Brownie Wars

Confession: For Charles and me, brownies are a major source of marital strife. The problem comes in when it's a cold January night (or a hot August night) and that sugary, chocolately craving kicks in. The question becomes who gets to make the brownies, because whoever makes the brownies chooses which recipe we make, and we both LOVE our own brownie recipe. My brownies are a scrumptious yumminess handed down by my very own mother---chocolatey, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth delight. Charles' brownies are more fudgey and have doubled as a piece of poo (ask him next time you see him). To make matters worse, it's the same story for chocolate chip cookies. I love a chewy, oatmeal, chocolate chip cookie with a hint of cinnamon (a treasure from my grandma Allen), and Charles prefers the Tollhouse recipe with his secret extra 1/4 cup of flour for our high altitude. Even more infuriating, Charles has convinced the kids to love HIS recipes. I contend that you can't trust a kid's preference--we are talking about people who would choose the purple Barney sucker over a pecan bear claw at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. What kid wouldn't choose his dad's recipe over his nagging mother's? I maintain that the kids' vote has nothing to do with taste. Charles disagrees. To make matters worse Charles has gone around giving all the neighbors his recipes so that when we meet up with our neighbors for Sunday dessert I have to eat Charles' brownies/cookies yet again. But we have had a moment of peace, thanks to sister-in-law Sarah, who gave us the recipe for Sammy's Bakeys. This scrumptious little cookie has momentarily given us marital baking bliss. But Charles still likes his own chocolate chip recipe best. Here are my recipes. Charles' are purposely not included. 

Miss Magpie's Brownies

2 sticks + 2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup cocoa powder

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup nuts

Melt together butter and cocoa. Let cool. Beat eggs till light, slowly add sugar. Add cocoa mix, flour, vanilla, salt and nuts if desired. Pour into 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Miss Magpie's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 cups butter

4 eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon soda

2 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

6 cups oatmeal

1 package chocolate chips

Sammy's Bakeys

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 sticks butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3 cups flour (may be less)

2 cups Guittard milk chocolate chips

Beat sugars, cream in butter, add vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Add dry ingredients slowly. Add chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Tricks for a softer cookie: Use parchment paper. Transfer cookie immediately to cooling rack.