Here’s a Brownie recipe for your Valentine’s feast, should you choose an at-home celebration.  This may look like an ordinary brownie, but, well, it’s heart-shaped and it packs a heavyweight punch of buttery, chocolate goodness.  I realize this is more a TGIFriday’s caliber of dessert, but I’ve been busy rehearsing a community theater production and haven’t had the courage or the confidence to take on chocolate truffles, a recipe in my distant past when I worked much harder to impress people.  But here is a brownie, a very good one that is begging to be partnered with a glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a messy splash of chocolate syrup on top.  But as I said, I’m rehearsing a community theater production in a very small town with a small cast in a small theater and a very large director who says it should be like a Broadway opening.  Since he already yelled at me once tonight, I thought it wouldn’t be the best time to bring up that I am about one union card, 30 auditions, 24 pounds, $1600 per week plus living expenses, and at least 29 therapy sessions away from being Broadway ready.  That’s why I opted for the small play in the small town in the small theater with the small cast.  So much for trying to be small.

So, here’s the recipe, and I must confess, I am breaking one of my favorite rules about measuring.  I will ask you to measure because baking is one of those chemically balanced things, kind of like launching a space shuttle, only better.  The misery of measuring, however, is offset by the fact that you can make this sucker in ONE BOWL.  There is hope, there is a god, and there is a chance for me, even with an impending Broadway opening in a theater in a suburb in a shopping center next to Subway for $0 an hour.  In northern California.

• Don’t stress.  This won’t hurt a bit.

• Get a saucepan and put it on the stove.

• Over medium heat, melt one stick of BUTTER and 3 ounces of UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE.  Keep stirring.

• Once it’s cooled, add 1 cup of SUGAR and 2 EGGS.  Mix it well.  Add a teaspoon of VANILLA EXTRACT.

• In a small bowl, whisk 2/3 cup FLOUR and 1/4 teaspoon BAKING SODA.  (Sorry about the second bowl.  It won’t get dirty.)

• Drop the dry ingredients into the gooey, chocolatey mix that you can’t lick because it’s got raw egg in it.  Mix.

• Pour it in a greased baking pan (8 x 8 or 9 x 9 or a pie pan).  Use BUTTER.  Don’t talk to me about Crisco.  Ah!  Shh!  Put in the oven and let it cook for 30 minutes.  Or less if you like it extra gooey.

Happy V-day to all.  I’m going to bed.  After a glass of sparkling Shiraz with the husband.  It’s not just for celebrating anymore.

We’re celebrating 14 Days of Love and Food!  Check back tomorrow for another heart-shaped blog.

RE-REPOSTED SHAMELESS PROMOTION AND RED ALERT:  If you like this blog, please vote for Saving Private Mommy on Babble.com.  Enough votes could make Greta go viral.  She’s always wanted to be a virus.  Go to Babble’s website and click ‘alphabetical’ just above the names of the nominated sites.  You’ll find Saving Private Mommy on or around page 9. Greta thanks you for your support!  That link, if you missed the first 2 times, is right here.  Oh thank you, oh thank you!  Here it is again.  And again.  One last time.  Bye!

Just in case you forgot.

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