“She doesn’t want to fight. She’d rather write poetry, make brownies, drink herbal tea and watch the clouds roll by. None of the dragons she knows breathes fire, so she doesn’t, either.”
Christina Day
Milk chocolate brownies! I have never considered baking with milk chocolate, never turned to the Google Gods for milk chocolate recipes. It’s just something that isn’t me. In my mind, maybe for some silly reason, milk chocolate is sweet & un-chocolaty, and good for young kids alone! A through and through dark chocolate {read bitter dark} person, I often steer clear of white chocolate as well! Yet, the recipe caught my eye while leafing through Kathleen Kings fresh new baking book ‘Baking for Friends‘ {more about the book on the Chocolate-Pear Tea Cake}. It was reassuring to read I am not alone in my dark chocolate leanings. Kathleen writes, “You can probably tell from my recipes that I’m a dark chocolate fan. I don’t bake with milk chocolate often, but each time I do, I am pleasantly surprised how delicious it is.” I don’t sport much of a sweet tooth but a little nibble confirmed the chocolaty goodness. The kids loved them … fudgy, chocolaty, moist milk chocolate brownies! The past few days have been T I R I N G ! Playing chauffeur to the kids is tiring. Out at day break day before at some unearthly hour to pick up the daughter who had slept over at a friends’ after a late Enrique concert. Back home, daily chores, drove her to art class, then dropped junior for a Dussehra mela {festive fair}. Out again past 9pm to first pick up junior & his friend, then pick up the daughter, drop friend home … just as well that I enjoy driving! Every days seems the same ….
All this while the hub is in HKG for almost a month so my work seems cut out for me. What keeps me going? Much!! The cocker who flings herself at me every morning like she hasn’t seen me in years, that she melts into submission at meal times, ears ‘clipped‘ back and ready to do anything for food {a home cooked meal!}, that she can chew on a blade of dried lemon grass for hours and enjoy it so much!
… that 3 times this week a butterfly has bounced off the windscreen while I was driving, that the ever charming junior hasn’t got into a spot of trouble at school for one whole week {yes, an achievement}, that the senior teen made stunning lantern invites for the drama fest at school…{began from plain white rolls of paper and made 30 of these; never mind that she spray painted the house in the bargain},
… that butterflies are all over the garden, that my lime tree of many years has finally bloomed a single bud, that the tangerine shrub is laden with fruit, that 3 cherry tomato plants are growing strong, the Thai chili plant is prospering, that I have finally begun walking almost every morning finally thanks to inspiration from friends… … that every time I sit down to be with junior teen in front of the telly, he thinks it’s to watch Julie & Julia. Runs it for me for the 100th time, then keeps checking me out to see if I am enjoying it. He’s also trying really HARD to stop biting his nails as I have asked for ‘un-bitten nails‘ as a birthday present next month!
… I am touched that a reader of my blog mailed me passion fruit all the way from South India. The rustic appeal and colour made my heart skip a beat! Thank you Twinsey Rachel. I am humbled that you still remembered our conversation of over 2 years ago! Reading snippets from updates on the moving sidebar on facebook I am beginning to count the blessing. Simplify life is the call!
It’s the little things that matter and I’m striving to make each day better! I am honoured to be part of a curry testing project with Alex from Denmark, and another that is based in the US. Both involve what I love most – food! That the blog is being fed a little more regularly is also a happy feeling!
I am ever grateful that the good folk at Tate’s Bake Shop considered it worthwhile to mail me a copy of Kathleen Kings new baking book, Baking for Friends, even though I live halfway across the globe! I reviewed it on the Chocolate-Pear Tea Bread, and now it’s time to share some more goodness. Seems to be chocolate all the way, and this time was a surprise – Milk Chocolate Brownies!!
[print_this]Recipe: Milk chocolate brownies {one bowl}
Summary: You got to believe in the deliciousness of milk chocolate when you nibble these fudgy, chocolaty, moist milk chocolate brownies! Adapted very minimally from Baking for Friends, Kathleen King.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- 100g / 1/2 cup unsalted butter, soft
- 250g / 9oz milk chocolate, finely chopped
- 90g / scant 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1tsp pure vanilla extract
- 90g / 3/4 cup plain flour
- 10g / 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- pinch salt
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 9″ square tin with parchment.
- Melt butter gently in a microwave safe bowl {or in a saucepan over low heat}, add the finely chopped chocolate and let it stand for a minute. Stir well, then leave to cool slightly.
- Add the sugar, eggs and vanilla and whisk briskly until mixed well. Add the flour, cocoa and salt and stir until smooth. Spread evenly into prepared tin.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out with moist crumbs. Leave tin on cooling rack to cool completely.
- Remove gently from pan and cut into 16 squares.
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