If you can...

You really need to make these. I had to use the word 'need' because Chocolate and Want just don't go together as well as Chocolate and Need.

I don't have the typical supposedly female addiction to chocolate. I don't generally need it. Or want it. But IF I need and want it, watch out. Bring on the ice-cold moo. Er, I mean milk.

See the third photograph? Yeah, that one. See the top of the brownie? How it's crisp and flaky looking on the top and densely chewy looking on the bottom? Oh. My. Goodness.

They were SO good.

Grab a bowl and a wooden spoon, here's the recipe:

Hope Farms Brownies

1 2/3 C sugar

3/4 C (1 1/2 sticks) butter (real butter, not that "one molcule away from plastic" stuff)(oh, and softened)

1 oz (one square) of unsweetened chocolate

3 Tbsp heavy cream, or 1/2~n~1/2, or milk

2 lg eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 C all-purpose flour

3/4 C baking cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325* - grease a pan (don't use butter to grease a pan - it will be absorbed by whatever you are baking - use non-stick spray or shortening...)

M-kay. Melt square of chocolate in metal bowl over almost boiling water. Cream butter, sugar and cream together. Add melted, but not HOT, chocolate. Mix well. Add eggs, mix well. Now the vanilla (oops, yeah, it's ok if you spilled some extra in there...)

In another bowl, combine dry ingredients. Stir into chocolate sugar mixture. Combine well.

Attempt to pour mixture into greased pan. Lick fingers. Lick spoon. Ponder whether or not you would get too much chocolate on your chin and forehead if you attempt to lick the bowl. Decide the evidence would be overwhelming and wait for the brownies to be done.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until done.

Decide that chocolate is now officially a need instead of just a want. When brownies are all gone and husband wants one, blame the toddler.

I made these a couple weeks ago. They didn't last 24 hours.