Food on Friday: Blonde ambition

Blonde brownies are one of my favorite treats. When we were in the Peace Corps and living on just a few dollars a day, I would occassionally spend our weeks’ allowance on butter and chocolate chips just to make blondies that would be gone in a day. But now that we’re in Prairie Village, I rarely find myself baking at all(maybe it’s our close proximity to Dolce).

That changed recently when my friend Lily (the best baker in town) doled out some blonde brownies at a dinner party. They were incredible – sweet, salty, and slightly gooey. I found myself with a free hour the other day and whipped these up with time to spare. And bonus – I now live in an environment where I don’t have to choose between butter and bus money. Welcome to the good life.

Blonde Brownies (from cooks.com)

Ingredients:
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2.Measure 1 cup sifted flour. Add baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift again. Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Mix well and set aside.
3.Melt 1/3 cup butter. Add 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar and mix well. If shortening is used, add 1 tablespoon hot water. Cool slightly.
4.Add egg (beaten) and vanilla. Blend well. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing well.
5.Spread in 9 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.