I never really put much weight in New Year's resolutions. Why would promises I made to myself and/or others on this day be any different than ones made on any other day of the year?
Oddly enough I feel like this year is slightly different.
Maybe it's because I'm one year closer to the big 30 and everything seems to be speeding up and time is starting to fly by faster.
I'm finding that things that I have meant to do have been eluding me more and more each year.
So, with that I have decided to make a few resolutions this year:
1) I will attend hot yoga no less than 3 times a week.
2) I will decrease my sugar intake.
3) I will travel more.
4) I will bake/take pictures/blog more
Alas, as I was driving my oh-so-handsome, sweet, thoughtful and manly K to the airport this morning, that icky lonesome feeling started to sink in. What is good for fixing a lonesome heart?
Chocolate.
And Marzipan.
And Butter.
These should do the trick.
Marzipan Brownies
adapted from The New Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book 12th Edition
Makes: 16 small brownies
Prep:20 mins
Bake:30 mins
Preheat oven to 350° F
1/2 C Butter
3 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 C Sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 C APF
1/4 tsp baking soda
2/3 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
150g baking marzipan
In medium sauce pan over medium low heat, melt butter and chocolate. Make sure to stir constantly and do not let it come to a bubble. Once completely melted, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile grease an 8x8 pan. Set aside.
Add sugar to chocolate mixture. Stir well until completely incorporated.
Add eggs one at a time, stirring just until combined with a wooden spoon after each addition.
Add vanilla.
In small bowl stir together flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring just until combine.
Remove 3/4 C of chocolate mixture and set aside.
Add chocolate chips to remaining batter.
Spread evenly in the bottom of the buttered pan.
Roll out marzipan between two sheets of parchment paper, doing the best you can to keep it square and to the size of the pan. I was able to roll mine out to 1/8" thick and just trimmed the edges for it to fit.
Lay out the marzipan onto the batter in the pan and spread the remaining 3/4 C of batter on top.
Bake for 25 mins. I could have baked mine a tad bit longer so you might need to adjust time for your particular oven.
Let it be known, on this 2nd of January 2011, I have kept one resolution (#4) and broken one (#2). But all is not lost. I will be sharing these with my co-workers tomorrow. That is, if I don't eat the entire pan by myself tonight. I am trying to mend a lonesome heart. Can anyone blame me?
Happy New Year.
