Death by Chocolate

     A few years back we started having dinner and movie night once a week.  Each week a different family member picks the menu (and cooks it) and also the movie.  There have been some breaks in this tradition, but we recently resurrected the idea and began again this past Saturday.  Princess, always the sous chef, claimed the first night and all I can say is that I hope she becomes a professional chef!

     Appetizers were homemade guacamole with salsa and chips and crab stuffed mushrooms (she let her dad help out a little).  Then we had potato-leek soup, which I have to say in my unbiased... opinion, was fabulous!  But what is still making my mouth water was dessert - Oreo Brownies.  OMG!  If you love chocolate, you would LOVE these brownies.  You must love chocolate.  Not that whimpy, has-more-milk-than-cocoa, stuff that passes for chocolate, but the real, deep, smack-you-up-side-the-head, rich chocolate experience.  Princess found the recipe on the Internet, which always makes me a bit nervous, but what the heck!  How can you go wrong with Oreos?  Well they were so good and so chocolately, that I have to share the recipe!

2 sticks (1 cup) butter
1/2 pound semisweet chocolate chips
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
1 tablespoons vanilla
1 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped Oreo cookies (25 cookies)*Don't chop the Oreos too small, they will get lost in the brownies.

1.  Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9"x13" baking pan.

2.  In a heatproof medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, heat butter, chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate until melted and smooth. Allow to cool slightly.

3.  In a large bowl, whisk eggs, coffee, vanilla and sugar. Blend chocolate mixture into egg mixture; cool to room temperature.

4.  In a medium bowl, sift together 1/2 cup flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture. In a small bowl, stir Oreos and remaining 2 tablespoons flour. Add Oreo mixture to chocolate mixture. Pour batter into baking pan and smooth top with a rubber spatula.

5.  Bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted 3 inches from center comes out clean; do not overbake. Allow to cool. Refrigerate, tightly wrapped, until cold; cut into squares.  *They are also just as yummy still warm with melting vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream.

     There is nothing - nada, zilch, zero, nihil, nichts, Méiyǒu, ekkert, ingenting - healthy about these brownies.  You could save yourself a step and just shmear the batter all over your thighs and butt, since it's all going there anyway!  By doing that, however, you would lose out on the the most incredible mouthwatering, flavorful, scrumptious, finger-licking, lip-smacking, orgasm-inducing chocolate experience ever!  While I have been known to hyperbolize, this description is nothing more than God's honest truth.  The brownies really are that good.  They are so flavorful that a cold glass of milk is all you really need to go with them.  That and a good gym membership!