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By 300 Sandwiches
Posted in Uncategorized
E and I went out to dinner for the first time in a while, a nice break from the midweek work grind.
E didn’t feel like cooking, nor did he want to wait for me to decide what sandwich to make. Though it was two days before Valentine’s Day, our date felt like a holiday. It reminded me of how much carefree fun we had when we were first dating, before work and household chores and blogs and sandwiches. We sat back, let someone else serve us, had some wine and pasta, and talked face to face at a table, versus over computers or hot pans on the stove.
We didn’t get dessert—instead, I said I’d make brownies when we got home. I dug out the eggs, sugar and other baking goods while E flipped on the Olympics on TV (We’re obsessed with the games. Doesn’t matter what sport is on. We love seeing the NBC announcers go crazy over every fall and medal). But before the chocolately treats were done baking, E turned in for bed. “Been a long day, babe.” Huh.
While he slept, I turned out chocolatey rich brownies with a sweet ricotta cheese filling. It took me until about midnight to make the heart shaped brownies while still wearing my date night dress, excited for him to see these yummy treats in the morning. Sure, they’re supposed to be for Valentine’s Day. But, just like our dinner out, why wait for a holiday, when we could celebrate in the moment?
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup (or one stick) butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 pinches salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint liqueur
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon espresso grinds
Ricotta filling:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup plus half a teaspoon ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon orange rind
few drops red food coloring
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 by 13 inch baking sheet with aluminum foil. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and the chocolate chips over low heat. Whisk together slowly as chocolate melts. When combined, remove from heat and let cool for five minutes.
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, salt, sugar, baking soda, and vanilla extract. Add peppermint liqueur. Then, slowly add the chocolate mixture and combine with rubber spatula. Next, in a small bowl mix flour, espresso, then slowly add the flour. Combine with rubber spatula until just combined. Pour over baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes.
Remove from heat, and let cool for another 20 minutes or so. Cut into small heart shapes with a cookie cutter.
To make ricotta filling: combine butter and ricotta cheese. Add powdered sugar and mix with a plastic spatula until combined. Blend in orange rind. Then mix in food coloring until you reach desired shade.
Smooth ricotta filling onto brownies, then sandwich together. Makes about 16 2-inch diameter heart shaped brownies, or 8 brownie sandwiches.
Recipe inspired by this goodness.
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