Brownie Moments (Where were they Invented?)

CAN YOU GUESS WHERE AND HOW BROWNIES WERE INVENTED?

In 1870, Bertha Palmer married Potter Palmer a successful businessman and Chicago millionaire who owned a vast portfolio of properties. Mr. Palmer built Palmer House (a hotel) in 1871. In 1893 Bertha Palmer chaired the Board of Lady Managers for the World's Columbian Exposition. She asked her hotel pastry chef to create a new dessert that would be easy to box and transport to the World's Columbian Exposition and he came up with a unique recipe. The new invention wasn't called brownie but its introduction in Chicago made it famous. Today the Palmer House makes their popular brownies using the same recipe from 1893 and it can be enjoyed at the restaurant Lockwood Express in Palmer House or in a to-go box tied with a ribbon.  

It's winter where I live and and there's an abundance of snow and frigid temperatures. Hard to resist some comfort food, including desserts. I usually make everything from scratch but a friend recently gave me a box of brownie mix. I misplaced that brownie mix box but this morning found it...Hooray!!!!

Sometimes, some comfort food can be just what you need, so don't feel guilty indulging in something tasty. Yesterday, at a ski resort they were selling brownies for four dollars each and the day before that I saw package brownies at six dollars each at a local market. WOW...I can make a whole pan of brownies for that money.

Take some moments out of your schedule to make some brownies. Here's a recipe for brownies I make from scratch. Here's to some brownie moments.

Brownie Recipe:

2 eggs and a 1/2 cup water

a cup of powdered sugar

a cup of flour

a cup of good quality unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup of olive oil (add more if the batter needs more moisture)

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

1 cup of chocolate chips

pinch of salt

a handful of nuts and chocolate chips on top (optional)

Mix together the dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls. Sugar, cocoa, flour, salt, and chocolate chips in the smaller dry bowl and eggs, oil, and water in a larger bowl. Next combine all the ingredients together and pour the batter into an 8 x 8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Spread the batter with a rubber spatula on all four sides of the pan.

Bake the pan in 325 degree oven for about 40 minutes. Check the batter with a toothpick to see if it is thoroughly baked. Allow the brownies to cool completely before serving.