Friday, July 09, 2010

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate & Excellent Brownies

Days before we moved from Kansas to Utah, the awesome folks at Green & Black’s offered to send me some of their organic chocolate.  Well, I certainly would never turn down chocolate!  This stash arrived in my mailbox just a few days later--

DSCF4180

Thank you Green & Black’s.  Here’s a little information about Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate.

“Green & Black’s offers no compromise—great taste and the finest organic ingredients.  Our aim is to create great tasting chocolate.  We believe that every step from bean to bar is equally important—whether it’s using the finest organically grown cocoa beans or taking that extra time and care to bring out the intense flavor that has become our trademark.

First introduced in England in 1991, Green & Black’s the world’s first organic chocolate, made the voyage to the United States in 2003.  In addition to their popular chocolate bars, chocolate lovers also can enjoy Green & Black’s hot chocolate, baking bars and ice cream.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Only days after getting somewhat settled here in Utah, I HAD to bake something.  After talking (emailing) with Chef Paige about her brownies, I knew that was what I was going to bake with some of Green & Black’s chocolate.  Paige was concerned about the brownies when she tried them with a great quality chocolate (Scharffen Berger) and they didn’t turn out as well as when she usually makes them with Lindt Excellent 70% Dark Chocolate.  Thinking all good quality chocolate is equal, especially if the percentage is the same, she was surprised at the results.   I mentioned to her that I’d try the brownies with some of the Green & Black’s I was sent.  I used the 70"% cocoa content dark chocolate.  But since the recipe calls for 6 ounces, I only had 3.5 ounces, so I halved the brownie recipe and made them in an 8x4 inch bread pan.  (I cannot vouch for what happened to the extra half ounce of chocolate. :)

I need to make the brownies again and use Paige’s recommended Lindt chocolate (which I buy most often), but I thought the brownies with Green & Black’s were fabulous.  Kevin wanted to taste them right after they cooled out of the oven, so the only pictures are took of them are fresh as can be. 

DSCF4282  

Almost nothing is better than a perfectly chilled brownie (at least a few hours to overnight), so we saved most of them for the next day.   Our friend, Dan, was still here from Kansas and had the pleasure  ;) of trying a brownie.  He raved about how perfect they were.  I agree, these are perfectly fudgy, but not gooey, they have a very light crisp top and the chocolate flavor was right on. 

You can get the recipe on Paige’s blog here.  Excellent Brownies

Thanks to Paige for the recipe and thanks again, Green & Black’s for the chocolate.  Can’t wait to try the other flavors!

DSCF4272

Random photo of Scott and Sam laying on the couch together watching tv.  Gotta catch those moments with Scott!

View of mountains all around us.  Part of our backyard--

DSCF4318

Our neighbors have horses.

DSCF4320

Out the front.  More mountains!

DSCF4321

It is so beautiful here!  And on that note, we do miss Kansas, which was a lot more green.  It’s amazing how there really is beauty wherever we go on this earth!  (Even when we lived in Arizona, we learned there are many, many shades of brown to enjoy. ;)  Arizona had some great sunsets with cactus in the foreground.

That’s all for now.

19 comments:

Amanda said...

I love that picture of the boys, it's just so sweet! What a beautiful neighborhood, I am so envious! I loved that storm picture you posted in your goodbye to Kansas, fabulous cloud formations. Hope you are getting settled in!

Simply Life said...

oooh now I'm craving chocolate!

Anna said...

Wow, I'm surprised they were good with Green & Black's but not Scharffen Berger.

Unknown said...

The brownies look delicious!! That picture of the boys is adorable!!

Fallon said...

I love G&B chocolate. You have to try the hazelnut and currant one. That is my favorite. Those brownies look amazing. I can only imagine how good they taste!

Eliana said...

I'm not a huge chocolate lover but I baked some chocolate chip cookies recently with this chocolate and absolutely loved it. Made a world of difference in flavor and now I can't imagine using any other type of chocolate for my baking needs :)

La Cucina del Topino said...

Youm! these brownies look amazing, I love chocolate!
Pictures are lovely!

Valerie said...

I've heard of this chocolate, but never tried it. Now I really want too.

Fantastic Mr. R said...

Welcome to UT! It sounds like you got an incredible home-I love that area. I've got sisters in Pleasant Grove and Saratoga Springs. I'm down South but maybe one day we'll get a chance to meet! Good luck with all your boxes!

Anonymous said...

That picture of the boys is priceless! Love your backyard view!

Paige said...

Hi Katrina, Thanks again for trying the brownies with the Green & Blacks. I will have to try it.

Your view is incredible! You are right--almost anywhere you go you can find astonishing beauty if you look!

Jacque said...

Oooh, lucky you! Brownies and mountains! doesn't get much better than that. Your boys look so sweet :)

Donna-FFW said...

Your home is beautiful, I love the porch. And your view.. so envious. orgeous gorgeous gorgeous. I wish you much happiness there.

Brownies look the BOMB!

Diana's Cocina said...

Lovely home and beautiful view. I can only imagine how delicious the brownies are, they look amazing.

Jaime said...

wow look at where you live! seriously beautiful. we don't even have a yard (we live in a townhome) - boo.

i will have to try the philly choc. ice cream next :) any excuse to make choc. ice cream :)

Anonymous said...

The brownies look excellent and the setting for your new home is absolutely beautiful!
Sue

Maria said...

Love the brownies. We need to meet up!

Kim K. said...

Green & Blacks is one of my favorite! Somehow one of the bars seems to always slip into my shopping cart as I'm walking the aisles. the brownies look wonderful and I have definitely added them to my "must try" list. Your photos are wonderful!

Alisa@Foodista said...

It's wonderful to wake up and see all these beauty and space all around you! I really love reading your blog!