This Grandma loves to think she is giving grandchildren healthy desserts if one ingredient is healthy. Yes, peanut butter qualifies. A twitter post had Ina Garten’s peanut butter swirl recipe from the Food Network. This caught my eye. A long (we never say old) dear friend introduced me to Ina Garten and her recipes. I must admit that I have never watched her show on Food Network. I do know her recipes are wonderful, but reading the recipe, I wondered whether it would be easier to just use a good brownie mix and add peanut butter.
Ina Garten’s recipe got five stars on line.
It requires total time of 42 minutes, with preparation of 12 minutes and cook time of 30 minutes and yields 20 large brownies. However, it is listed as intermediate in level. This Grandma looks for easy for recipes to make with grandchildren. The recipe to make the brownie part has many ingredients. It is only at the end, just before you bake, that you spoon 3/4 cup of smooth peanut butter over the top of the chocolate mixture and using a knife, swirl it through the chocolate mixture.
So, this Grandma went on a hunt for a five star recipe on line that used a brownie mix to make peanut swirl brownies. Of course, the internet is wonderful and there were many, very similar recipes using packaged brownie mix, all taking preparation time of 5 minutes. All the recipes called for following the directions on a regular size box of brownie mix for the amount of eggs, oil, and water. Making a smaller batch means including 1/3 cup of smooth peanut butter over the top of the chocolate mixture and using a knife, swirling it through the chocolate mixture. Interestingly, one of the recipes recommended heating the peanut butter in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or until slightly runny and stirring 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar into the peanut butter, which Ina Garten did not. Baking pan size and preparation and baking time is according to the brownie package.
This Grandma thinks the parents of the grandchildren would prefer 8 brownies cut into bite sized pieces rather than 20 brownies, but each grandma can choose. Each grandma can choose whether to use the shortcut or go to the supermarket with the grandchildren and have an outing purchasing all the ingredients to make the recipe from scratch. Or do both and compare the results.
Ina Garten’s recipe calls for lots of chocolate chips. This Grandma can see no harm and all good in adding chocolate chips to the brownie mix. There can never be enough chocolate!
Remember to cover kitchen counters and floors with old towels for easy cleanup. The youngest will love washing every bowl and utensil in the sink when you are done so many towels on the floor are important. Divide up the reading of the recipe and chores among the grandchildren. Keep plenty of strips of paper towels handy to wipe the raw brownie mix off grandchildren’s fingers. Yes, one of every grandchild’s favorite “chores” is wiping the bowl clean of brownie mix. It can’t hurt them. I can remember eating lots of raw dough and batter from GG’s (great grandmother’s) baking when I was growing up. She made fresh bread and fresh sweets each and every week. Baking was her best skill and favorite pass time. Reservations and short cuts are this Boomer Grandma’s skill and favorite pass time.
Whether you choose Ina Garten’s recipe or the shortcut, the best is that we are baking with our grandchildren.
Joy,
Mema