Blondies

I have house full of teenagers, three of my own and any number of extras at any given time.  What does this mean?  Well quite often a dessert is wanted, either by them or their stressed out mother, and it is wanted in a hurry.  Nothing fancy, just really good.  Well Blondies is the answer.  They are adaptable to many different tastes and are so easy to throw together you will be shocked.  Our favorite is chocolate chip.  Like I said simple but good.

Blondies

8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Pinch salt
1 cup all-purpose flour

1.Butter an 8×8 pan
2.Mix melted butter with brown sugar – beat until smooth. Beat in egg and then vanilla.
3.Add salt, stir in flour. Mix in any additions (use your imagination or see below).  Most of the time I use 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips.
4.Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes, or until set in the middle. I always err on the side of caution with baking times — nobody ever complained about a gooey-middled cookie. Cool on rack before cutting them.

Further additions, use one or a combination of:

•1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts, toasting them first for even better flavor
•1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips
•1/2 teaspoon mint extract in addition to or in place of the vanilla
•1/2 cup mashed bananas
•1/4 cup bourbon, scotch or other whiskey; increase the flour by one tablespoon
•2 tablespoons of espresso powder with the vanilla
•Stir 1/2 cup dried fruit, especially dried cherries, into the prepared batter
•Top with a vanilla butter cream or chocolate peanut butter cream frosting



Recipe adapted from How to Cook Everything