Brownies

This one needs to evolve some, it needs to be chewier, but its a start.

1/2 cup butter
3 oz unsweetened baking chocolate*
1 oz semi-sweet baking chocolate*
1.25 cups sugar
1/2 cup walnuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp dark rum (optional)
3 eggs
1.25 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375. Grease bottom of 8 inch square pan.

Melt both chocolates with butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly and watch scorching. Heat until smooth. Remove from heat.

Stir in sugar. Add eggs. Mix in flour, salt, vanilla, rum and nuts. Stir until just combined.

Spread mixture into pan.**

Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until they shrink back from edges of pan. Cool before cutting.

Recipe can be doubled by putting twice the ingredients in a 13x9 pan and baking for 35-40.

*When I tried this one I didn't have the exact combo of chocolate they asked for. My improvisation of chocolate chips and chocolate powder worked fine.

**When I did it I sprinkled some extra chocolate chips on the top. I think it would also be good with Hershey's Syrup swirled in.

Blackberry Crumb Cake

(Recipe adapted from Real Simple. Photo by me.)

Hands on time: 20 mins.
Total time: 2 hrs 20 mins (includes cooling).
Serves 4.

Crumb Topping
1/2 cup pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup flour
2 tbs cold butter

Cake
1/2 cup cold butter
2 cups flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pound fresh blackberries (~3.5 cups)

Heat oven to 350.

Make crumb topping. In a food processor, pulse nuts, brown sugar, flour and butter until crumbly. Set aside.

Make the cake. Butter an 8 inch square baking pan. In food processor, pulse the butter, flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon until crumbly. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.

Transfer the cake batter to the pan. Sprinkle with blackberries and crumb topping. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 55-60 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.