SUPER (bowl) Amazing Brownies

As far as Super Bowl parties go, it's going to be hard to top the lusciousness of Jan's Brie en Croute from yesterday. But it could use a good accompaniment. Something chocolaty. Ooey, gooey chocolaty, at that. Make it finger food and that's even better.

You know, I've made a lot of brownies in my years, some from mixes, some from scratch, but this recipe I got from my SIL is one for the record books. Not to mention the taste buds.

For these brownies you will need:

• 1 1/3 c all purpose flour
• 2 c sugar
• 3/4 c baking cocoa
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4-1/2 tsp ground chipotle chili pepper or smoky chili powder
• 1/2 c chopped nuts (optional)
• 1/3 c cooking oil
• 1/3 c melted butter, cooled
• 4 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together your dry ingredients.

Including those secret ingredients that are going to turn these yummy brownies into amazing brownies.

Now, as always, I feel the need to instruct you that just because these have chili powder in them does not mean they will be hot. Well, unless you eat them right out of the oven, in which case you will have blisters on the roof of your mouth. And we all know that is not fun. These brownies will have more depth of flavor, but they will NOT be hot.

Combine your oil, butter, eggs and vanilla and add to dry ingredients. You do not want to over-mix this and you do now want to use a whisk. Go for the wooden spoon.

Your batter will be thick.

Spread into a greased 9 x 13 pan.

(Yes, you may lick the spatula)

And bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. If you like your brownies a little on the gooey side (maybe with a scoop of ice cream :), you'll want to go for the shorter baking time. 

The longer they bake, the cakier they will become.

Cool on rack (Like that's going to happen) before cutting.

I let mine bake a little longer because last time they were too gooey. And I also omitted the nuts because I wanted my boys to eat these so I wouldn't. They may be nuts, but they don't like nuts.

So is everyone keeping warm across the country. Ruthy, you chillin' in upstate? Jan, I see you're in the deep freeze, too. Any snow worth mentioning?

We're up and down in Texas. Typical. I won't be putting my heavy coat away just yet. And can you believe they got ice in Houston? Susanna can attest to that. That is a very rare event for Houstonians, so you know they were slip-sliding like crazy.

Has anyone else noticed the tone of the national newscasts regarding the weather? To me, there always seems to be this undercurrent of, "How dare it turn cold again," or "Can you believe we're getting more snow?" Did someone forget to tell these people it's winter?

I'm not complaining about the weather, though. I like it cold. Of course, we're not at minus 20 either. Still, y'all will be the ones who are nice and comfortable come July and August when we're sweltering in 100+ temps. And baking anything will be the last thing on my mind.