Brownies to warm the soul

Yesterday it was -20 C.... it was cold today but a little warmer and there was some sun. We went out in the argo and marked dead or fallen trees to harvest for our wood supply. After putting the animals in the warm barn for the night and cleaning up after dinner, few things say comfort as much as warm brownies to look forward to with tea in the evening beside the fire.


Easy Brownies made with cocoa
Yield: 12-15 servings

Ingredients¾ cup butter
1+½ cup sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 deg

Line a 13 x 9 in (33 x 23 cm) cake tin with grease proof or other non-stick paper and grease the tin.
Melt the butter.
Beat eggs with sugar, and add vanilla, flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and melted butter.
Bake at 350 degrees until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 20-30 minutes.

Then it's time for the frosting. You can't have the brownies without the frosting. This is the quickest and most delish chocolate frosting recipe I've ever found. Be warned though, don't make it before the brownies are done because you will eat the entire bowl waiting for the brownies to bake. I'm not kidding, either, try it and see what happens.

Creamy chocolate frosting

Ingredients
2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk (it also turns out just as well with 2% milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa, and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.

Turns out everytime.

Now, it's time to get in my jammies, curl up by the fire with the dogs and Kevin and some warm brownies and watch a movie.

Happy eating!