Homemade Holiday-Part Two

Lesson 8
Homemade Hostess Gifts

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/hostess-gift-ideas

(Forget the bottle of wine, or just drink it yourself, and bring a baked treat to your next Holiday Party)

Just in time for Christmas! Laura Wright, the executive baker for 'Sweet Catastrophe', has given her ultimate Holiday Treat Recipe for her infamous Peppermint Patty Brownies! I know-chocolate, peppermint, gewy, yummy goodness! I served these most recently at The Ville's Holiday Fiesta and it was by far the shining star. I thought these top tier brownies would make the PERFECT hostess gift for my cousin Michelle, our hostess for Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is epic in my family. My first memories as a child are certainly from Christmas Eve. Just imagine boisterous, tan, fun, dancing, laughing, joking, loving, gift-giving madness good times!

80's Christmas with Michelle

'Sweet Catastrophe' is a Bake Shop about to take over Manhattan. If you get the lyrical reference then we should either be dating, best friends or you recently had a collapsed lung. ;) Here is a hint:

Peppermint Patty Brownies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c chocolate wafer crumbs
1/3 c finely chopped pecans, (Not a fan of nuts? Use extra cookie crumbs instead of pecans)
1/3 c butter or margarine, melted
10 Peppermint patties, chopped
1/2 c butter or margarine
3 (1 oz) unsweetened choc.. squares
1 c sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 t peppermint extract
1/2 c flour
1/8 t salt
14 Peppermint patties, halved

Procedure:

Line a 9 " square pan with aluminum foil, allowing it to extend over ends of pan.
Grease foil.
Stir together first 3 ingredients
Press into prepared pan
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
Sprinkle chopped PP over warm crust

While crust is baking, combine 1/2 cup butter and choc. squares in a glass bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute or until butter melts. Stir until choc melts and mixture is smooth. Stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla and peppermint extract. Add flour and salt. Stir well. Pour over crust.

Bake at 350 for 33 minutes. Remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle with halved pps. Bake 2 1/2 more minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 1 minute. Spread and swirl softened patties over brownies.

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack .

Lift brownies out of pan and but into squares.

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen

• Difficulty-3 out of 5. You do need to use a stove, measuring cups and really follow the recipe but the results are worth the effort!


• Execution-I give myself an A because these brownies taste banging! And I asked for help from someone who knows best. Martha has a crew of experts and I am beginning to realize my friends are experts in their own right.


• Fun Factor-What is there not to love? Melted chocolate and Peppermint Patties?!? I swear you just mix, melt, pour, bake and take some tastes in between steps. You can't help but smile while baking!

Many Thanks

to our contributor for today's recipe,

Laura Wright!

I owe you a date with Andrew BUT

we have to share him!