Brownie Points

For just a few years back in the 1860's, Mexico was ruled by France in the form of Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota. This envoy brought along to the New World many royal bakers who cranked out batons and baguettes for their lieges' elegant tables. And as is so often the case, the whole country wanted to be Frawnch and so they, too, learned the art of bread baking from the interlopers trend setters. However, the Gallic entourage only managed to hold on to their rule for seven years or so and thus failed to get to the chocolate lessons. And alas, Mexico, the land where cacao originates, was left without a lot of good recipes.

Enter the Queen some 130 years later. In class one day, probably trying to distract me from matters at hand, one of my students wondered aloud, but in English, whether I knew how to make this really good thing she'd tried in the states, those "browns" you know. "Brownies? Chocolate square thingies?" " Si!! Brownies" "Oh, mais oui, I do indeed". And a new career for the Queen was born.

Every weeknight for the rest of my years living Mexico, I made a huge commercial-size pan of brownies and often another huge pan of something else American - blondies, cheesecake, oatmeal cookies, magic squares, cupcakes - to sell to the delectable-goody-deprived children of upper class Cancun. 

This morning I'm baking up a batch of brownies for my goody-deprived grandson, who went out on his own earlier this year with little culinary knowledge  save for how make Frawnch Toast and Spaghetti Sauce. I am using the simple recipe that earned me many pesos back in the day and is, to my mind the easiest, and best, typical brownie recipe.

You'll have everything you'll need for these in your cupboard. Even if you don't have unsweetened chocolate squares you can substitute 3Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 Tbsp. butter for each square. It all gets melted together anyway so, really, there is no difference at all.

Eggs, butter, flour - what could be simpler? 

A little batter in your java?

Don't beat things too much - you just want to get a nice melange/mescla.

I explained to my Mexican students that the truly best part of American home-baking was licking the bowl and beaters - raw eggs be darned. That was a little much for them to take in but you guys know what I'm talking about.

Those little brown square thingies. Oh, My, Dios!!

And that's how brownies got introduced South of the Border. I still get sweet messages from my now-grown-up students filled with love and good memories but always with dreamy recollections of the baked goods I provided them. Quite the legacy, I guess.

Buen provecho/ bon apetit/have at 'em.

 

Comments

[Lottie]

Gorgeous - yummy - brilliant

[sherry goodloe]

Thanks for the recipe Vallen :) However, a couple of those little squares would be good right NOW with my 3rd cup of coffee *hee hee*

[Sasha]

Thank you, THANK YOU for posting this! I am beside myself. I actually think this one will work and I will let you know!

xoxo
Sasha

[AA]

I love brownies! I hate to admit that I use a box-- I have used some that are good and some that are not so good. I may have to actually try your recipe. Looks great.

[Darla]

Brownies? Oh yum. And is that a little hint over there that we could put some hot peppers in our next batch? Sure! Why not?

A pan for me, a pan for you, and a thermous of coffee - we'd be ready for a road trip.

Darla

[Thimbleanna]

Yum! Who doesn't love brownies??? Especially with walnuts!!!

[g]

Oh, yum! And I';m glad you mentioned blondies - I love those even more than I love brownies. maybe I'll make some tonight.

[Tina]

What a great story! I think I'll go fish out the microwave "mug brownie" recipe I have and treat myself right now!

Have you tried those chocolate squares from Trader Joe's that have pepper in them?

[Karen Junking in Georgia]

when I can stand up and cook again I am going to make these... talk about international exchange or good will combined with tasting good.. world class yum!

[Wendy]

Oh yeah, Brownie Love is a good thing! My daughter made brownies just yesterday - what a nice thing to come home to -

[mrs. g.]

Lucky, lucky boy.

[Tina]

I'm making these right now for my daughter to take out tonight. I think the butter makes them yummy.

[Rosa]

Merci! My brownies hardly ever make it out of the pan. The boys just pull them right out and eat them hot. Boys--right? Yours are perfectly cut. Would I expect any different from Mademoiselle Q? I think not. Oh, and btw, I think you dripped the batter on your coffee mug on purpose. ;-P