*Reminder- my book signing is this Saturday, Portland peeps! Come out and claim what is rightfully yours- a cupcake tattoo in an unmentionable place… or whatever. 
*
It was Jim’s birthday last week and I knew I needed to do something good.
Something big.
Something delicious.
My birthday is this week. With our birthday’s being so close together our gifts tend to arrive at the same time… and my willpower tends to get the best of me, with this year being no exception. I say this with no shame or concern. I will admit that I’m a grown woman who cannot stand the secret of an unknown package. I’m the same way as a gift giver- it’s so hard for me to contain myself! Anyhow, I was going to be good this year and hold out, but I saw the return address on one box and I had to open it. I simply needed what was inside for Jim’s birthday treat. It was pure selflessness, I swear.
The holy grail of brownie pans. The Baker’s Edge. This fine specimen of a pan had been on my Amazon wishlist for a couple of years. I manage to justify a lot of things to myself, but I only make brownies probably 3-4 times a year. Did I really need an exclusive brownie pan? No. Did I want it anyway? Yes. The channels in the pan allow for a consistently chewy edge through out the whole pan of brownies. It’s pure genius!
So now you must understand why I couldn’t wait for this week. Jim needed to have birthday brownies. What kind of wife would I be to deny him of his favorite treat?
In addition to the pan arriving, so did my cookbook! Several boxes, in fact. I got to use a fresh, new copy of the book in my cookbook holder to try my Ultimate Brownie recipe in the new pan.
I didn’t really take my own advice and read through the recipe well before starting… I kind of forgot that the recipe is for an 8 x 8 pan while the Baker’s Edge is a 9 x 12. Oops. Thankfully, the channels are forgiving.
I topped the brownies with a peanut butter stripe mixture. The mixture is as follows: 1/2 cup peanut butter, 2 tbsp. sugar, 1 tbsp. flour, 1 tbsp. soy milk. Combine and mix in a food processor until smooth and creamy. I used a pastry bag to pipe it on.
I also sprinkled a light dusting of flaked salt on top, to give it a noticeable trace of saltiness, a trait in sweet treats that both Jim and I appreciate.
The brownies were good… but I could do better. And thanks to the heavenly Celine, I knew just what to add.
This chocolate peanut butter syrup by Celine is truly heaven in your mouth. If you are a chocolate and PB fanatic (like we are in my house) than this syrup is a MUST. The recipe is so simple and the results will have your licking everything your food processor/blender/pots and pans/spatula comes in contact with. Kind of obscene, really. But if you know Celine, well, that’s her style.
I filled one half-pint jar for a friend and then almost filled a pint jar for us… so it makes plenty. As the syrup cools (especially after refrigeration) it thickens into a nice saucy consistency. All hail Celine!
If your husband/partner/brother/mother/whoever loves chocolate and PB, then their birthday would probably be best topped off with this as well:
Happy Birthday, indeed!
18 Responses to the land of chocolate…
Featured Friends of nom!
It’s here!
Happy Birthday!!
Great post! I want to eat those brownies all in one sitting.
The chocolate/pb sauce you oh so sweetly shared with me was amazing! It was gone in 2 days. Thanks!!!
Oh yum, it’s breakfast time here but I want that brownie now!
happy birthday, Kris – i hope it’s the most fantastical day filled with everything you love the most!
bring on all the chocolate awesomenesses! those brownies are magical, and i’ve gotta try celine’s chocolate peanut butter syrup! it sounds heavenly!
hey, I didn’t know you had a book, congratulations! the cover is awesome! also, your peanut butter swirling skills are pretty amazing, I gotta try something like that I think. :O
Your book is on the way to me and now I’m thinking those brownies might be the first thing I try.
The cookbook looks really fun and cute! And the brownies look nummy! I rue your blog for making me want to buy your cookbook and ruin my diet!
Happy birthday to you both! I hope you both have/had great birthdays
Your cookbook cover looks great–I love it! My birthday is in Nov…it’ll be on my birthday list for sure
Courtney
omg that is one of the tastiest looking things i’ve seen in a long time! pb stripe brownies! YAY
Happy birthday! I just received my copy of your book last week and am looking forward to diving in (I have your first book, too). Looks like you two had a very sweet birthday celebration!
Wow that’s a really cool brownie tin! And those brownies look divine too! I am still waiting for your cookbook to arrive…hoping it comes by the end of the week so I can whip up a storm this weekend.
oh, me and that brownie pan would not get along, for i love middle pieces! :o)
congrats on the book, kris! i’ll be gone this weekend so i won’t be able to go to the celebration.
My oh my!!! That brownie treat looks ace and I want one. Happiest Birthday wishes to you (and Jim of course)!!! I shall hopefully see you on the 12th!!!
That sure is an amazing brownie! Topped with that icecream, OMG! Yum! Happy Birthday to you and Jim!
Thanks!
Oh my gosh that looks so delicious. I think you changed my lunch plans. Baked goods here I come!
Oh wow! Those brownies look amazing! Happy Belated Birthday to Jim!!!!
My goodness these are amazing! You pretty much just sold me on the book AND the pan.
[…] used Kris’ peanut butter stripe mixture from her blog as well, and you can see that, I have the same Baker’s Edge brownie […]