Sunday, March 16, 2014
Happy St. Patrick's Day (well tomorrow) & Black and Tan Brownies
I discovered the joy of an Irish pub early on in my drinking career. My first ex-husband took me to my first pub when we started dating, it was a seedy, dark, traditional pub somewhere in San Francisco. He taught me the joy of the black and tan, the cocktail, which is Guiness and Harp in the same glass. However, the two beers stay seperated because of some type of chemistry thing or because it is one of the wonders of world, causing the pint glass to look black and tan.
However, did you know that the term "black and tan" actually came about historically in 1916 when the English soldiers were sent to Ireland to squelch the rebels involved in the Easter Rising. Since they did not have enough uniforms for everyone some wore black and some wore tan, which brought about the phrase "black and tan."
These brownies are named after that some color conglomeration as there is a layer of tan brownie and a layer of black brownie. These brownies are also made with Guiness, however to be honest I can't specifically taste the beer, I get more a deep chocolate flavor from the black brownie and a light brown sugar flavor from the tan. These are good brownies and they are definitely on the cakey side and they are a perfect way to celebrate this fun Irish holiday.
Now just in case you wanted a few random St Patrick's Day/Irish facts:
Ok back to the brownies. To begin with, make the tan brownies. Cream the sugar and butter in a mixer. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until combined.
Add the flour, baking powder, salt and chopped pecans and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
Layer the mixture in a greased 13x9 pan and bake for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Next make the black layer. Melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave, stirring after 20 seconds. Usually it takes about a minute to fully melt.
Whisk in the Guiness, the vanilla and the eggs. Add in the flour and salt.
Pour the black layer over the backed tan layer and bake for another 25 minutes.
Let cool on a wire rack. Voila!
However, did you know that the term "black and tan" actually came about historically in 1916 when the English soldiers were sent to Ireland to squelch the rebels involved in the Easter Rising. Since they did not have enough uniforms for everyone some wore black and some wore tan, which brought about the phrase "black and tan."
These brownies are named after that some color conglomeration as there is a layer of tan brownie and a layer of black brownie. These brownies are also made with Guiness, however to be honest I can't specifically taste the beer, I get more a deep chocolate flavor from the black brownie and a light brown sugar flavor from the tan. These are good brownies and they are definitely on the cakey side and they are a perfect way to celebrate this fun Irish holiday.
Now just in case you wanted a few random St Patrick's Day/Irish facts:
- Did you know that in Ireland they don't drink "Irish car bombs," actually they haven't even heard of them? i learned that when I was there and tried to order one and they looked at me as if I was a crazy girl.
- Did you know that the official color of St Patty's day was blue? In the 19th century it got switched to green.
- The tradition of a green beer came about in the US as a result of a tradition called "drowning the shamrock," in which the Irish put a shamrock in their beer or whiskey and drank it as a sign of good fortune. Somehow that morphed into coloring our beer green...obviously this occured while playing the game "telephone," while intoxicated.
- Did you know that Lucky Charms, the cereal, came about in 1963? And Lucky the Leprechaun is the cereals mascot.
- Did you know that St. Patrick was not Irish and he actually was a slave? Hmmm....
Ok back to the brownies. To begin with, make the tan brownies. Cream the sugar and butter in a mixer. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until combined.
Add the flour, baking powder, salt and chopped pecans and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
Layer the mixture in a greased 13x9 pan and bake for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Whisk in the Guiness, the vanilla and the eggs. Add in the flour and salt.
Pour the black layer over the backed tan layer and bake for another 25 minutes.
Here is the actual recipe:
Tan Brownies:
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Cooking spray
Black Brownies:
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup Guinness Stout
4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation
1. Place one rack in lower third of oven; place another rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare Tan Brownies, place 6 tablespoons butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Weigh or lightly spoon 4.5 ounces (about 1 cup) flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 4.5 ounces flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring well. Add flour mixture and pecans to sugar mixture, beating just until combined. Spoon into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with cooking spray, spreading evenly with a knife or rubber spatula. Bake at 350° in lower third of oven for 15 minutes.
3. To prepare Black Brownies, melt chocolate and 4 tablespoons butter in a large microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 1 minute or until melted, stirring after every 20 seconds until smooth. Add granulated sugar, stirring until well combined. Add 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and Guinness, stirring with a whisk until well combined. Weigh or lightly spoon 4.5 ounces (about 1 cup) flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 4.5 ounces flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring well. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring to combine. Pour mixture evenly over Tan Brownies.
4. Bake on the center rack at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack; cut into squares.
Hope everyone has a Happy and Safe St Patrick's Day! Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Visit My Website!
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments
0 comments:
Post a Comment