Let's talk about love...for all things Chocolate.

Tomorrow is Valentines Day. We never really do anything on Valentines Day. We have spent most of our lives working in a restaurant helping others celebrate this day of love by feeding their tummy's full of something memorable. Now that we have a lot more time (and at least three babysitters at our disposal) we still have no desire or inclination to go-all-out for this holiday. Sad.com. I know. 

Why venture out when the goodies at home are so much better?

One of my friends from University (Becca) spends most of her weekends here at 'Chez Wise' playing with our kids, loving waaaaay too much on our animals and folding laundry. It is hard to find a friend like this. Yet every weekend, she packs her little bag and comes back for more. 

This weekend, whilst I was hiding in the safe haven of my room, the kids asked the Chef if he would make them some Chocolate Brownies for their dessert. The man is a self-confessed-choc-a-holic so I was shocked to hear him mumble 'no, see if Becca will bake them for you'. It should also be mentioned that he was a third of the way into one of his favourite reads The Buy & Sell and once he gets in to this not much will distract him unless it is a copy of one of his other favourites: The Galway Advertiser. Not even chocolate will distract him.

Becca, one of the nicest gals on the planet, has a hard time saying 'no' to the brats and before she really knew what was happening, she was standing the other side of the counter with wooden spoon and mixing bowl in hand taking dictation from the King Chef. 

This is not somewhere you ever really want to be, because he is kind of mean. I am deadly serious. I have been his pantry bitch and dish bitch for over 16 years now. Working directly under his thumb leaves you open for way too much scrutiny. One small screwup and you might.just.die.

She was blind. I was not around to give her the all-too-knowing 'run Becca whilst you still can, before he crushes your spirit and you will never want to bake again'.. . She loves to bake.

So, out comes his very famous and very secret recipe that he shares willingly and freely with her. (ah, look, he is starting off all nicely after all).

The recipe read as follows:

Ron's Recipe

2 pounds of Butter

2500 grams of chocolate chips

32 eggs

1800 grams of sugar

900 mil oil

800 grams plain flour

50 grams baking powder

It was not until she saw the 32 eggs that she felt a little overwhelmed and started to ask a few questions, which you should NEVER DO because that just gives him reason to start making fun of you. I know you might think I am exaggerating a little - but walk in my shoes for a few days. It is who he is.

So, aside from the fact that the recipe was for a whopping amount of Brownies, Becca was able to mathematically convert it to a nice size recipe and trust me even though the images are not all that great, this is the best brownie ever made. Moist, rich and so choc-full-of-chocolate it reminded me why it is I still love this brazen Chef after all these years.

As you can see from the picture below, the kids barely left a scrap for the grownups. So, if you are looking to make or bake something nice for your other half and want to give this a shot then the correct recipe is down below. Becca survived her baking episode with the all-too-knowing-chef but it might be a while before she goes so willingly to the baking bowl again in his kitchen.

Wise Brownie Bliss

250 gr     Chocolate Chips (Callebaut dark/plain)
90 gr       Butter
3             Eggs
180 gr     Sugar
90 ml      Oil
80 gr       Plain Flour
5 gr         Baking Powder

Method

1. Melt the chocolate chips and butter in the microwave for two minutes.
2. Beat/whisk eggs, oil and sugar together.
3. Combine both mixtures above then add flour and baking powder. 
4. Pour into a baking dish and bake in the oven for twenty to twenty five minutes 165 degrees celsius/330 fahrenheit.
5. This is a very easy dessert to bake and assuming you use good quality dark chocolate and real butter (not schwag) then you will be delighted with the outcome as will your dining companions.

Happy Valentines Day from us all here at Chez Wise.

Those are all the WiseWords I have for today,

WiseMóna