Chocolate Chip Blondies are a hug. A chocolate, buttery hug. Let them hold you. Let them remind you that comfort can be found in food. Salt and chocolate and butter--there is no better remedy for the winter blues. Well, maybe bourbon, but today especially, I needed something to warm me up in a sweeter way.
It's sleeting today in Nashville. It started last night and continued into late afternoon. When I look out my window, it looks like a magical snow day. I want to make a snowman, to grab a sled and sprint to the field across my house. It's President's Day and I have the day off of work, a perfect excuse to make hot chocolate, go outside, play in the snow, and step into the winter wonderland outside my door.
Unfortunately, it's not snow, it's ice. A thick layer of unforgiving frozen ground, not to be molded into friendly snowmen, or sled upon, unless I wanted a very bruised body. When I walk outside it's not a sweet crunch under my boots, but slick bend, and a very careful skate, as I reach for the nearest hand rail. There aren't kids running around playing tag and throwing snowballs, but there are three cars stuck in ditches and/or the road in front of my house. I assume owned by folks trying to get to the store to grab milk and bread. (If you know, you know.) I'll find out soon enough; My very sweet and neighborly husband went out to investigate and help.
I didn't feel the soft silence of snow last night as sleet was falling, but instead the constant pitter patter of sleet on our windows, and the yipping of our neighborhood coyotes. The neighborhood was very awake and yet very much quiet, awaiting the storm.
The point is, this winter storm felt different, and I needed a little bit of comfort for myself. For anyone in Nashville who might need a little comfort today too, or anyone, anywhere who might need a little comfort, and finds it in mixing, measuring, chocolate, and butter, and salt, like I do, try these out. They only require ingredients most pantries have on hand. (If you don't have chocolate morsels put whatever you want in there! walnuts! butterscotch! nothing!) Hopefully if you're stuck in an icy city like me, these can help bring a little warmth into your home today.
Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup dark chocolate morsels
Method
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the brown sugar, butter, and vanilla. Slowly mix in the eggs to make sure that they don't cook. Because if you're anything like me you probably didn't actually let the butter cool. You'll be fine. Just mix it in slowly and carefully.
Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Then slowly incorporate the two mixtures. Add in the chocolate chip morsels.
Spread the batter in a greased 13x9 glass baking dish, and bake for approximately 18-22 minutes. Take it out and let it cool for about five minutes, and cut into 12 squares. Serve and enjoy!
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