Daughter Jean

A delicious, simple, chocolaty, fudgy brownie is simply perfection. My husband and I had a very diy wedding so, of course, I made a large tray of brownies. My brother was all about the brownies at the wedding. I recall him saying “These brownies fye.” Fye as in fire. For those that do not know, fye is defined in urban dictionary as “really good.” The ultimate compliment for a brownie in a world full of brownie options and recipes.

I have experienced the bland, dry, super sweet but not chocolately brownies that make you frown. They leave you confused and you’re wondering “why would someone do this to me?” because you those calories could have been consumed in a better way. Well this recipe is not one that upsets you. It puts a smile on your face and your taste buds dance. You may dance as well. Your taste buds even sing so it may not be a good idea to eat them in the library. Yes. They are that good. The recipe is simple, fast, and super delicious. You are left with crackly top, fudgy brownies that are not overly sweet that fulfill your chocolate craving.

Dairy

You can substitute the dairy in the recipe with alternatives if you have an allergy or you just do not choose to include it in your diet. I used oil instead of butter due to my own dairy allergy. The brownies are still delicious and fudgy. The results are not compromised at all.

The Best Fudge Brownies

Yield: 24 brownie squares

1 cup (8oz) butter, melted or oil (neutral tasting oil such as canola or grapeseed)

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

4 large eggs

2 tbsps vanilla extract

1 tsp salt

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened

Preheat oven to 350 °F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking pan and line with parchment paper.

Combine your melted butter (cooled) and sugars in a mixing bowl. Stir well to combine. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix to completely incorporate.

Add the flour and cocoa powder to the bowl. Mix until completely incorporated into the mixture. You just want to ensure that all of the dry ingredients get wet. Do not over mix.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not over bake. Allow the brownies to cool before cutting into squares. You can also eat them while they are warm (not hot! they will burn your mouth.) like we do sometimes because we just can’t wait. They are also extremely delicious while warm as well. Enjoy!

This recipe is hands down one of my faves! I have baked it several times to make sure I get the recipe just right before sharing it with you. I really enjoy creating recipes with different combinations and elements of flavor. Also, what can beat baking with fresh fruit? Well in this case I can say fresh fruit and not so fresh fruit due to the aged, ripe bananas. There is something beautiful about adding a twists to a classic recipe without losing the integrity of the original. I feel that was accomplished with this recipe.

The tahini, paste created from ground sesame seeds, adds an element of nuttiness that just can not be beat. I added orange zest to brighten up the overall flavor of the banana bread and add some contrast against the tahini and brown sugar. The orange zest also complimented the raspberries in a way unimaginable. The huge pops of flavor that come from the bright, tart, and sweet raspberries is very welcomed in this taste melody that occurs while enjoying this fresh baked loaf of goodness. The crunch of the sesame seeds on top is a great finisher. It echoes the wonderful tahini flavor that is added to the batter and gives a nice, addictive crunch that adds wonderful texture.

This banana bread has layers of flavor that are undeniable without being too much. It is super moist but it is also a nice tall loaf that rises a great deal with the distinctive banana bread crack down the center of the loaf. Check out the video and recipe below. Comment below and let me know what you think or if you have any questions. Let me know if you try it!

Tahini Banana Bread with Raspberries

Yield: 16 servings (1 slice)

2 cups of all-purpose flour

2 tsp of baking powder

½ tsp of baking soda

1 tsp of salt

3 ripe bananas, mashed (measured 1 ½ cup)

½ cup of granulated sugar

½ cup of brown sugar

2 eggs

½ cup canola oil

2/3 cup tahini

1 tsp vanilla

zest of 1 orange

12ozs fresh raspberries

1 tsp black sesame seeds

1 tsp white sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 350 °F. Prep your bread pan by oiling it and/or adding parchment paper to avoid sticking

Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

Add mashed bananas, sugar, tahini, oil, and vanilla to a separate bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. Add eggs one by one being sure to mix thoroughly after each addition. Add the orange zest. Stir until completely mixed.

Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture until completely mixed and no dry flour remains.

Gently fold your raspberries into the mixture. If using frozen, toss in a small amount of flour (about 2 tbsp) before folding into the mixture.

Add the batter into your prepared bread pan. Top with the black and white sesame seeds.

Place into the preheated oven. Bake for 70 minutes or until the banana bread springs back when pressed lightly in center.

Allow the bread to cool. You can eat it while its warm or allow it to completely cool. Enjoy!  

The table setting sets the tone for a gathering. However, you should be able to create a beautiful tablescape that is cost effective, simple, stress free, and beautiful. So I decided to create three looks using similar items so you can choose the best option for you and your event.

I used an informal table setting for the most “dressed” option. While I wanted to give a few examples of how to set a table I made sure to create looks that were not extremely formal. I wanted to design stress free examples and options that can be used for most gatherings. I will make a post later detailing the different types of table settings.

Cost

Setting a nice table does not have to break the bank. As a matter of fact, I prefer to use items I acquired at thrift stores. It saves money and adds a lot of character to your tablescape. I acquired the tablecloth ($2.99), salt and pepper shakers ($2.29), water goblets ($2.99), and the large flower vase ($1.99) from a couple of my favorite thrift stores.  You can really see the items shine in the video below. The other items I have collected over time. However, everything used can normally be found at most thrift shops.

Spending a large amount of money on flowers is also not a necessity. Flowers can break the bank depending on the type, if they are prearranged, and the location of purchase.The flowers I used came from the grocery store. They were cheap and I put in the time to arrange them myself to ensure there was not an increase in expenses.

Linens

A simple gray tablecloth was used to cover the table. The table can be used without a tablecloth as well but I preferred one for this look. It paired well with the simple dark blue linen napkins and the flowers by creating a neutral base.

Glassware

The table settings feature a ridged water goblet and a basic wine glass. The ridged water goblets add texture and a bit more interests to such a simple table setting. However, they are do not add an extreme amount of contrast and blends beautifully with the other elements of the table composition.

 Flowers

You do not have to be a florist to create a beautiful floral centerpiece. I like to look at Pinterest to get ideas for using flowers that are readily available during each season. I decided to group like flowers in the vase and use lots of greenery to simplify the process.

On the last table setting I decided to use bud vases for those of you that are not comfortable composing an arrangement. You can either spread them out in the middle of the table or group the bud vases together. By grouping them together they appear as one composed floral arrangement. Either way is a win. The awesome thing is that you have options to play with until you get the look that best for you.

Candles

Candles are a must for me when it comes to setting a beautiful table. Tall, wooden candle holders were used in the first table arrangement and it added a beautiful elegance to the table. Yet, they were still simple enough to blend with the clean, streamlined look. Pillar candles were used for the last two looks. No candle holder was used. The pillars were just placed on the tablecloth. They are super simple and another cost effective decision. As they burn the wax will drip on the tablecloth but it will peel right off once the wax cools.

You want to find a way to create a gathering that is stress free. If it stresses you out then you need to find an alternative that does not create negative energy. Your goal is to cook, eat, entertain, and enjoy your guests. Starting off your gathering by stressing is not ideal. Use that energy to talk, laugh, and create memories. Sounds a lot more appetizing right? Happy gatherings!