Brownies/Blondies

HI! :)
I haven't posted on here yet and thought what better way to introduce myself to the group than sharing the main dish that I can make... Brownies!!


My name's Kate and I live in Kamille's same apartment complex.  My husband and I have been married for a year and a half and have a pretty little girl who's 6 months old.  There's not much more I can say about me, but I love photography, making crafts, and spend a lot of my time as a stay at home mommy learning new things.  My latest favorite is crochet and am still learning a lot about it!


Well, here's my recipe - it's an old family favorite that my mom taught me and until about a year ago, this was the only thing I could really cook :)


Brownies - Mom Smith
Servings: 12
This recipe can also be halved and baked in a 9X9 inch pan or a 9X13 pan with half the thickness.  In that case, use just 1 egg.


1 cup margarine, melted
2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons Hershey's cocoa, heaping
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder


Melt margarine in a large saucepan, then remove from heat.  Add sugar and cocoa (make sure they're heaping tablespoons!) Mix well, then add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well in between to avoid getting portions of cooked, unincorporated egg in your batter.  Beat in vanilla.  Sift together all dry ingredients, then add to the batter.  Mix well, pour into a 9X13 pan.
Lick the spoon and scrape out the bowl while you wait for the brownies to cook in a preheated 350 degree oven!  Brownies are done when a knife inserted in the middle comes out just a little bit gooey.



**Side note:  While serving my mission, I made this recipe into a personal size microwave-able recipe because I didn't have an oven.  It turns out great and only takes a few mins.


1/4 cup margarine, melted in a mug
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
pinch of salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder


Microwave approximately 1 1/2 to 2 minutes - always watching.  It comes out more gooey than the baked version - but still tasty enough to fulfill a quick chocolate craving!



For what my family calls Blondies (aka White Brownies or "Sunnies" as my mom calls them) simply omit the Hershey's cocoa from the recipe and combine and bake as before mentioned.  They are a delicious option for when you're either out of cocoa or not craving chocolate!


Hope you enjoy!
-Kate