expresso | Masako and Spam Musubi

IMG_8245-1 — Decadent Triple-Chocolate Espresso Brownies

Long name, huh, for brownies?

Well, my little Cake Boss asked for me, her servant, to make her some brownies. And since I had all the ingredients at the house, I decided to do it from scratch…again.

Wasn’t someone supposed to tell me to stop this non-sense?

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IMG_8226-1 — Sugar, salt and unbleached flour are not shown. As a side note, I much prefer Hershey’s unsweetened chocolate. It’s a lousy photo but that’s a foil-lined baking pan in the background.

Per my yes-yes beacon, Cook’s Illustrated, the classic brownie should be moist, not “goopy” or dry. The chocolate flavor should most of all be decadent – especially for my little Cake Boss. Gotta raise her right, you know.

Like avoiding the supermarket pre-mixed who-the-heck-knows-what’s-in-it stuff.

Well… it’s really ‘cuz I wanted to avoid the uncomfortable situation experienced after baking the little Cake Boss a classic white double-layer birthday cake. The little Cake Boss almost fired me because I didn’t do as she told me to.

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Some of the easy steps:

IMG_8228-2 — Melting the chocolates and butter over barely simmering water. Gotta keep stirring! Just like my homemade chocolate truffles.

IMG_8229-3 — After it all melts, whisk in the cocoa and espresso powder. Set aside.

IMG_8233-4 — Whisk eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. You then whisk while pouring in the still warm chocolate yumminess. Fold in the flour and pour into a foil-lined baking pan. Smooth over as best possible then bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.

IMG_8236-5 — Don’t overbake! I’ve learned my oven runs on the hot side and items need to be rotated. It’s perfectly done if it domes slightly and some sticky brownie crumbs stick to a toothpick. Very logical (unlike the illogical “Common Core Mathematics” now being taught in elementary schools).

After cooling for two hours, lift out the brownies with the foil liner and pig out!

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Actually, this first batch of homemade “triple-chocolate espresso brownies” came out REAL good as the little Cake Boss came back for a second piece.

She must’ve been pleased.

I guess I’m still employed at the house.

My young years as a mechanic were some of the most fun in my life.

Working alongside veterans of the US Army’s most decorated unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, made it so much better. If you haven’t heard of that heroic combat team, you will be surprised.

Anyways, I didn’t do much cooking then. Can’t figure out why I started either. Old age. Too many gasoline fumes, perhaps.

But one of my most requested deserts is my homemade Tiramisu. Never mind gasoline fumes… The rum fumes will disperse all the oxygen molecules and you will get high. Just kidding. About getting high.

The only ingredient not shown here is VERY strong coffee. Even Dean Martin would have diluted it.