Ultimate Chocolate Brownie

I used to study ballet as a much younger woman.  After learning a new sequence of dance steps, my instructor used to say, "Okay that was the rehearsal.  Now let's see the performance."  In other words, it's time to do it better.

I started blogging earlier in the year with "the rehearsal" blog and now it's time for "the performance."  So, I'm starting from scratch--new blog, new name, new design.  I'm so glad to be back.  I love sitting in my kitchen in the morning, savoring my first cup of coffee and seeing what my favorite foodie friends have been up to.  These are my favorite blogs to follow so far:

Mennonite Girls Can Cook - They sure can!  They cook with love.

My Year On The Grill - Mr. Dave has a great sense of adventure and I think of him as "the kitchen alchemist."  I'm going to be sad when he leaves the Virgin Islands because it's nice to read about his adventures in a tropical paradise.  Although, I will gladly follow him back to Kansas City.

Noble Pig - This is one of the first blogs I started reading religiously.  Her recipes are family friendly and ones that my kids love.  If you'd like to laugh so hard tears run down your face, read some of her earlier posts.

One Perfect Bite - Mary is a very sweet lady and her recipes are healthy, beautiful, and inspirational!

For The Love of Cooking - Pam also has wonderful family-friendly recipes.  My son loves her Neapolitan Pancakes.  It has become a favorite.  (I actually do try recipes from other blogs and Pam's are great.)

Soup is Not a Finger Food - Meg is funny!  She has a way of taking mundane things and seeing the humor.  Reading her insights is a fun way to start the day.

Snooty Primadona's Sparkling Outlook on Life..Or Not... - Ms. Snooty.  What can I say.  I am always excited when she puts out a new post.  What wisdom will Snooty Primadona impart today?  She is funny, wise, and passionate.  I'd like her to be my neighbor. 

Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen - I want her kitchen.  It's beautiful.  But I really want to eat in her kitchen because if her food is as good as it looks, the yum factor is very high.

Let's Have a Cocktail - Jennymac makes my makeup slide down my face and onto my neck.  She is outrageously funny.  Everyone should read her blog.  It's therapeutic!

Cream Puffs in Paris - Just the name of the blog makes you want to be there.  Her recipes are to die for.

Alive in Wonderland - This is the most recent blog that I've added to my favorites.  It's like taking a vacation right from my kitchen.  Don't you love it when someone can transport you to a new place?

There are certain recipes that very definitely need to be shared and this brownie recipe is absolutely one of them.  I used it on my old blog and here it is again. 

3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup margarine, melted and divided
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease rectangular pan, 13 x 9 x 2-inch, or two square pans, 8 x 8 x 2-inch. In medium bowl, combine cocoa and baking soda. Blend in 1/3 cup melted margarine. Add boiling water and stir until mixture thickens. Stir in sugar, eggs, and remaining 1/3 cup melted margarine. Stir until smooth. Add flour, vanilla, and salt. Blend completely. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan(s). Bake 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan; 30 to 35 minutes for square pans or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan(s). Frost with One-Bowl Butter cream Frosting. Cut into squares. Yield: 36 squares.

One-Bowl Butter Cream Frosting:

6 tablespoons margarine, softened
1/2 cup Hershey's cocoa
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In small mixer bowl, cream butter. Add cocoa and powdered sugar alternately with milk. Beat to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Blend in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups.