Thursday, January 31, 2019

Coooold, Chocolate.

I am grandmother to dragons!!
I have never known it so cold. We cannot get our apartment above about 69°F. We went out to lunch and getting into the restaurant was bad, but we survived it and had an enjoyable lunch. Matt got his birthday celebration (although his birthday isn't until the 4th) and everything was good. Cold getting back to the car but it didn't take long to warm up again. We then went to get the shopping, underground parking and you don't have to get out of the car, then we went to the liquor store. Bad getting in there, but coming out the wind decided to blow extra hard and it was a totally arctic blast. Unloaded in the underground garage and I didn't realise just how cold Matt had got. He was shaking with cold. I heated him up some warming pads and covered him with a blanket and eventually he warmed up. I was cold, but not that bad. I therefore decided we would not venture out again until this cold passed. Supposedly after Friday. I must admit, right now, I am shivering as I am typing. We have had the stove on all evening and it still didn't get more than 69°F. The wind chill has been giving temps of -31°C  that is about -23.8°F.

If you are dieting, here is something to stop you eating chocolate According to ABC News, the average chocolate bar contains eight insect parts. Anything less than 60 insect pieces per 100 grams of chocolate (two chocolate bars' worth) is deemed safe for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration. If you are wondering why I looked this up, I found live bugs crawling around my Hershey's Kisses which had been there since before I went into hospital in October. I am not too sure I am going to be eating chocolate any more although I guess it hasn't killed  me in 80 years. Mind you I threw out the old Hershey's and replaced with new before I read this. Funny, I didn't have any chocolate all evening. And here I have posted a chocolate recipe.

Feeling decadent? If you can resist these, you are "a better man than I am Gunga Din."

Triple Chocolate Coffee Brownies

Ever wonder how to get all your vices in one bite? We’ve got the answer, these fudgy and fantastic
Triple Chocolate Coffee Brownies. Yes, it’s mocha madness with these moist brownies chock full of brewed coffee, the trinity of chocolate (milk, semi-sweet and white chocolate) and chunks of chopped Oreo cookies. If that doesn’t sell you on these blissful brownies, consider that they’re topped with a creamy coffee frosting!

1 ½ cups butter, melted
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups brown sugar
4 eggs
¼ cup coffee, cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
1 cup cocoa powder, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp kosher salt
1 cup chopped Oreo cookies
1 cup chopped milk chocolate
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup white chocolate chips
Coffee Frosting
¼ cup butter, softened
2 cups icing sugar
2 Tbs strong brewed coffee, cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. For the brownies, preheat oven to 325ºF. Coat a 13×9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, sugar and brown sugar until combined. Add eggs, coffee and vanilla extract and continue to whisk until smooth. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, Oreo cookies, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate and white chocolate, stirring just until flour has disappeared. Spread into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Once cool, refrigerate for 2 hours before frosting.

3. For the coffee frosting, using an electric mixer, cream butter and icing sugar on low to combine. Add coffee and vanilla extract and continue to mix on medium speed until reaches a smooth and desired spreading consistency.

4. Spread frosting on cooled brownies.

Servings: 25

Source: Zoomer Magazine


Have a great day
 

12 comments:

  1. I wore yoga pants to the gym that left my ankles bare. I stopped at the store and while loading my groceries in the trunk, the wind started up and I thought I was going to get frost bit! Our house is also drafty. I'm typing with an extra sweater and a blanket wrapped around my legs.

    You'd think the bugs would stop me from going for chocolate, but it doesn't. I'm that much of an addict. And I never worry about my chocolate breaking out into bugs. I store mine in the freezer and eat it frozen.

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    1. My face was the only thing bare Liz, but when the wind blew, it felt in pain. They are warning about frostbite all the time. It only takes 5 minutes outside for it to start.

      I suspect I will still eat chocolate too. It's only bits of bugs, not live bugs.

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  2. Hi Jo - I'm glad you were able to get out and do the things you needed to get done and Matt had his birthday lunch ... the weather does sound horrible ... so hope all is well now - I guess layer up and drink lots of warm teas and coffees. Love brownies ... but rarely eat them and certainly don't make them now ... take care with your weather - all the best - Hilary

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    1. It is horrible Hilary, it's even worse this morning. I have the stove on. The apartment is 62°C this morning, hope the stove pushes it up some.

      I drink coffee all the time, but Matt hardly drinks anything at all unless it is cold water or G & T.

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  3. It is minus 6 F right now. Wind chill is 38 below zero. Everything here is closed. An explosion at a gas transmission facility yesterday has prompted a state emergency and everyone is asked to set their thermostat at 65F. I keep mine at 66 F during the day and 62 at night so I am staying pat. I'll be stuck inside all day today as the high is expected to be 2 F. As for all those idiots who are complaining about closing schools, I did not see one person on my street yesterday. No mail, no deliveries, nothing.

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    1. -23°C this morning Denise, wind chill -33°C. It's cold. Had trouble getting warm in bed last night too. It's supposed to warm up on Saturday. We had mail delivery.

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  4. That is damned cold. We were about twenty degrees this morning, which seems warm compared to your area. Definitely don't go out again.
    Consider the bug parts extra protein.

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    1. You are right Alex, it is. See above for this morning's temps.

      Never thought of that, mind you there are many peoples that eat bugs anyway aren't there. Fried crickets are supposed to be delicious and crunchy

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  5. Those are crazy temperatures - stay in and stay warm Jo. We've only had a little bit of snow and everyone is welcoming the cold to clear some of the never ending bugs (not live ones! ew... I don't eat much chocolate any more and have never liked chocolate in cakes, but that would put me otff it for good) but my goodness I couldn't even contemplate what you are all getting. Take care. Fil

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    1. They are Fil, but it isn't particularly warm indoors, the heating system just can't cope with the weather. We are dressed for the outside whilst inside. I think I will still be eating chocolate.

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  6. We're cold too, but not that cold! Glad you were able to get out and about, and I agree about staying in till it's a bit warmer, if you can. About the insect parts, it's like that for ANY processed food Jo! Chocolate, flours, sugars, anything processed. One reason insect protein advocates say the only way to get folks to eat bugs is to grind them up!

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    1. Just seen shots of a weather guy up to his knees in snow and it is still falling. I guess I did know about insect parts Lisa, just basically don't want reminding. Lots of cultures eat bugs anyway.

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