CHOCOLATE WALNUT BROWNIES

In my childhood, I remember, when my father would go to Kolkata on (most of the) saturdays for meetings and other work, my sister and I just couldn't wait for Daddy to return, because we knew he would be bringing home Brownies from Nahoum's (in New Market). Not much has changed though we've grown up. The waiting is just the same. Growing up in the suburbs, we knew what cakes were and loved them, but Brownies were like special cakes from heaven! Today it's so popular that it is everywhere. So, why would one take the trouble of making Brownies at home? I'd say, for the sheer joy of baking, and the most amazing aroma that will waft away from your kitchen. I thank God that someone somewhere made a mistake many many years ago, and thus, we have Brownies.

Here's what you will need:

• Butter - 200 gms + a little bit for greasing the baking tin,
• Cocoa powder - 1/2 cup (the unsweetened one),

• Sugar - 1 1/4th cup,

• Eggs - 3,

• Vanilla essence - 2tsp (if you have real vanilla extract, please use that),

• Flour - 1/2 cup,

• Walnuts - 3/4th cup (chopped).

You will also need Tin foil and a 9"x 9" baking dish, as brownies usually come in squares. But don't worry if you don't have a square baking dish. I made it in a round one, and it tastes just as good.

To make the Brownies :

• Pre-heat your oven to 180°C. 
• Line the baking dish with tin foil, grease it with butter, and dust it lightly with flour.
• If you don't have superfine / caster sugar, powder the sugar in your food processor. It makes mixing a lot easier.
• Melt the butter in the microwave for 20 secs. 
• In a large bowl, add butter and sugar, and cream it (mix it to form a smooth paste).
• Break in the eggs, add vanilla, and whisk. Add the flour, and whisk again. There should be no lumps.
• Add the chopped walnuts and mix in.
• Pour the batter into the prepared tin.
• Scrape in all of the batter with a spatula.
• Bake at 180°C for 30 mins.
• Unlike cakes, when you test the brownie with a scewer to see if it is done, the skewer should have crumbs on it.
• Allow it to cool completely on a wire rack.

Since no raising agent has been used in this recipe, the centre of the brownies will be fudgy. 
Cut into pieces and enjoy!

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Ciao!