Birthday Brownies!

Huzzah! Today is my darling roommate and dear friend Akshaya's birthday! Unfortunately we are in the midst of final exams so the festivities will have to wait until next week. However, in honor of the day of her birth I am making some brownies.

The recipe is one I got from my mother, who probably got it from her mother. These brownies were a staple growing up in my house. My parents have a home video of me at approximately 4 years old making them with my dad. After we stick the pan in the oven he asks if I want to "lick the bowl," at which point I literally pick up the mixing bowl, stick my head into it, and start licking.

These days I use a spoon, but the enthusiasm is the same.

Mom's Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup butter (melted)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs (room temperature)
  
• 2 envelopes ChocoBake (this can be hard to find, so if you don't have it, substitute with 6 tablespoons cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil)
• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Thoroughly mix together the butter and sugar. Most baking recipes call for the ingredients to be at room temperature, but you really want the butter melted here to avoid clumping. Add eggs one at a time, then add Chocobake. Set aside.
In a smaller bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to the sugar and eggs, stirring until totally combined.
Add vanilla extract, stir again.
Bake in a greased 9x9 inch baking pan for 30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into them comes out clean.

These are in the oven right now and they. smell. so. good.
I'll be back later a picture of the final product!