"From her blood sprouted .......'chocolate' !!" (Double Chocolate Brownie-Cookies)

Once upon a time a prince went to battle to defend the borders of his father's kingdom against a hostile tribe. His wife, the princess was left to guard the kingdom's vast treasures.
The invaders were fierce--they defeated the princes' army and advanced on the capital city. Alarmed the princess hid the treasure. The barbarians took the city, captured the princess and ransacked the royal keep, seeking treasure.
Not finding it, they tortured the princess. Despite her prolonged suffering she did not reveal the hiding place of the treasure. Enraged they killed her.
But from her blood sprouted the cocoa plant and eversince that time people have known there is treasure hidden in its seeds, as rich and strong as love itself , but bitter as love torn/lost.

Hello dear friends, I'm back with everything that you love about this blog-- the history, the fables, the food, ....and yours' truly; thus making this humble place dearer and special.

Thank you so much for the overwhelming comments on the last post and all those wonderful wishes/comments. I know that they were truly heartfelt because I could feel the warmth when I read them.

All the love I get from my readers, followers, admirers, fills me up with immense joy and pride--thanks for being there...for sticking by me, my friends!

All's well at my end and I am dying to know whats abuzz at blogosphere.

Couldn't wait till 1st April to post this (wink wink). Can't stay away from you guys for long!

Will be off making courtesy calls to all of you now! :)

But not before I divulge the creative recipe of these indulgent Brownie-Cookies, I made for the birthday of a dear kid, of a friend.

Cookies and brownies in one! Could life get any better?!!

Note: This dough requires chilling the dough overnight, keep this in mind while planning your cookie baking.

Double Chocolate Brownie-Cookies

Ingredients-

3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup cocoa powder (not sweet chocolate powder)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup ground almonds/walnuts(if not using nuts, substitute with ap flour)
2 tsps baking powder
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Method-

In a mixing bowl combine flour, ground walnuts/almonds and baking powder.
Beat oil, sugar, and cocoa together in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs to oil and cocoa mixture one egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Mix in flour mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Knead the dough slightly, if required dust with a little flour for ease in kneading.

Wrap the dough in cling foil and chill overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheet.
Take the dough out 2 minutes before you intend to bake it.

In between two parchment paper/sheets, place the dough and roll out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Dust your cookie cutter with flour and cut out desired shapes.
Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes.

Cooking with Alicia & Annie--Chocolate Chip Fudge (Brownie)

Fudge brownies are my favourite dessert....(although I don't want to rule out the other options of ice-cream, chocolate, cakes, panna cottas,puddings et al), if possible I would dig in ..and keep digging in my 'huge' plate of fudge brownie with vanilla ice-cream...a match made in heaven!!

I had one this weekend (when my sugar craving had hit again). Its Thursday today and I wanted to taste the chewiness and warm fudginess, all over again. So I made one, this time in my microwave.

Ooey, gooey & chewy Chocolate Chip Fudge Brownies were calling my name!
Everyone loves a good old-fashioned brownie with a tall glass of cold milk. I am no different (except I can skip the milk) ;p. Chocolate Chip Fudge Brownies are so moist and chewy it is hard to resist just one...thats why I made a whole bowl...all for myself !

Here is my variation to the original recipe that I found at Annie's recipes.

Chocolate Chip Fudge Brownie

Ingredients-
1 cup broken squares of unsweetened chocolate
1 cup margarine
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup unbleached white flour
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Method-

Melt the broken unsweetened chocolate and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Do not burn. Remove from heat.
Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir in sugar until well mixed.
Add eggs, vanilla and salt and beat well with a fork.
Fold in flour and mix just until smooth. Add the semi sweet chocolate chips to the batter.
Pour into a microwave safe bowl.
Bake at medium high setting for 5 minutes.

Top with vanilla ice-cream and serve while still warm.

I offer this to Cooking with Alicia and Annie's Dec. blog event.

This also goes to JZ (of Tasty Treat) who is hosting her very first event-Santa's Holiday Challenge.

If you are a beginner in terms of baking, this is an easy one-bowl recipe that will surely fetch you appreciation. I send this to Vandana (Cooking Up Something Nice)'s Baking For Beginners' event.

Also, this goes out to Susan (of Food Blogga) for her Eat Christmas Cookies event. You can see a variety of other christmas goodies here.

On my friend, Purva's request I send this to her Christmas Feast Event...its here for you Purva!

"Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty."