Fudgy Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

Oh, Canadian Living. You haven't failed me yet.

A few of us got together recently to have a games night with a friend who was recovering from surgery. I had a lot of raspberries in the fridge, and decided to do some baking. A recipe I found for Fudgy Chocolate Raspberry Brownies that seemed perfect for the occassion.

Fudgy Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

Ingredients:

1 cup of packed, fresh raspberries, or thawed, frozen raspberries,
4 oz of unsweetened chocolate, chopped,
1/2 unsalted butter, cubed,
3 eggs,
1 & 1/4 cups granulated sugar,
1/2 tsp of vanilla,
3/4 cup of all-purpose flour,
1 tsp icing sugar (optional).

Grease 9-inch (2.5 L) square metal cake pan and set aside. (I don't have a 9-inch pan, I have an 8-inch glass casserole dish, and I found that this worked absolutely fine. I just cooked the brownies a little longer since they were deeper and kept an eye on them.)

In food processor or blender, puree raspberries. Pass through fine sieve to remove seeds. Set aside. (You will not be able to get all of the seeds out, that's okay. It'll just leave some crunchy surprises in the brownies.)

In separate bowl over saucepan of hot (not boiling) water, melt chocolate with butter; let cool slightly. (I used my makeshift double boiler, and it worked fine.)

 
In bowl, beat eggs with granulated sugar for about 5 minutes or until pale and thickened. On low speed, beat in vanilla and chocolate mixture and beat in raspberry puree with wooden spoon, followed by the flour. Spread batter in prepared pan.

Bake in centre of 350°F (180°C) oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Let cool in pan on rack. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Cut into squares. Can be refrigerated for about a week and frozen for a month.

 Huzzah for crappy photography and being to hungry to wait!

Aside from the surprise crunchy bits from the raspberry seeds that I couldn't get out of the puree, the brownies were fantastic and were devoured by all! We got stuffed at Dim Sum for dinner before the games night, but suddenly had room for desert when the brownies were pulled out. 

 
On a side note, I'm attempting to find more free/cheap stuff to do in Toronto this summer. I'm slowly going broke with the lack of employment (I am trying to find a job, honest), and spending cash to go out is not always my best option. Summerlicious is coming up, so if I can save some cash for a lunch or dinner during that, all the better. Fortunately, TIFF is putting on free movies this summer, right in downtown!

This past Wednesday, my friend and I grabbed a blanket and enjoyed Ernst Lubitsch's Trouble in Paradise from 1932. It was a lovely way to spend an evening, and great weather was a bonus. This week, it's My Man Godfrey, with Carole Lombard and William Powell. I've seen half of this movie already and I wouldn't mind camping out for the second half.

Apart from Thesising, I'm still cleaning up my place. Fred's been very helpful has a holder of things.

He's very good at it, doesn't complain or anything.