National Brownie Day?

I got an email from Greyston Bakery yesterday letting me know that today, December 8th, is National Brownie Day.  Who knew?  I am a huge fan of the brownies at Greyston but also their mission.  All brownie profits go to supporting jobs, child care, health care and housing for the underprivileged.  They also hire a fair amount of people in need which changes their lives.

So today, I was inspired to make brownies to celebrate.  This recipe came from the Ad Hoc cookbook, my fave of the moment.  

3/4 cup flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
3 sticks unsalted butter cut into pieces
3 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
powder sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350.  Use a 9 inch square pan, put parchment in the bottom and grease really well.

Sift together the flour, cocoa and salt and then set aside.

Melt 1 1/2 sticks butter on a very low heat.  In another bowl, put the rest of the butter chopped up.  Once the butter is melted, pour it over the chopped up butter.  This will melt the other butter.  Stir.  It should get creamy and will still have some un-melted butter which is fine and it will get thick.

Beat together the 3 eggs and sugar for about 3 minutes or until very pale and thick.  Add the vanilla, mix again.  Now put in 1/3 of the dry ingredients, mix, then 1/3 of the butter mixture and then mix.  Continue doing this until everything is totally incorporated.

Once this is done, stir in the chocolate chips.  Pour this thick batter into the 9 inch square pan, spread evenly and bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Let this cool until almost room temperature.  Cut into 12 pieces and dust with powdered sugar (use a thin mesh strainer to dust – makes life easier).  Then celebrate National Brownie Day.

Here are some fun facts that Greyston sent about brownies.

 

1.    
The
first brownie, like other culinary mishaps (the sandwich, pizza, potato chip)
was a mistake. The baker didn’t have baking powder and ended up with an
unleavened fudgy treat.

 

2.    
Arguably
the first brownie recipe was found in the Sears, Roebuck Catalogue in
1800’s.  Sear’s last general
merchandise catalogue ceased publication in 1993.

 

3.    
 The world’s largest brownie was made in
2001, weighed in at 3,000 lbs. and was made from 750 lbs. of chocolate chips,
500 lbs. of butter, 850 lbs of sugar, 500 lbs. of flour and 3,500 eggs.

 

4.    
The
first brownie ever created did not have any chocolate in it, instead it was
sweetened with molasses and eventually became known as a blondie.

 

5.    
The
brownies origin is American. However, similar bar cookies and squares can be
found internationally, including baklava from the Middle East, nanaimo bars from Canada and tray bakes from the UK.

 

6.    
There
are two types of brownies: fudgy and cake-like.  According to Greyston Bakery research, fudgy tops the
preference list of most consumers.

 

7.    
 Although its origin may be shrouded in
mystery, its name is not, which is clearly derived from its brown color.

 

8.    
 According to Wikipedia, Brownie points
in modern (21st century) usage are a hypothetical social currency, which can be
accrued by doing good deeds or earning favor in the eyes of another, often
one's superior. The origin of the term is unclear.

 

9.    
Although
cannabis is the most controversial brownie mix-in, walnut remains the most
popular and legal.