Sunday, June 15, 2008

What The Heck?






















Once again, this has been one of those weeks where I pause...and wonder...what the heck? Is it the moon? The stars? The barometric pressure? Did we lose another planet? Are my chakras in-fighting?

Not that it's been a bad week - no. Just one of those weeks where I go hmmmm, well that's interesting. For example:

- My younger dog, Marcel Verdel Purcell, smelled like cumin, CUMIN, all week long. Distracting, really, because 1) there was no reason for him to smell like cumin as I haven't used the spice recently and 2) I couldn't wait to get home every day to scoop him up and give him a whole bunch of whiffs - being the cumin lover that I am. Damn, he smelled good - as well as inexplicable.

- I drove my car with patience - and found myself thinking "who is this woman driving this car". It was an out-of-car experience, yet I was still driving. Bizarre.

- I agreed with something Bill O'Reilly said on the television. WHAT DID I JUST WRITE? Yeah, I know. I assure you, after I agreed with whatever-it-was - I slapped myself 7 times, donated to the ACLU, showered with an SOS pad, and sent Rosie O'Donnell some flowers.

- I received an anonymous text message stating "Rawh it's the boogy man and i'm gonna eat you :)" - now, personally, given how long the Boogy man has been around - I would have thought he could spell by now AND would know that "I" should be capitalized. I don't mean to split hairs, Boogy, but really - you should also check Wikipedia, where your correct spelling is listed as "Bogeyman", mmkay?

- Someone sat in my lap in a waiting room. I was minding my own business, while guessing at everyone else's, of course - and a gal walks in - walks toward me - angles her ass toward me and proceeds to sit on me. At the same moment that I suck in my breath - she realizes that the chair she chose doesn't exactly feel like a chair - so she squeals and skyrockets off of my lap. She finally whips off her sunglasses (MIGHT have been helpful EARLIER), puts her hand over her mouth in sheer horror, apologizes profusely, and slithers away. You know when someone farts and you're not supposed to laugh? That's how I felt for the next 10 minutes. Tortuous.

So, I thought we needed something reassuring to eat in the household - just to balance all the what-the-heckness. Of course, chocolate always makes our brain cells feel like the rest of the world can just go screw itself - and then couple that with the retro happiness of peanut butter frosting, and well, we're drinkin' the kool-aid of perfect happiness, if only for a just a few stolen moments.



















Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting


Now, these are really about the frosting - more than anything. You want to taste the chocolate - but of course - but the real star here is the topper. I'll warn you, these are rather dangerous to keep around - because they are tasty and creamy and seductive. And, somewhere in your mind - you convince yourself that they're clearly more "healthy" because they contain peanut butter - yes, I know that game, and this little harlot of a brownie will try that number on you - I assure you. So, beware. You can use any old brownie recipe you have in your collection. If you use my brownie recipe, substitute the chocolate chips tossed in at the end of the batter for a cup or two of peanut butter chips (or, just do a plain batter, with no chips at all). Then again, some would say - "never enough chocolate" - so use the chocolate chips if you like, whatever floats your boat, right? Here is the recipe for the frosting:

1 1/3 c. powdered sugar
1 c. creamy peanut butter (not natural peanut butter)
6 T unsalted butter, room temperature
1 t vanilla extract
1/4 t salt
1/3 c. heavy cream

In a medium bowl, combine sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt. Beat on medium low speed until creamy, making sure to scrape down the sides as needed. Add the cream and beat at high speed until mixture is creamy and light. Spread on cooled brownies.

38 comments:

  1. Mmmmm. That peanut butter frosting looks soooo good, I feel like licking my computer screen. I don't think that's any wackier than almost sitting on another person in a waiting room. Crazy people!

    ReplyDelete
  2. someone sat on you??? lol that is really strange. i'm sure sunglasses don't make you that blind...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my goodness they look good and thanks for giving me the biggest laugh of the day although it still sounds a bit raw for you to find it as funny as we did!

    As for your dog smelling of cumin, do you think he rolled in a curry bush? They smell very strong...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ok, I needed this laugh. Thanks!

    Someone sat on you. Still choke-laughing.

    It has been a weird week. I think it's the waxing moon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chocolate cures all ills. I swear -- what is up with all these chicks in their HUGE sunglasses? I feel like they all just stepped off the tennis courts in Dynasty. They look utterly ridiculous. And shoulder pads have returned. Why? Who ever thought it would be good to have the shoulders of a lineman? Is that sexy? If so, I am officially out of touch.

    Blessings!
    Lacy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Firefly - Since we're all a bunch of wackos - I say go right a head and give it a lick!

    Grace - all I can attribute it to is the fact that here in the desert, the sun is blazing - so perhaps she was blinded when she walked in from the outside, but COME ON, ya know?

    Jennywenny - All I can say is, it was all pretty funny - and wow, I wish my dog smelled like cumin ALL the time, bc it was SO good.

    NV - I know! I mean really? Really!

    Lacy - oh, that made me laugh - Dynasty - my mom used to worship those crazy nutball women of Dynasty. Pretty soon, I think sunglasses will just cover the entire head. A sunglass hat, if you will.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh My God - I'd eat a pan of those brownies after that week. Once I agreed with our past governor, Jesse Ventura, and nearly fell off my chair. Get it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Comic relief and food porn, love this place. Good way to end my weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Excuse me? Bill 'O? Cripes woman, you'd better go face down into something good, because obviously your brain cells are lacking in some serious carbohydrates.

    ReplyDelete
  10. OH! I forgot to mention the Billow reference. Jeez, girl!!!! Talk about a weird week.

    ReplyDelete
  11. i commend you on your frosting-to-brownie ratio. finally, someone's gotten it right! any ol' frosting deserves to be the star of the dessert, but this peanut butter delight is particularly incredible. it makes a "what the heck" week well worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. thank goodness for the newly found foodgawker for allowing me to come across your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Those brownies look absolutely heavenly. I must make that frosting!

    ReplyDelete
  14. MM - LOL, got it!

    Sarah B. - glad I was able to help cap off the weekend. :)

    Standing Still - I know...SHAMEFUL. DEPLORABLE. UGH-ful.

    NV - Isn't just a shocker? Maybe I was possessed for a while?

    Grace - exactly - I mean, if you're going to do frosting - do it UP, you know? PILE it on.

    Celine - thanks for stopping by! :)

    Bakingblonde - we loved that pb frosting - sort of like a pb-cup-brownie - really delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  15. My condolences on agreeing with Bill, that must have been devastating for you! Look at it this way, it can only get better from there, right?

    ReplyDelete
  16. As a major PB Cup fan, this is on the list. As for someone sitting on you, I laughed out loud; I must say, I'm sometimes guilty of wearing my suns as I enter a building and I cannot see for a few seconds. Luckily, I have not yet sat on another human.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your Bill O'Reilly comment was hilarious! Shocking, but very funny. Yes, there's a full moon tomorrow.

    I would have had a really hard time not laughing. I can't believe she sat on you! Was it Paris Hilton? Was she drunk?

    ReplyDelete
  18. I read what you wrote about the sunglasses hat -- and roared! You should have seen these girls I saw today in A.C. Moore (arts and crafts store): complete with matching extraterrestrial eye wear and side pony tails. Guess what else -- single strap tank tops with glittery platform shoes and shorts with Hollister written on the hind end. All I could think was -- wow. If only Ann were here to help me laugh at this.

    Blessings!
    Lacy

    ReplyDelete
  19. blimey! ann, what a week!

    makes mine sound pretty normal. one, that text was pants! he can't spell to save his life much less scare someone with a bogeyman scare. geeez.

    and that girl who sat on you. sigh, all i can say is you must be pretty hot to start attracting girls to your lap. :)

    awesome brownies ann. they look absolutely scrumptious. i could do with one of those but i've been eating so much sweet stuff this week (due to the time of the month) my teeth feel a little off.

    love.
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dig on this scene:

    I'm at my desk, pretending to be working on one of my many, many, large loans, but I'm really catching up on my blogging.

    One thing leads to another (as it always seems to do, right?) and I find my self on your blog. I think, "Hey, what the hell. You've got company time to kill, read on."

    So, I listened to myself and began to read.

    {author's note: I work in a large, stiff bank with marble floors and the acoustics are good to an absurd level}

    The dog smelling of cumin was hilarious. It's such a distinctive scent, that to the well trained nose, you'd smell it anywear. Too funny.

    And although I agree with Bill O'Reilly on probably a bit more than you do, the SOS pad assisted shower was just plain hilarious.

    So, I'm at my desk and when I read the SOS pad part, I burst out laughing. I'm sounding like Fran Drescher and Angela Lansbury, and everyone is looking at me.

    Thanks for that.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow... thanks for visiting my blog. Lap dances and peanut butter... I think that's all I needed to say. haha

    ReplyDelete
  22. Kelsey - that is a GOOD point. Suck it, Bill! Phew, that felt good.

    Meagan - But think of the story you'd be able to tell. So, maybe just consider sitting on the human, just for the locker room story? The sunnies would be a great excuse.

    Jennifer - I KNOW! BILL! It was so shocking that I can't even remember what the H I agreed with him on, maybe that the sky was blue. As for the sitting girl - who knows - maybe paint thinner?

    Lacy - See? The glasses will soon encompass the entire head. And the rest of that look? Would have loved to have been a fly inside your head for those few moments - I bet the one-liners were priceless, wish I would've been there!

    Diva - maybe that girly WAS trying to make a pass at me - didn't even think of that. I totally shoulda copped a feel then. :)

    Morton - You just painted a GREAT picture here - I'm picturing this great guffaw echoing through this pristine, gigantic bank - and all eyes turn toward you. And you're all "Dudes, it's the loan app - back off". Guilty. Love it.

    Sugar - thanks for visiting here, you sweet thang, you!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I really should stop reading blogs about amazing and delicious food like yours late at night.

    Now I have an insane craving for these...

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm glad you had an appropriate reaction to agreeing with Bill O'Reilly.

    Somebody stop me from making those brownies!

    ReplyDelete
  25. the peanut butter frosting look awesomely delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your Bill O'Reilly comment made me cackle.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hey Ann - well what can I say - brownies = divine. other stuff = hilarious. Trade me lives for the day?? I have chocolate in my desk drawer . . . .

    ReplyDelete
  28. ann - That's basically it. But instead of, "Dudes, it's the loan app-back off" it was more like:

    "Gentleman, I apologize sincerely for my disrputive behaviour, and I implore you to look into your hearts and find a morsel of forgiveness for a wretch such as myself.

    Furthermore, I'd like to comment on the current economic situation as it pertains to our industry, and its impact on our margins.

    I believe that it is in our best interest as a financial institution to make an attempt at adjusting our focus from being primarily a lending bank to instead giving our attention to gathering deposits."

    ...that way they forgot completely about my mishap, and instead began to think about business strategy.

    I'm brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sydney - I know, it really can be tortuous, yes? Food porn is evil sometimes.

    BB Oven - it was de-lish.

    Manager Mom - I know, disgusting isn't it? I need an exorcism.

    Lisa - trade for a day? Would love it, how fun would that be?

    Morton - you ARE brilliant - I mean - a segue like that cannot be undertaken by just anyone. I bet you pulled it off with aplomb and then some. :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. The important thing is that you recognized the Bill blunder. I once almost agreed with Rush. Thankfully I didn't or I may have ended it all right then and there. Go Obama.

    ReplyDelete
  31. These look so amazing I could clim through my computer screen right now!

    ReplyDelete
  32. These look so amazing I could clim through my computer screen right now!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I hope your next recipe is not something like cumin chicken or similar... That would be veryyyyyyy suspicious!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love the smell of cumin. I just might have to sprinkle your dog with cheese and wrap him in a burrito.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Sunflower - GO Obama, woot!

    Noble Pig - It'd be like "The Ring", foodie style. And with frosting, and no death. Rated PG.

    Clumbsy Cookie - LOLLLLLLLLLL! Funny you say that, bc I actually took Marcel and shook him lightly over my hubby's food, just to give it some cumin essence! Hub just looked at me like I was on my last synapse, which nothing new 'round here.

    Mrs. G - can't tell you how many times I look at my dogs, and they're so darn cute that I just want to eat them! As in, "I want to roast that cute little leg and just eat it!" Shut up, self.

    ReplyDelete
  36. You are so lucky to have had a cumin dog! All we ever get from our dog is corn chip feet. (Bleh!)

    I have to say that I use natural peanut butter in my frosting all the time--partially because I'm not sure where to pick up a jar of supernatural peanut butter. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oh, you're too funny for my own good. (mostly because I really don't need another blog to read. These kids need a mother!)

    I have been meaning to make peanut butter frosting for a while, so when I saw your pictures it was clear that today was the day. The only kind of PB they have here is almost like natural (I think) but it worked wonderfully well, just had more peanut butter taste and I had to add a bit more cream (oh, and I flubbed it up by trying to half it and then forgetting about the 1/2ing it thing on the "add the sugar" part--so it was sweeter. I didn't do double, but more than called for for sure, but it was still soooooooo good). Oh, yum! Thanks for a great recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  38. do you know peanutbutter boy? he'd love this. how sinful!

    ReplyDelete