbread" type object is done, that we should insert a toothpick in the middle of the pan, and when we pull it out clean....the product is ready.
However....however....many of my female brownie zealots will pull their brownies while beads of cake still cling to the tooth pick.
Obviously one doesn't want their treat to be raw......but with a little practice you can learn to cut 3-5 minutes off your "standard" bake time to increase your goo factor.
Others will pull their brownies out of the oven when the toothpick pulls clean in the portion of the brownie that rests at the pans perimeter.
For cakey brownies, it is also smart to employ some kind of energy source. Most peeps use B-Powder
While Fudgy Girl will often times reduce her energy by 1/2....or if she is a real Rebel-Rebel, she'll omit the entire enrgy source alltogether.
Butter.....
What about it?
Well Cake Girl likes hers to be room temp, soft and pliable, where the Fudgy Girl simply melts it to create a complete fudge like texture.....
We could talk about nuts......
We could talk about whether we should add them or not.
We could also talk about whether we would roast those nuts or not. It certainly would enhance the flavor.
But wait, thats right....todays modern woman often times refuses to roast nuts because this process strips the nut of much of it nutritional value.
Anyways, it's nice to have a moment alone with you ladies, I'm going to leave now and turn the microphone over to you guys.
That way you can talk about your decadent comfort food, without any stupid boys around.
I figured you would prefer "cakey."
ReplyDeleteSigh.
Here is my recipe for fudgey brownies, which I perceive to be the best, although perception is a funny thing. It's from an old church cookbook from South Dakota.
HOMEWOOD BROWNIES
Makes about 3 dozen.
Note: This recipe is prepared entirely in a saucepan, so no mixer is needed -- just a little muscle.
• 1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 c. shortening, such as Crisco
• 3 squares (1 oz. each) unsweetened chocolate
• 11/2 c. flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 4 eggs
• 2 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 c. chopped walnuts, if desired
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter, shortening and chocolate in a pan over low heat. Remove from heat and cool slightly. While chocolate mixture is cooling, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
In another bowl, beat together the 4 eggs. Beating steadily and briskly, ideally with a whisk, add the eggs one-quarter cup at a time (or in four steps,) to the chocolate mixture, beating each time until well combined.
With a spoon or spatula, stir in sugar and vanilla, then add dry ingredients, mixing until well combined. Add walnuts, if desired (which I always do.)
Scrape batter into ungreased 9- by 13-inch pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool completely on wire rack before slicing.
Yeah for So-Dak Brownies
DeleteI prefer the fudgey ones, too. The recipe is "Supernatural Brownies" on the SplendidTable.org website.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, thanks Eric
Delete