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Really Great Gluten Free Brownies

There is a great recipe in the latest issue of Everyday Food for gluten free brownies (p.65).  Normally, I use a box mix.  Even before I ate GF, I used a box.  I mean, I think the box mixes are really good for brownies (not cookies...just to be clear I do NOT use a mix for cookies...why that is my line is the sand I have no idea but it just is).  My mother always made them from scratch though. 

So anyway, this recipe is nearly as fast is using a box mix.  I bet it only takes 60 extra seconds to make this vs a box.  They are gluten free but I swear you would never know that if I didn't tell you otherwise.  And sooo yummy. 

As always, I have to change at least one thing.  I added about 1/4 of the chocolate chips called (I used 1/4 bag and the recipe calls for a full bag) for because I didn't think I would want that many.  I was right.  And I always always add a teaspoon of instant coffee to my brownies.  It does magic good things in a pan of brownies.  It does NOT make them taste like coffee and you don't know it's in there.  But it really brings out the chocolate flavor like nobody's business.  The recipe is how I made them but the above notes are the only two differences between the magazine recipe and mine.

Really Great Gluten Free Brownies

Ingredients:
* 6 tbls butter, cut in pieces
* 1/3 cup cornstarch, spooned and leveled
* 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 4 ounces semi sweet choc chips (1/4 bag)
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 3 large eggs
* 1 cup chopped pecans
* 1 tsp instant (not ground!) coffee

Directions:
* Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 8" square brownie pan as you see fit.  Martha says to use parchment paper and butter and cornstarch, but you know I am far too lazy for the Martha method.  I just Pam that puppy up and call it a day like a normal person.

* In a large bowl, whisk together cornstarch, cinnamon, sugar and salt. 

* In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter.  Add cocoa powder and mix until well blended.

* Add butter/cocoa mix to dry ingredients and mix together with a spatula.  Add eggs, vanilla, chocolate chips, nuts and instant coffee.  Mix well.

* Pour batter into greased 8" square brownie pan.  Bake for 35 minutes.

Oh Lilly!

Once again, what is with the length of the Lilly Pulitzer dresses this season? 

Who are they marketing towards these days?  Because it is definitely not their long-time core fans.  Is Lilly trendy in more hip, less preppy crowds these days?  I am just shocked that they are continuing on this path.

I love the design.  But it seems to be missing 6-8" of fabric at the bottom.  If I sat down in this you would see all my girly bits.  And that's just not how I roll.

This looks like something an OC Housewife would wear. And I do not intend that to be a compliment.  I mean...the top...the bottom...I want to look away but I can't.  How did that ever make it past the design room?

This looks like a nightie. But it's a dress. A pricey one at that. What the what??

I love this one.  I wish it were in a print though but the shape and length are perfection.  Still feminine and sexy without flashing all that God gave you on every street corner. 

I love this one, too.  I don't think the shoulders would flatter me personally, but it's a great print and cut nonetheless. 

So the moral of the story is that I am trying to remain loyal to the Lilly Pulitzer brand.  But I think they need some new (or old) direction in that corporate office to bring the brand back to the original design philosophies.  Less trendy, more classic.  And for the love of a lady, please make things longer!

Recipe: Chicken Mojo

Over on my other blog I am doing a little personal challenge this week to make meals based in large part on the sales going on at my local grocery store.  I thought it might be fun to put a few of the recipes up on this blog too.  I can report that ths Chicken Mojo is ah-maz-ing.  The idea comes from my best girl Florida.  She uses this yummy mojo sauce on everything and with good reason.  It's delish! 

Just note that I cooked extra chicken knowing I would use it later in the week.  You can certainly skip that step if you don't want extra chicken.  However, I must tell you that it is awesome to cook once and have extra to use later.  A big time (and often budget) saver!

Chicken Mojo

Ingredients:


* 2 chicken breasts + 3 chicken breasts (5 total)
* 2 cups Mojo (found with Hispanic foods)
* 2 cups cooked rice
* 1 bag frozen veggie of choice
* 1 can black beans
* 1 cup guacamole (I use Wholly Guac when I can't find ripe avacados)
* 1 tsp butter

Directions:


* Place all five chicken breasts in a crockpot and top with the Mojo liquid. Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low all day.
* Once cooked, shred two breasts for Chicken Mojo.
* Shred three extra breasts and place in storage containers for use later this week. This is my first tip this week to streamline your time. Cook once and enjoy many times!  You can freeze the chicken at this point too if you don't have a planned use for it.

* Steam veggies to your liking. I made broccoli and just steamed them with a tsp of butter in the microwave for about five minutes.

* Microwave black beans for about one minute.
* On a place, place 1/2 cup cooked rice (I prefer brown rice) on bottom. Add black beans, chicken, veggies, a splash of the Mojo sauce from the crockpot and guacamole (or sour cream).
* Enjoy! This is very filling, crazy yummy and completely gluten free. I was laughing because I was complimented over and over and over again with this meal. And yet...it's so easy peasy!

Don't forget that we now have a head start on our meals for the rest of the week. What shall we cook up next?