B is for Brakes and Brownies

Do you name your car? I never did until my current car, her name is ice skate, in case you were wondering. Why ice skate you ask? Well she's got all wheel drive (since it's snowy half the year here). And the first time I drove her in the snow she did a fun little maneuver where I found myself traveling down the road sideways, thankfully I pulled out of it... but yeah she was riding more like an ice skate than an all wheel drive car... I soon figured out the issue, it wasn't ice skates fault, it was her shoes... she had high heels on and needed her winter boots. So a set of snow tires later and she's been doing just fine ever since :)

Ice skate is getting a little old, she'll be 10 at the end of the year, and I plan on driving her for as long as possible... although as the mechanic bills add up... it gets a little frustrating. She went in for and oil change last week and with a list of a few weird issues I'd been having... new brakes/rotors & a battery later I was all set ... until the check engine light went off 2 days later... I was not too pleased. The guys took care of her and cut me some slack on the labor/diagnostic charges, so I had to thank them in someway... you guessed it, baked goods!

When I dropped these off at the garage Brad and Wally were all smiles, thanks again guys!! I hope they enjoyed them... little did they know they contained some whole wheat flour and the recipe came from cooking light... although if you look at the ingredient list... they really aren't that light, 1 1/3 cups of sugar?? I followed the recipe except for a few things... Kahlua anyone?? They came out super chewy and moist with an amazingly crisp thin layer on top... mmmmm


Fudgy Mocha-Toffee Brownies (with Kahlua!)
recipe by Cooking Light, slightly adapted by me

• Cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules (I used 1/4 strong brewed senseo coffee)
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (plus 2 Tbs dark chocolate chips)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used 1/2 whole wheat 1/3 AP flour)
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (I only had 1/4 cup in the house... hence the addition of extra chocolate chips above)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (I used less)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• glug or 2 Kahlua :) (my addition)
• 1/4 cup toffee chips

Preheat oven to 350°.

Coat bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.

Combine coffee granules and 1/4 cup hot water, stirring until the coffee granules dissolve.

Combine butter and semisweet chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH for 1 minute or until butter melts; stir until chocolate is smooth.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine coffee mixture, butter mixture, vanilla extract, (Kahlua if using) and eggs in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add coffee mixture to flour mixture; stir just until combined. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle evenly with toffee chips. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes (mine took about 35 minutes). Cool on a wire rack.

PS: this leaves your house smelling so amazingly intoxicating... YUM!!!