Chocolate Chip Blonde Brownies

In celebration of Mother’s Day, I am featuring some of my mom’s delicious (and my most favorite!) recipes.  Recipes that I grew up on and now take great pride in sharing with my family.  Yesterday was all about the lasagna.  Today we take a walk onto the sweeter side.

If you were to ask anyone I grew up with how many people were in my family they’d all give the same answer.  Four.  And technically they would be right.  Well world, I am coming clean.  It is high time I finally introduced you to the fifth and sweetest member of our family…chocolate chip blonde brownies!  This ‘unofficial’ family member is invited to all our gatherings.  Birthday celebrations?  Of course.  Tailgates?  Yup.  Visits home?  Yes, yes, yes.  Thanksgiving?  Kinda weird, but true.  After all, she’s family.

And now you know.  Welcome her into your family too.  You’ll be so glad you did.

Ingredients
2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/3  cup shortening
1/3 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoon vanilla
12 oz. package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Grease or spray a 9 x 13 inch pan.  Then get about the business of sifting that flour.

Combine the sifted flour with baking powder,

baking soda,

and salt.  Beaut.one: “Mom.  Are all the ingredients in this recipe white?”  Me: “No.  But this reminds me of a time when I had to walk 5 miles to school in a blizzard.”  Beaut.one: “What?”

Sift them all together and set aside.

In a medium saucepan add the butter and the shortening.  If you happen to be a cardiologist, shield your eyes!

Melt over medium heat.  Seriously, Mr. Cardiologist, don’t even peek through those fingers.  Just don’t.

Lightly beat the eggs.

Once the shortening and butter mixture has cooled, add the brown sugar.

And mix well.

Next, add the beaten eggs…

…and the vanilla.  Combine.

Add the four mixture, small amounts at a time.

And mix.  This recipe calls for mixing the ingredients by employing a very sophisticated kitchen appliance…your wrist.  Shocking, I know!

Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  You’ll notice I just do all my mixing and combining in the same saucepan.  Fewer dishes = awesomeness!

Pour the brownie batter into your greased pan.

And smooth.  And pat.  And smooth.  And pat.

You want the dough spread out as evenly as possible in the pan.  Just so it bakes evenly.  Baked goods are finicky that way.

Sprinkle a 12 oz package of semi-sweet chocolate chips over the top of the mixture.  Taste one or two chocolate chips just to be sure their safe.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Take a brief moment here to request a wrist rub.  Then periodically smell the air and say to family member #5, “You must plan to visit more often.  Better yet.  Let’s get you set up in the guest room.”

Once the brownies are baked, remove from oven and let them cool in the pan.  Then cut into squares and marvel at your supreme preschool-level shape knowledge.

Finally, invite your brownie’s best friend, Milk, over for a play date.

And enjoy!  Stacey