These Times Call for Brownies

There are times in life where we retreat to the things that make sense, the things we are really good at. For me this is music and baking. So, today, I made these Bitches' Devil Brownies (well, minus the devil because I didn't have any crushed hot pepper flakes). These are by far the best, most deliciously decadent brownies I have ever had the privilege to try. This is the recipe I have been searching for, and now, I give it to you:

(from the Bitches on a Budget blog, bitchesonabudget.com)

The Bitches' Devil Brownies

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

5 oz. of unsweetened chocolate

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter

3 eggs

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 cup flour

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2-1 tsp. crushed hot pepper flakes (up to how hot you like it)

Pinch of kosher salt

3/4 cup walnuts (optional)

8" square buttered baking dish

Melt chocolate and butter in microwave for one and a half to two minutes. Stir to completely dissolve chocolate. Add sugar and mix until you can't see granules. Beat eggs and vanilla with a fork, add to chocolate and sugar mixture, and stir until glossy and smooth. Mix in hot pepper flakes, salt, and walnuts. Stir in flour until everything is mixed evenly together. Pour into buttered baking dish. Bake approx. 25 min. or until a toothpick comes out smooth. (Our advice is to slightly under-bake these, they taste even better).

Breakthrough

So, we've decided to keep the dog. I am happy to report that I have made a breakthrough with the dog (Achilles). I have decided to train him. Yes, he has a name.

Anyway, that's all. Results to come.

BBQ @ The Park

So, in commemoration of Andy's four day weekend, we decided to take one of the days and have a picnic at the park! This was our first time at the park, and we just discovered it! We invited our friends Mike and Corbin to come along... here are the pictures!

Emma Pictures (Cont.)

Emma Pictures

Emma's got the whole "hand-in-mouth" thing down pat. It seems she is always trying to put something in her mouth, whether it's her hand, your hand, a toy... Ahhh well, these are all phases, aren't they? I can't believe how big she is, and I know that that is such a cliche parent thing to say... but it's true. My little girl is growing up!

The Aquarium

These are pictures from the South Carolina Aquarium. I had been wanting to go there forever and finally convinced Andy to take us. :) Unfortunately, it wasn't as cool as we expected. That seems to be the case with a lot of things out here! (Except for the super-cool Cooper River Bridge (shown). You can even run across it, like in San Francisco!)

PICTURES!

So, now that I finally have picture uploading capabilities (I know, get with the century, right?) this post is dedicated to PICTURES. :) Here is what has happened to us in the last month:

Snow Day!

My parents visited us the week before Valentine's Day. On Friday night, it snowed! This was the first time ever that it had snowed in all 50 states, and the first time in Charleston since the 80s!