I keep taking things for granted like the fingers on my hand, my car keys, my alarm clock, my husband (ooppss..! but I don’t think I’m the only one. Admit it *looking at you*) and I suddenly realize how integral these everyday items are to  me. Of course the husband is not an item but he’s a very integral part in my life. I find the simplest thing like holding your toothbrush can be absolutely awkward with an injured finger. I go absolutely berserk when I dig through my bag and can’t find my keys when I need to hurry off and be somewhere like NOW! And if my alarm clock doesn’t buzz…well, I wouldn’t mind sleeping in, if not for the other people who depend on me to wake them up on time for their appointments. And who would I go on and on and on about the days’ events if not for my very patient husband with very good listening skills (if only to humor me!)? But I just figured last week that my camera has made it to this list of taken-for-granted-absolutely-integral-item.

I have never felt so grumpy, inadequate and handicapped all at the same time. A terrible mishap befell my darling precious camera. It took a nosedive from the kitchen counter to the floor with a heart stopping thud thud crash kaboom. That is exactly how I felt my heart thump as I heard the crash. Oh my poor poooor baby! It will not function any more. Even the microSD card is damaged. Every time I insert it into my laptop, it keeps asking if I want to reformat my disc. Of course not! I have photos to upload and recipes to go along with it. And home videos of my kids fooling around - the knight saving the princess from a fire breathing dragon. And I have to get another before my life can resume to function normally again. While I sorely feel the loss of my old camera, I am dying to shop for a new one. It’s about time that I got something better to play with.

So for now, here’s a yummy brownie recipe which I’m sure you’ll do just fine without step-by-step photos to accompany. But I promise to take pics and upload it here when I get my new toy. Ahhh….I can’t wait!

Ingredients: (adapted from http://ayankeeinasouthernkitchen.com/2008/09/19/georgia-pecan-brownies)

1/2 cup unsalted butter
3/4cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup + 1/8cup Hershey’s Cocoa
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
3 oz semi-sweet choc - chopped into bits
1 oz semi-sweet choc chips
1/2 cup pecans - lightly toasted

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8in baking pan (I used a circular one) with butter and lightly dust with flour.
2. In a pan, melt butter and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Leave the butter mixture to cool slightly.
3. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder and cocoa powder with a whisk.
4. Pour the butter mixture into the flour mixture, and mix well with a spoon.
5. In a smaller bowl, lightly beat the eggs and add the vanilla extract to the eggs. Stir to mix well.
6. Pour the egg mixture into the flour-butter mixture. Stir to mix well.
7. Add the chocolate bits and choc chips. Stir well. Some of the chocolate bits won’t combine well but it’s ok.
8. Add the pecan and mix well. It will be very thick.
9. Pour into the greased baking pan. Spread the batter and smooth it with the back of a spoon.
10. Bake for abt 15- 20min. At 15 min insert a toothpick. It should have a slight trail of wetness. Remove and cool. It will start to firm up a little more.
11. Serve on its own or with vanilla ice cream. Warm or cooled.

Tips:

• Don’t bake until the toothpick comes out clean. It’ll probably become too hard and dry by then.
• The bits or chocolate that don’t combine well will appear as melted chocolate when you cut into the brownie. Simply delightful~!
• You can crush the pecans but I like them chunky.
• Toasting the pecans give them an added flavor.
• You can substitute bittersweet choc if you like. Or add more choc bits. But this was just the right amount for me.