Tribute to Katharine Hepburn- Brownies
7 Jul
Pondering the angle for the text of this post, I read a little (on the net) about the origin of brownies. Do you have an old edition of Fanny Farmer’s cookbook? If you or your Mom does, chances are you may have an original recipe of the brownie.
Then I mentally reviewed the movies I have watched through the years, starring Katharine Hepburn, either with my parents as a child, and or a few I’ve been able to view as an adult. Seriously, with Pixar you really have to do a sales job on your kids. Desk Set and Woman of the Year are my favorites. She was a mesmerizing actress, often overshadowing other actors in a scene opposite her.
Back to the brownies, after all that is why we are here. These brownies are a variation of the original Katharine Hepburn brownie recipe, as Dorie writes in Baking From My Home to Yours. She adds cinnamon and instant coffee, finely ground (I used instant espresso powder). A handful or so of years ago I learned to add coffee flavoring to chocolate from Maida Heatter. I found it to be a fabulous enhancement to chocolate, especially brownies. However, I am very fond of coffee and have discovered that instant espresso adds a depth and dimension to the chocolate that makes it stand apart. That’s the wonderful thing about baking and cooking ~ you can adjust according to your own palate. There may not be a right or wrong variation. Its just the variation that floats your boat. I also like the contrast that nuts bring to sweets, reminding me of the salty and sweet marriage. Texture issues don’t shy me away from nuts in brownies.
The flavor of the cinnamon and coffee in these brownies was rich and delicious. For me, I loved it and can’t imagine why one wouldn’t find it to be an interesting variation. Then I have to remind myself (hubs reminds me often) that not everyone likes the same things I like. RATS!!! Why not?
Sorry folks about the photo…. Corbin didn’t do it. I promise, it was from my iphone. That’s a whole ‘nother story.
A huge thanks to Lisa of Surviving OZ, for choosing this weeks brownies and where you will find the recipe posted. Yumm! BUT FOLKS, that’s not all. She also won the web contest for her design of the Tuesdays With Dorie logo. Its SO Dorie! What do you think? Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit.
Weren’t these the most delicious brownies? I loved them. Your brownies look good.
I enjoyed these, too. I thought that the cinnamon and espresso powder worked great in them. They were great.
The brownies look great, even with the iPhone picture! I do love how baking allows us to adjust things to personal taste – like you said, there is no “right way” or “wrong way” (well, I did underbake these, I guess that is the wrong way). I skipped the cinnamon in these because I didn’t love it with chocolate in previous TWD assignments, but now I’m wondering if I should have given it a change here! Glad you enjoyed these!
These look perfect! They are so delicious!
These are delicious. Glad you enjoyed!
The crust on top look sabsolutely perfect! Glad you loved them!
Hey girl. Yours look fabulous. While these are good, they are simply not my fav when it comes to brownies. Too much butter for me!! Hope you had a good 4th.
I loved these brownies, too, especially with all that delicious coffee flavor.
I so agree with you on all counts. This was THE brownie recipe for me, and I loved the flavor the espresso powder and cinnamon gave them. No worries on the photo, I sometimes end up doing the same thing!
Agreed on the coffee and cinnamon combo – I certainly did not think they were overpowering! Gosh, these are good! Great pix. And that’s the second rec for Desk Set – gonna have to netflix!
These were fabulous brownies…and you know what??? If you make something that only you like….there is more for you..muahahahahahah
You go, girl! Make something YOU like!
My hubs doesn’t like chocolate, so more for me!
Awesome job . . I loved this recipe as well!
Those look wonderful. They were very good, weren’t they. I think I will make some more tomorrow.
I’m so glad you liked the brownies. I laughed at your line about your husband reminding you that not everyone loves what you do. My editor on my first book said to me: Remember, not everyone loves raisins the way you do. Hmmm.
I love brownies – and these were perfect!
You hit on the best reason to bake, you can make things exactly the way you like them!
iPhone photo or not, they still look yummy!
Your phone takes pretty good photos! I didn’t think I’d like cinnamon with chocolate until I tried a couple of Dorie’s recipes with and I agree that it’s wonderful.
Beautifully done, Amy Ruth! Cellphone or not! LOL
glad you got to make them just the way you like them! they look wonderful!
I added my own tweeks to this recipe! Im glad you liked them!
no worries about the phone pic – you got that perfect crackly paper top!
Glad you liked these. I left out the cinnamon and used instant espresso like you did. I thought the brownies were quite tasty, if not my favorite. I really need to watch more Katharine Hepburn movies.
These are my new go-to brownies. Aren’t they fabulous? Glad you liked them too! And you can’t ever go wrong with Fanny Farmer…try her hot fudge sauce sometime.