Chewy Brownies

{need}

• Butter, to grease the dish
• 1/2 cup natural (not Dutch-processed) unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water
• 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/16 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup shelled walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)

{do}

• Preheat oven to 350F; line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and coat with non-stick spray
• Whisk the cocoa powder, espresso, and boiling water together in a large bowl. Add the chopped chocolate and whisk until melted. Whisk in the butter and oil, and then cool until lukewarm.
• Whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth, then whisk in the sugar.
• Add the flour, salt, baking soda, and nuts (if using), and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared dish and bake until a toothpick inserted inside comes out moist with a couple crumbs, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Recipe adapted from the recipe for Chewy Brownies in The Best of America’s Test Kitchen 2011, Boston Common Press (2010).

Grilled Lime Cilantro Sweet Potatoes

{need}
2 sweet potatoes, unpeeled
Kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest from 1 lime
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp canola oil
Freshly ground pepper
2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro

{do}
Parcook the potatoes: Place in a pot of water and boil until fork-tender or microwave on high for 5-8 minutes;let cool. Slice each potato lengthwise into eighths.

Preheat a grill to medium or place a cast-iron grill pan over medium heat. Mix 3/4 teaspoon salt, the lime zest and cayenne in a small bowl.

Brush the potato wedges with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown on all sides (including the skin) and just cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter; immediately season with the salt mixture and sprinkle with cilantro.

Adapted from

Peace Out Fall

Christmas is in full swing around these parts, so I'll get all the photos of the decor taken real soon!  But I realized I never shared the living room fall decor.  So one last piece before we say an official peace out to fall.