Concert In The Park



Notting Hill Brownies

 During the summer there are concerts in the park nearly every night in the towns surrounding Pasadena. We go to Garfield Park in South Pasadena  on Sunday evenings to listen to our favorite bands and  picnic with our friends. Everyone brings something to contribute to the meal. I found this recipe for brownies in the local newspaper several years ago. They are called "Notting Hill Brownies" after the scene in the movie where everyone vies for the one remaining brownie. They are huge and I probably shouldn't tell you how many calories are in one brownie (513) or how many grams of fat (28), because that would spoil the fun. I show them full size here, but in reality I would cut them in half which would bring them down to a reasonable calorie and fat content for a treat.
Notting Hll Brownies
2 cups (4 sticks) butter, melted and cooled
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/3 cups cocoa
2  cups unbleached flour
Scant 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups walnuts or pecans ( I used 1 cup of each)

1. Blend melted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar in bowl of large mixer. Add vanilla and eggs and blend well on slow speed until combined.
2. Stir together cocoa, flour, baking soda and salt in separate bowl. Fold into batter and blend well, scraping bottom of mixing bow to ensure ingredients are evenly combined, 2 to 3 minutes. Fold in nuts if using.
3. Pour or spoon into 13x9 inch baking pan greased with cooking spray and lined with parchment paper. Place pan on baking sheet. Bake at 350* until brownies are set and slightly firm but not dried out, about 35 to 45 minutes. 
4. Cool, then freeze 1 hour before cutting. To cut, unmold from baking pan. Peel of parchment paper. Cut into large blocks (about 2 1/2x3inches...remember though, that's the 513 calorie version!) 
5. Wrap each in wax paper and keep frozen or refrigerated.

Makes 15 brownies. Each brownie: 513 calories, 28 grams of fat, but hey, 6 grams of protein!