Brownies

Brownies are really easy to make and delicious.  I remember when I was young being in the car on the way out to Lake Chivero for a picnic lunch in the game park and discovering a tin of Jo's brownies under my feet - and secretly eating rather a lot of them!

The most important thing is getting the baking time right and not to overcook them - they need to be soft and squidgy in the middle.  If you like a richer brownie add some chopped up chocolate or choc chips to the mixture (dark chocolate is best).

I've also included a recipe I've recently found for nutella brownies - it's a bit extravagant as it uses a whole jar of nutella but it only has 4 ingredients so it's really easy and very delicious!

Jo's Chocolate Brownies

1 cup plain flour

½ cup cocoa

2 cups caster sugar

½ cup chopped pecans (or pistachios or other nuts)

180 grams melted butter 

4 eggs lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped chocolate or choc chips (optional)

Beat the eggs and mix in all the other ingredients

(make sure the melted butter goes in last and is slightly cooled so you don't scramble the eggs!)

Put into a well greased baking tin 28 x 20 x 3 cm

Bake at 180 c for about 20 minutes

When a bit cool but still in the tin cut into squares (about 30)

When serving dredge with icing sugar

Nutella Brownies

This recipe is for basic brownies, you can add nuts and dark choc chips to the mixture if you like.

Makes 9 large brownies

Ingredients

1 (400g) jar of Nutella 

2 eggs 

2/3 cup all-purpose flour 

3/4 tsp salt 

1/4 cup water

icing sugar to dust

Directions

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line a square 8-inch baking pan with foil and baking paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together chocolate-hazelnut spread, eggs and 1/4 cup water. Stir in the flour and salt, and pour into the foil-lined pan.

Bake until just set around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Set aside to let cool completely.

To remove the brownies, flip the pan and remove the foil. Cut the brownies into squares and sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.