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I don't have much of a sweet tooth, and I'm not a chocoholic, so I don't make things like brownies very often.
But yesterday, I was possessed by a profound urge for chocolate, so I made a batch up. The last time I made them I used a recipe from a cookbook, but this time I found something on the net.

This is when I discovered that there seems to be a raging controversy about whether or not brownies should contain nuts

I don't have any hard feelings on the matter either way, but I was curious if people here have distinct views on the addition of nuts to brownies

No nuts. I'm deathly allergic. It's that simple.

I voted for the third possibility. But shouldn't brownies with nuts be called cubs?

Spoiler

*congratulates himself in the restraint shown, given the myriad possibilities for perversion contained in brownies, eating and nuts*

@Fable,
very good reason! I'm have an anaphylactic reaction to certain types of fish, so I relate well.

@Lestat,
cubs? I don't think I'm familiar with the term.

Try brownies with dark chocolate, in any case. They're supposed to actually be healthy for you. Regular milk chocolate, by contrast, is fatty and leaves out most of the nutritive value of the prime ingredient. We make a chocolate cheesecake out of the "right stuff," and can feel like we're helping our bodies even as we consume something nearly orgiastic.

[QUOTE=dragon wench]@Lestat,
cubs? I don't think I'm familiar with the term.[/QUOTE]As in Cub scouts?

@Ik,
I know, that occurred to me Coincidence, I assure you


@Fable,
I only ever eat dark chocolate on the occasions I consume it. I hate milk chocolate, it's way too sweet and cloying, and has no depth or complexity.
The difference between the two, IMO, is like drinking an excellent Pinot Noir instead of an over-sugared "blush." *shudder*

Incidentally,
this is the recipe I ended up using:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recip ... ews/108700

BROWNIES

These brownies can be fudgy or cakey depending on how long you bake them.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr (includes cooling)

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter (probably could be replaced with yogourt)
8 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar (I reduced it to 1 1/2 cups)
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 and 1/2 cups walnut pieces, coarsely chopped (obviously, can be omitted)

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan (2 inches deep) and line bottom and sides with wax paper, then butter paper.

Melt butter and chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.

Whisk together sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl, then pour in chocolate mixture, whisking until combined well. Whisk in flour mixture, then stir in walnuts and transfer batter to baking pan.

Bake until top is shiny and set and sides have begun to pull away slightly (a wooden pick or skewer will not come out clean), about 35 minutes, for fudgy brownies; or until wooden pick or skewer comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour total, for cakey brownies.
(I went for fudgy... a definite blissful experience )

Cool brownies completely in pan on a rack. Invert onto a cutting board, remove paper, and cut into squares.

Cooks' note:
• Cooled brownies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper, in an airtight container at room temperature 2 days. We find the flavor to be even better after 1 day.

Makes 16 (2-inch) squares.

[QUOTE=Lestat]As in Cub scouts?[/QUOTE]

ROFL!

duh.. I was a bit slow there

I'm a purist.

I think I'm allergic to nuts too...so I'll just avoid them.

[QUOTE=Ravager]I think I'm allergic to nuts too...so I'll just avoid them. [/QUOTE]

Are you suggesting you'd rather join the Brownies than the Cubs?

Bah. You knew what I meant. :laugh:

Besides, I'm too old for both.

I don't really care what's in the brownies so long as I'm warned ahead of time. :mischief:

Why make brownies, which dilute the chocolate, when you can just eat chocolate? You're all mad that side of the pond... :laugh:

No nuts, I have all the nuts I'll ever need thanks.

@ Lestat, Now, does this make you or I that Gunga-Dhin (sp?) fellow? :laugh:

A brownie is a brownie, let's stop worrying about nuts, and just THANK GOD FOR CHOCOLATE!

Nuts. Vile things. Except for a certain type of nuts that I enjoy immensly within chocolate, just not sprikled on top.

Macadamias? Pecans?