Brownie Points

Admit it--between Thanksgiving and New Years, you’ve sent Dr. Atkins and your Weight Watchers point counter on an extended vacation. Then why not celebrate with your friends the way you did in junior high when calories really didn’t count by making and eating a whole pan of gooey brownies and not feeling guilty for a single bite. But remember: indulgence is oh-so-much better when you work for it—leave the box of mix in your pantry and make brownies from scratch. Smother them with ice cream or drown them in milk—either way enjoy, enjoy, enjoy….


Best Chocolate Brownies

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan, knocking out excess flour.

In a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt chocolates and butter, stirring, and remove bowl from heat. Cool chocolate mixture.

In a large bowl whisk together sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and whisk in chocolate mixture. Add flour and salt and stir until combined well. Stir in walnuts and spread batter in prepared pan. Smooth top and bake in middle of oven 30 to 40 minutes. Cool brownies in pan on a rack and cut into 3-inch squares.

Home Remedy

After a long, hard week, plan a special event with only one guest on the invite list--you. Time: as soon as you get home from work. Attire: casual, very casual. Menu: the most comfortable recipe in your box, followed by a cup of hot chocolate spiked with a shot of Peppermint Shnopps. Watch Love Actually, Sex & the City reruns, or anything with Julia Roberts and fall asleep listening to the rain and wind. Enjoy and vow to plan these events more often....