There’s a page in my cookbook that’s tattered and torn, grease stained and smeared with chocolate. There are notes and exclamation marks in the margins, a few things crossed out here and there and some new additions penciled in. It’s the most worn out page in my “Best Recipes This Side of Heaven” Home-Tested Recipes from Anglican Church Ladies, cookbook. The cookbook itself is in poor condition. The pages are dog-eared and stained, the back cover is ripped in half, the front cover is worn, creased and faded and little sticky tabs pop out on every side. It was given to me by my husband’s aunt Mary in 1989, and reminds me fondly of her. For many years it was my most thumbed-through cookbook and as a new mom, helped me get a tasty, if not well-balanced meal on the table. Never underestimate the culinary power of a home-tested church-lady recipe. It can bring you fame, if only at your own kitchen table.
There must be a gazillion brownie recipes of various methods and ingredients and everyone seems to have their own personal favourite. Brownies are like perfume or cologne ~ you have to find the one that suits you. I’ve found one that suits me … perfectly. The surprising thing is, that it isn’t the one that’s all smeared and stained in my Anglican church ladies cookbook. It’s new.
But these brownies, are officially my new:
sit-on-the-counter –
I-love-you –
I-have-to-have-chocolate –
let-me-comfort-you –
the-world-is-a-wonderful-place –
brownies
Do you want to know a secret about this recipe? It’s been directly above the one I’ve been using for the last 25 years. Sitting there all the time.
The one I’d never tried and it took all these years to find.
And do you know what my kids said when I asked them how they compared to the ones I had made them for the last quarter century.
“Oh, yeah, these are way better!
There’s something about brownies that make everything better and these brownies are no exception. Fudgy, moist and full of satisfying chocolate flavour, they rival my oldest tried and true go-to-brownie recipe.
Wonderful Brownies
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
10 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
milk chocolate/semi-sweet chocolate chips or slivered almonds, optional, to sprinkle on top
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9″ x 13″ pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated. Pour into your prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with optional chocolate chips and/or nuts. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove pan to a rack to cool completely. Cut into squares and serve.
Source: Best Recipes This Side of Heaven, St. Andrew’s church lady in Sidney, B.C.
I’ll have to make these for my younger brother Jackie….he loves chocolate……thanks, Rosie
These look so moist and delicious. Your kids ‘hated’ the old yets yet still gobbled them down because the didn’t know the all-new brownies yet. Makes me laugh how kids go completely OTT with the word ‘hate’, lol.
Isn’t that the truth:) Thanks for visiting Lisa.
Your last photo in this post is fabulous! I enjoyed reading this so much and you are right, church cookbooks do have some of the best recipes. Laughed at your kids response to these *new* brownies. They do look like they are really moist and chewy and I’m always ready to try a new brownie recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Paula. I was outside on my front porch taking these photos and the wind was blowing. I thought for sure it was going to blow the whole table right over — which in fact it’s already done a few times this week:) I had to laugh at the kids response too.
Those brownies look perfect. So chocolatey and fudgey!!
Thank you! They were the best!
Wonderful brownies is right! They look rich moist and utterly fabulous 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Aww thanks Choc Cip Uru. Thanks for visiting!
It was awesome – I actully lost a lot of my subscriptions but am back now! Sorry bout that 😦
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
No worries – you are so sweet. I’m working on my VB post and it’ll be here next week. I hope you have a great weekend!
Stopping by as promised! I love brownies and these look so good. I am going to add them to my list of recipes to try!
Thank you! I’m so glad you got a chance to visit. I’m looking forward to sharing more recipees with my fellow Ontario blogger:).
They look yummy! mmn!
Thanks so much Kerry!
Mmmmmmm! Cannot wait to try your recipe!!!
Sounds great!!