Grandma's Goodies

Mama is sharing one of our Grandma's favorite recipes: Chocolate Malt Brownies! Its a great combination of malted milk and chewy brownies. Plus, they're frosted!

Chocolate Malt Brownies

1 1 oz unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup chocolate flavored malted milk powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Melt chocolate and cool. Cream together next 3 ingredients until fluffy. Beat in the eggs. Blend in melted chocolate. Stir together dry ingredients. Stir into creamed mixture. Fold in nuts. Spread in buttered 9" x 9" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool. Frost with malt frosting.

Frosting:

Cream 2 Tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup chocolate flavored malted milk powder. Slowly beat 1 cup powdered sugar and enough milk to spreadable consistency.

Love,

Mom

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a dolce vida

Here's a special recipe that Laur collected while studying abroad in Florence: Biscotti di Prato from the region of Tuscany. Its a simple recipe, yet looks so gourmet and classy. We made this for our older sister as a house warming gift for her new Baltimore apartment and her new husband.

Biscotti di Prato

Preheat oven to 350 F
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2 C Flour
1/2 C Sugar
2 Eggs
2 T Butter
1 Lemon, zested
1 T Baking Powder
Vin Santo (optional)
Additional ingredients for flavoring (almonds, pistachio, chocolate chips, etc.)




Place the flour on a smooth surface. Add the sugar sifted with the baking powder, make a well in the middle.

Add the butter cut into pieces, eggs, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of Vin Santo. Work the ingredients with your hands until well blended. Flatten, cover with your flavoring ingredients and then close the dough over them. Work until well blended.

Divide dough into 4 pieces, form each one into a log. Place them on prepared cookie tin about 2 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven, let coo then slice diagonally (about 1 inch thick), lay on their side and bake for another 5 minutes. Let cool.

The Best Kind of Surprise

If I were to pick four words that define my finely tuned pallet, they would be "peanut butter and chocolate." I have tried so many recipes that incorporate these two ingredients, yet this one sticks out in the mind. Perhaps its the peanut butter filling that tastes identical to the inside of a Reese's cup (for about a week I mixed it up as a quick treat after work), or perhaps its the chewy chocolate cookie, but the pictures still make my mouth water. One tip: add a little more flour to the cookie dough to make it a little easier to work with.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus more for rolling)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together sugars, butter and 1/4 cup of peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and egg, beating to combine. Stir in the flour mixture and stir to combine, blending well. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together powdered sugar and remaining 3/4 cup of peanut butter until smooth.
Pull off a heaping tablespoon of cookie dough and flatten with your hands. Take about 1 teaspoon of peanut butter mixture and place it in the center of the chocolate dough. Wrap the chocolate dough around the peanut butter center, pressing to seal. Roll the cookie into a ball and roll the cookie in the sugar. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each cookie to about a 1/2 inch thickness.

Bake in preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes. Let stand on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack.