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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!!!

25 chews:

MaryBe said...

OMG at those brownies!! I am pretty sure my husband would change your oil for free, for a batch of those! Heck, I would do it myself!
Ha loved your 'measurement' of the kahlua!
Love the description of your car, and the name! But you are being pretty optimistic about the snow 6 months a year (do I hear 7? 8? LOL)
Our car has a name too. We only drive it in the summers, up to our cottage, so we call it the A-Bay Cruiser (short for Alexandria Bay)

Unknown said...

Wow I'm more tired than I thought. Definitely read the flour and sugar as eleven halves and eleven thirds cups, respectively. My first thought was "who the hell writes it like that??" My second thought was "who the hell READS it like that! Silly Val."

These look delicious though (:

Anne said...

Ooh those brownies look delicious! I'm sure the guys loved them. That was nice that they gave you a little discount.

I don't have a car (yet!), but I named my pretty baby blue bike Ella. I'll be getting a car before school starts next semester, so we'll see if I can find a good name for it! Ice Skate is such a cute name :D

stephchows said...

MaryBe- thanks for the new vacation spot idea! And you are welcome to change my oil any time you like and I"ll bake you whatever you want in return!!!

Val- good thing it's friday! LOL :)

Anne- I love the name Ella! And I'm sure you'll come up with a fun name once you get a car :)

Pearl said...

oh my gosh - what a sweet, thoughtful way to show your gratitude! i bet those guys were incredibly surprised and flattered!

Anonymous said...

Yum, the brownies sound amazing with Kahlua! Great addition! We name our cars all girl names (at least since our daughter was born) - we have Nina and Teresa :) My Teresa is getting old too.

Reeni said...

I've never named my car!! I'll have to think of one. These brownies look so scrumptious!!! Love the kahlua!!

Anonymous said...

*gasp*! these look SCRUMPTIOUS! i love kahlua...and love that you used WW flour too. these are going on my to-make list... :)

Yes of course to Kahlua. Never to be refused. The female half of this Duo names everything from her car (Sunny) to her phone (Barry) to her now dead computer (Huey) to the one stuffed animal that still sits on her bed (Mr. Cheeks). Nothing goes without an identity!

Sarah Glova said...

yum, yum yummmm that sounds so good :)

I have an older car as well, and the monthly fix-up costs definitely add up. Maybe I'd be more optimistic about it if I named my car something fun! ...or maybe I should just make brownies :)

Sara said...

This recipe has been on my "to-try" list for ages! I'm glad it came out well for you, I need to make it sooner rather than later.

great brownies, love em, cute that you name your car, mine is called sahara he he

Steph said...

I'm not generally a fan of brownies because of thought of equal ratio of flour:sugar:butter usually grosses me out a little, but this recipe looks like something I could eat without feeling icky. I've never made a real brownie before. They are nice to look at, but seriously.. the though of eating tablespoons of butter in just one serving is a little scary. Have you ever tried CI's light fudgy brownies? I really like that recipe.

Justin said...

the recipe title alone sounds amazing. the kahlua is a nice touch.

Marta said...

Steph! Hhahaha I'm actually on the search for the perfect brownie recipe! I've been baking one or two batches a week for the last month (yeah, tons of brownies!), so I'll give these a try!! Thanks Steph!

Claudia said...

My husband would definitely fix your car for those brownies. I love the Kahlua addition - errr... how much was it? I don't name my cars (sob) but I did get very fond of a truck and shed a tear when he left...and that's a whole other story. Back to the brownies: delicious!

stephchows said...

Thanks Pearl!

5 star foodie and Renni- The Kahlua seriously made these things!

happy tummy - awesome name! I've got to add WW flour into everything if not 100% :)

Duo Dishes- That's awesome that she names everything I love it!! LOL

Sarah- Totally there with you with the older car!

Sara- Happy to inspire!! I hope you make them soon! SO GOOD!

Chow and Chatter- That's a totally cute cara name :)

Steph- 100% there with you on the butter front! I try to eliminate the butter from most of my recipes but since these were headed to a bunch of mechanics and it wasn't an outrageous amount I kept it in. Next time I may sub out the butter with prune puree!

Justin- glad it sparked your interest :)

Marta- Seriously?? That's a ton of brownies! Can't wait to see who the winner is out of them all!!

Claudia- You have a deal! haha, any change you guys live near rochester ny? :)

gaga said...

Yum, yum, YUM! Toffee, coffee and kahlua all added to something I already love?!?!?! *drool*

Emily said...

Yum! These brownies look awesome. I'm a big fan of Cooking Light.

I love treats that make the house smell delicious.

Stacey said...

Wow, mocha-toffee!?!? Yum!!

Justin said...

the recipe title alone sounds amazing. the kahlua is a nice touch.

great brownies, love em, cute that you name your car, mine is called sahara he he

stephchows said...

Thanks Pearl!

5 star foodie and Renni- The Kahlua seriously made these things!

happy tummy - awesome name! I've got to add WW flour into everything if not 100% :)

Duo Dishes- That's awesome that she names everything I love it!! LOL

Sarah- Totally there with you with the older car!

Sara- Happy to inspire!! I hope you make them soon! SO GOOD!

Chow and Chatter- That's a totally cute cara name :)

Steph- 100% there with you on the butter front! I try to eliminate the butter from most of my recipes but since these were headed to a bunch of mechanics and it wasn't an outrageous amount I kept it in. Next time I may sub out the butter with prune puree!

Justin- glad it sparked your interest :)

Marta- Seriously?? That's a ton of brownies! Can't wait to see who the winner is out of them all!!

Claudia- You have a deal! haha, any change you guys live near rochester ny? :)

yum, yum yummmm that sounds so good :)

I have an older car as well, and the monthly fix-up costs definitely add up. Maybe I'd be more optimistic about it if I named my car something fun! ...or maybe I should just make brownies :)

Steph said...

I'm not generally a fan of brownies because of thought of equal ratio of flour:sugar:butter usually grosses me out a little, but this recipe looks like something I could eat without feeling icky. I've never made a real brownie before. They are nice to look at, but seriously.. the though of eating tablespoons of butter in just one serving is a little scary. Have you ever tried CI's light fudgy brownies? I really like that recipe.

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