Like many families, mine is spread across the country. Several times over the years, there have been emails and phone calls asking if someone had a copy of a recipe. As a result, I decided that I needed to place all of them in a cookbook. After sending a request out to my family asking for their favorite recipes, I did get a few back without having to beg.
The question I next faced was who should get a copy of the cookbook? Should only the ones who sent me a recipe get the book or should everyone benefit from the few who sent me recipes? I do not want hurt my sisters’ feelings if she was not able to send a recipe. I also had to consider friends who had given me recipes over the years. Do I leave them out because they are not family by law or blood but by absorption? My extended family is just as large as my family, since my husband served our country proudly for twenty years.
The debating back and forth, gave me an excuse for not starting the book. Recently my Aunt Jackie and Uncle Bill came for a weekend visit and I had forgotten to get a cake recipe my aunt, so I posted a note on her Facebook page asking for the recipe. One of my dearest friends, Cheryl, asked for the recipe without even knowing about what was in the cake! A week later after a trying week of working on the family tree, my adopted Uncle Doug, stated I needed a hobby. I need another hobby as much as I need another hole in my head! However, I let the ideas start to fester and grow, and then decided why I should just limit myself to family or friends. So like many others, I have decided to take the plunge into the world of blogging. I thought I would start with my Death by Chocolate Brownies with Kahula Whipped Cream.
Death by Chocolate Brownies with Kahlua Whipped Cream
Brownie Ingredients:
1 box if Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate brownie mix
1 box of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate brownie mix
1 large box (6 oz) of Jello Brand Chocolate pudding
2 large eggs
1 cup of whole unsalted butter, melted
½ cup heavy whipping cream
¼ cup of Hershey’s chocolate syrup.
Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare a glass 9” X 13” baking dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray like Pam or grease with butter.
In mix bowl, stir brownie mixes and pudding together. Add eggs, melted butter, chocolate syrup and whipping cream until thoroughly blended. Mixture will be thick like chocolate frosting.
Spread evenly in to pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before serving.
I serve brownies topped with Kahlua whipped cream, chocolate syrup and dusted with Hershey’s Coco powder.
Whipped Cream Recipe
Ingredients:
½ cup whipping cream
3 Tablespoons Kahlua Liqueur
2 Tablespoons white sugar.
Place all ingredients in a cold or chilled bowl; I prefer a metal mixing bowl for this. Beat with a hand mixer on high for one minute or until the mixture is stiff and fluffy.
Serve immediately, can be stored for one week in refrigerator.
