Cleveland Brownies in a Mug

It is tough - TOUGH - growing up in Cleveland. Now, I'm not saying the streets are mean or there's nothing to do or the food is terrible...none of that is true (mostly). We have a world-class theater district and orchestra, art and natural history museums, fantastic ethnic neighborhoods with amaaaazing food (Slyman's, anyone?) and our beautiful Lake Erie.

But then...oh, THEN...

We have the Cavs.

We have the Indians.

We have the Browns.

Ugh. We've been depressed since 1964. No wonder we're all fat.

To make matters worse, this weekend is the Super Bowl. And the Ravens are representing the AFC for the second time in a dozen years. Goddammit.

I figure the only way to see the Brownies on Super Bowl Sunday is to bake some. If you're like me, though, baking an entire pan of brownies is a dangerous, tempting, delicious proposition. I also don't want to wait around for an hour while they bake. What's a chubby girl to do? The answer, my friends, is MUG BROWNIES!

In less than 5 minutes, you, too, can be enjoying ooey-gooey fudgy brownies. If you need pictures, I'll post some later...chances are pretty good I'll be making one this evening.

What You Need

• A mug. No mixing bowls necessary.
• 2 Tbsp. melted butter (I suppose you could use margarine, but why? Butter is BUTTER.)
• 2 Tbsp. milk (If you don't like/can't have milk, use water.)
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract (Or your favorite extract...almond or mint are also yummy!)
• 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder (NOT instant...the real stuff, folks.)
• 4 Tbsp. sugar (Splenda is an option, but it changes the consistency, and really, you're eating a brownie already...just use sugar.)
• 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour (I don't recommend wheat flour. I used it once in a pinch...never again.)

Optional Options for Tarting Up Your Brownie

Before:

Mix in a dollop of peanut butter or Nutella.

After:

Add a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.

Note:

Dollop is a ridiculous word.

What You Do

1. Melt the butter. Just nuke it on 50% power for about a minute.
2. Add in the milk and the vanilla extract. Whisk it together. I have a tiny whisk, but a fork would work just as well.
3. Add in the cocoa powder. Whisk it together.
4. Add in the sugar. Whisk it together.
5. Add in the flour. Whisk it together.
6. Nuke that bad boy on high for about 1 minute. If you like more of a cake consistency to your brownies, bump that up to 90 seconds. When I make them for Mr. K & me, his sits for the minute mine is in the microwave, and it thickens up. 
7. Enjoy! It's like a hug in a cup.

- Mrs. K

As We Roll Down This Unfamiliar Road...

So, hi. Remember me? I used to be a burgeoning little blogger-girl, then I went and fell off the face of the earth last April. Whoopsie.

I have no decorating or project updates to report, because I'm lazy and have no self-discipline. What's crazy is that I did so much fun stuff this summer with my friend, Louise*, I had absolutely no business not writing about our adventures. I mean...

Look At This Stuff, Isn't It Neat?

Hi, y'all.

As I've mentioned before, I'm a really terrible procrastinator. The worst, really. I got a book once for how to organize your time and defeat procrastination, but (you know where this is going) I haven't gotten around to reading it. It's languishing in a pile somewhere, along with my books about how to conquer clutter. So, I'm just as clueless & behind as I was before, only now I have eleven fewer dollars in my wallet.

Where was I?

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I have this weird thing (I know, you're shocked!) with food textures. Certain things just gross me out and I just can't eat them. And, because I'm a special brand of crazy, I'm grossed out not only by things normal people think are gross, like slimy oysters or stretchy/chewy calamari or that disgusting layer of skin that pudding gets while it's chilling in the fridge...BLECH!...but I'm also grossed out by the texture of seemingly normal things like oranges and bananas. I also hate, HATE fake banana flavoring, but that's a whole other story.

Sail On, Silver Girl...

There's a scene in The Princess Bride (quite possibly the greatest movie of all time) in which Fezzik, Vizzini, & my dear Inigo are approaching the Cliffs of Insanity. Giving chase, and gaining on them, is the very cute Dread Pirate Roberts who's out to rescue their captive, his beloved Buttercup. And Inigo says, rather bemusedly, "He's right on top of us! I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using?"

My life has felt strangely similar recently. Heading for the Cliffs of Insanity, no wind in my sails. And sadly, no cute pirates anywhere in the vicinity.

*sigh* I need to find my inner Westley. Confident, funny, clever, and following through on a plan even when I've been mostly dead all day.

First thing I've gotta do is get my sails back up...and that's what I'm doing here. I get a lot of joy out of writing this little blog, and I realized this morning I haven't posted in a month. No wonder I'm cranky. So, stay tuned, because posts? They are a-comin'! I've got two recipes to share with y'all, as well as some little crafty things, and an update on my reading nook.

Thanks for reading!
-Mrs. K