White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Brownies

Here’s a recipe that I’ve yet to make from Emeril Lagasse…

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
  
• 8 ounces white chocolate, cut into chunks
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1-1/2 cups macadamia nuts

Preheat the oven to 325F. Grease an 8x10x2 baking pan. Melt the butter in a double boiler; add the white chocolate and melt completely.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and salt until frothy. Add the sugar and beat until thick and pale, about 90 seconds. Scrape down the sides. Add the chocolate mixture and the vanilla to the egg mixture and beat for five seconds. Add the flour and mix until just moist. Fold in the nuts with a spatula and pour into the prepared pan. Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Let cool for 1 hour. To serve, drizzle the top with the sauce.

the sauce . . .

• 3 ounces white chocolate, cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon butter

In a double boiler, gently melt the white chocolate. Add the cream and butter and cook briefly until smooth. Let cool a little. Either spoon over brownies, or use a squeeze bottle to sauce the brownies.

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Mai Tai

 

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Dark rum
• 1 oz Light rum
• 1 1/2 oz Triple sec
• 1/2 oz Orange juice  
• 1 oz canned Pineapple juice
• 1/4 oz alcoholic Grenadine cordial (24 proof)
• Ice cubes

Mixing instructions:

In a metal shaker add a fair amount of ice cubes. Add dark rum and light rum, then grenadine, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Finally add Triple Sec and shake vigoursly. Pour in a thick tall ribbed glass. Top with a cherry or a dash of Triple Sec.

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Mojito

Ingredients:

• 2-3 oz Light rum
• Juice of 1 Lime (1 oz)
• 2 tsp Sugar
• 2-4 Mint sprigs
• Soda water

Mixing instructions:

Lightly muddle the mint and sugar with a splash of soda water in a mixing glass until the sugar dissolve and you smell the mint. Squeeze the lime into the glass, add rum and shake with ice. Strain over cracked ice in a highball glass. Top with soda water, garnish with mint sprig and serve.

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You Where There . . .

You were there when we took our first steps,
And went unsteadily across the floor.
You pushed and prodded: encouraged and guided,
Until our steps took us out the door…

You worry now “Are they ok?”
Is there more you could have done?
As we walk the paths of our unknown
You wonder”Where have my children gone?”

Where we are is where you have led us,
With your special love you showed us a way,
To believe in ourselves and the decisions we make.
Taking on the challenge of life day-to-day.

And where we go you can be sure,
In spirit you shall never be alone.
For where you are is what matters most to us,
Because to us that will always be home…

Author Unknown

 

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Happy Independence Day!

It’s 2:35 p.m….this morning, AC and I drove JP to work at Pier 39…it was smooth sailing across the Bay Bridge which took us about 20 minutes. We dropped JP off and found a 2-Hr. parking near North Point….just being around that area of North Point brought back memories of the time I worked at Intergraph many moons ago…it was there that I met Jane, Stephanie & Larry…who would later become godparents to my kiddies. OK…I’m getting off track now. On our way to the Pier, we happened to pass by IHOP…and of course, there was that picture of the funnel cake smack in front of their window. Seeing that picture lured us in…had breakfast at IHOP and Ari & I shared a funnel cake. AC and I walked around the area until it was time to head back to the car in fear of getting a parking ticket. Although it was a holiday, the meters and street parking were strictly enforced…said our goodbyes to JP and Babe Ruth and headed home…well…made a detour to the Long’s on Rockridge for some toiletries. Did some housework when I got home…the hubs had to work but he’s home now so we’re going to check out the 4th of July Celebration up in Montclair Village …ciao for now… OK…I’m back…that had to be the “sorriest” celebration ever…when we got there, there were 3 booths – – one sold Italian Ice (way better than the Hawaiian Shaved Ice!), the other sold Kettle Corn and the last booth sold hotdogs. On the flyer it read there would be carnival games, music, etc…hmmmm? However, we were tempted to sign up for the 10.00 per person ride on a vintage “bus” that would take us to Jack London for tonight’s firework extravaganza sans the headache and frustration of finding parking but changed our minds. Right now the hubs is grilling some baby-back ribs and chicken on the barbie…I just so love the aroma of barbecue! This is the first time in several years that we are actually barbecuing on the 4th….our 4th has always been spent at Bruh’s (CE) house. She and Ralph have their annual cook-out/swim party with family and friends…Bruh barbecues while Ralph does “them” margaritas! She had gone out of town but there was that possibility of having just a small one…just one call and we’d be over there since AC loves to swim. We’ll be picking up JP at BART late this evening….[The hubs picked up JP in SF around 12 midnight because the last train out to our neck of the woods was at 12:00 a.m….] Hope you had a wonderful 4th! Too bad there’s work tomorrow! Ugghhhh!

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