WICKED BACON & COFFEE BROWNIES

I've always been a sucker for rich and highly flavorful noshes such as brownies or smoked bacon. I like my food to be tasty, comforting and naughty, so there is no wonder that those two items occupy the top of my list when it comes to my favorite grubs...

As much as I care about my health and diet I cannot resist a viscious treat especially if it's good. I believe that we aren't meant to go through our existence without having a little indulgence here and there. It would not be worth going through life's pitfalls if we were only meant to suffer. As a matter of fact if it were not for the very gratifying and comforting pleasures of life we would surely not stay on the boat for so long. It would be a pretty tough ride otherwise. Everybody needs an encouraging reward now and then. And if I go to Hell for thinking or behaving hedonistically, I don't mind as I'm 100% sure it is full of epicureans as all the sad and bitter people end up in Heaven!!!

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
- English Proverb -

Anyway, now that the weather and Nature's look are autmnal I am really starting to crave chocolaty desserts and "dirty" baked goods. So, the other day I got the idea to make brownies that would be original and diabolically droolworthy. For that I inspired myself from Alice Medrich's "Bittersweet Brownies" (this recipe can be found in her "Pure Desserts" cookbook) and created a totally new recipe that came out of my airy-fairy imagination.

As I had been meaning to try confectioning a sweet goodie with bacon since quite a while I thought that it would be awesome if I added that visciously delicious and crispy charcuterie to my brownies. In order to counter balance the round and exhalirating aromas of smoked bacon I also used 72% dark chocolate, Turkish coffee (not the brewed version but the fine coffee powder), pure vanilla bean paste from Australia and pink salt from Himalaya.

In my opinion, real Brownies that make make you drool incontrolably and have that oomph quality to them have to be super fudgy, moist, chewy, sludgy, dense, full of character, ever so slightly "cakey", intensely flavorful and mindblowingly calorific. If they are not in this way, then there's no fun and they are then granny chocolate cakes (I don't mean to insult grannies, though) and that's all.

Thankfully, those "Wicked Bacon, Turkish Coffee & Dark Chocolate" carry their name very well as they are indeed pornographically gorgeous and simply to die for. Those are Brownies with balls. They are soooooo bad!

~Wicked Bacon, Turkish Coffee & Dark Chocolate Brownies ~
Recipe by Rosa @Rosa's Yummy Yums 2010.

Ingredients:
240g (8oz) 72% Bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 Tbs (90g) Unsalted butter, cut into several pieces
3 Large eggs (63g)

1 Cup (210g) Castor sugar
1/2 Tsp Himalayan salt
1 Tsp Pure vanilla bean paste
1/3 Cup + 1/4 Tbs (46g) All-purpose flour
3/4 Tbs Turkish coffee (fine ground coffee from Turkey)
2.5oz (75g) Smoked bacon

Method:
1. Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels, and cool completely. Cut in small pieces.
2. Preheat the oven to 180° C (350˚F) and position a rack in the lower third of it.
3. Butter a 20 x 20cm (8inch) square baking pan and cover the bottom with parchement paper. 4. Place the chocolate and the butter in bain-marie bowl and place it in a pan of almost-simmering water.
5. Stir constantly until mixture is melted, smooth and warmish. Remove the bowl from the pan and set aside.

6. With a mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla together on high speed until the mixture is thick and pale in color, about 2 minutes.
7. Whisk in the warm chocolate, then fold in the flour and the coffee. Whisk energetically in order to get a shiny, viscous and homogenous batter. Then mix in the bacon.
8. Scrape the batter into the greased and paper lined pan and spread the batter evenly.
9. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes.
10. Cool in the pan on a rack.
11. Once the brownies are cold, invert them on rack and peel off the paper.
12. Turn right side up on cutting board and cut into sixteen 5cm (2inch) squares.

Remarks:
The original recipe didn't contain as much salt nor did it comprise bacon and coffee. You can make those brownies without those ingredients and with less salt (1/4 tsp), but don't forget to replace the coffee by the same amount of flour (1/3 Cup + 1Tbs).

Serving suggestions:
Eat those brownies whenever you need a chocolate fix and accompany them with a glass of very cold milk.

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~ Irrésistibles Brownies Au Bacon, Café Turc Et Au Chocolat Noir ~
Recette par Rosa @Rosa's Yummy Yums 2010.

Ingrédients:
240g de Chocolat noir à 72%, haché grossièrement
90g de Beurre non-salé, coupé en morceaux
3 Gros oeufs (63g)
210g de Sucre cristallisé
1/2 CC de Sel de l'Himalaya
1 CC de Pâte de vanille naturelle
46g de Farine blanche
3/4 CS de Café turc (poudre ultra fine)
75g de Bacon fumé, cru

Méthode:
1. Faire frire le bacon à température moyenne jusqu'à ce qu'il soit croquant. Le retirer de la poêle et le faire égoutter le bacon sur du papier ménage et le faire refroidir complètement avant de la couper en petits morceaux.
2. Placer la grille au tiers inférieur du four et le préchauffer à 180° C (350˚F).
3. Beurrer un moule carré à brownies de 20 x 20cm et recouvrir le fond de papier sulfurisé.
4. Mettre le chocolat dans un bain-marie et le placer au-dessus d'eau à peine frémissante.
5. Bien mélanger de manière constante jusqu'à ce que le tout soit fondu, lisse et chaud (pas trop tout de même).

6. Battre ensemble les oeufs, le sucre, le sel et la vanille avec un mixer pendant 2 minutes, jusqu'à ce que le mélange soit pâle et mousseux.
7. Incorporer le chocolat chaud au mélange oeufs/sucre et bien battre avec un fouet afin d'obtenir un mélange homogène. Ajouter la farine et le café. Bien battre afin que la pâte soit visqueuse, lisse et brillante. Ajouter le bacon et bien incorporer.
8. Verser la pâte dans le moule et bien lisser.
9. Cuire pendant 25 à 30 minutes, jusqu'à ce que le pointe d'un couteau inséré au milieu du brownie en resorte propre.
10. Faire refroidir sur une grille.
11. Une fois les brownies froids, les retourner sur une planche et enlever le papier sulfurisé.
12. Les retourner du bon côter et les couper en cubes de 5cm.

Remarques:
La recette originale ne contient pas autant de sel, et ne contient pas de café ou de bacon. Vous pouvez confectionner ces brownies en utilisant moins de sel (1/4 CC) et n'oubliez surtout pas de remplacer le café par la même quantité de farine.

Idées De Présentation:
Manger ces brownies à n'importe quelle heure de la journée ou de la nuit et consommer avec un bon vert de lait très froid.

CHEESECAKE MARBLED BROWNIES

Although, I have my favourite "Brownie" recipe (everyone does), my curiosity never stops and I'm always tempted to try new versions of that American classic...

I love gooey, fudgy and rich "Brownie Bars". If they are too cakey, dry, not chocolaty enough or bland, then they will not meet my taste nor leave a mark on me. By definition (at leat in my opinion), "Brownie Bars" should be "dirty" and not light at all, yet gourmet tasting and extremely scrumptious. But don't get me wrong, their dirtiness and hartiness should also go hand in hand with quality. I believe, that they can only taste good if they are made with the best ingredients (like anything cooked or baked, as a matter of fact).

I'm always looking for new inspiration and good recipes in magazines. I love buying them, so, naturally, my attention got caught by a photo featured in one of my "Gourmet" magazines (thanks to Jessica at "In Search Of Dessert" and Corinne!) which portrayed some wonderfully and ever so tempting "Cheescake Marbled Brownies". As they seem to have been widely approved by other foodfreaks like me, I'm sure that you must have already come across this fabulous recipe on other blogs. Everybody who had made those bars was very satisfied by them and praised their extreme delightfulness...

Those "Cheescake Marbled Brownies" combine together two popular and much appreciated classics of the American cuisine in order to create a treat which any dessert lover will adore. It is the ultimate hybrid "Brownie Bar" that will send shivers down your spine and fulfill your most wild cravings for chocolate or cheescake!

This wonderful speciality is quite addictive with it's deep cocoa flavored, not overly sweet, moist, dense, chewy and slightly fudgy brownie layer and with it's creamy and slightly tangy cheescake topping. Not only do these bars taste heavenly, but they are also very pretty and present well with their dainty white swirls that contrast beautifully with the dark-brown color of the brownies.

~ Cheesecake Marbled Brownies ~
Recipe taken from "Gourmet" magazine (USA), June 2007 and slightly adapted by Rosa @ Rosa's Yummy Yums.

Makes 16 brownies.

Ingredients for the "Brownie Batter":
1 Stick (1/2 Cup/120g) Unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 Ounces (60g) Unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 Cup Castor sugar
2 Large eggs (~63g)
1/2 Tsp Pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste
1/2 Tsp Salt
2/3 Cup Plain white flour
Ingredients for the "Cheesecake Batter":
8 Ounces (240g) Cream cheese, well softened
1/3 Cup Castor sugar
1 Large egg yolk (from a 70g egg)
1/4 Tsp Pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste

Method for the "Brownie Batter":
1. Put an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 180° C (350° F).
2. Butter an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan (brownie pan).
3. Heat butter and chocolate in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, whisking occasionally, just until melted (you can also use the bain-marie method to melt them).
4. Remove from heat, pour into a big bowl and whisk in sugar, eggs, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until well combined and shiny.
5. Whisk in flour until just combined and spread in baking pan.
Method for the "Cheesecake Batter" and for baking the brownies:
6. Whisk together the cheesecake batter ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
7. Dollop over brownie batter, then swirl in with a knife or spatula.
8. Bake until the edges are slightly puffed and center is just set, about 35-40 minutes.
9. Let cool on a wire rack.

Remarks:
I had no unsweetened chocoloate, so I used semisweet chocolate (60% cocoa) and added 3 tbs unsweetened cocoa (all three ingredients -butter, chocolate & cocoa - were mixed together at step 3).
I also added 1 Tbs lemon juice and 1/2 Tsp cornstarch to the cheesecake batter.
Try adding a few drops of lemon essence or some orange zest to the cheesecake batter.
Spices (cinnamon, cardamom, long pepper, tonka, etc...) can also be incorporated into the brownie batter.

Serving suggestions:
Serve warm, at room temperature or cold.
Those Brownies taste great when they are eaten together with some vanilla or peanut ice cream, sprinkled with pecan brittle or smothered with caramel sauce and accompanied by a glass of cold milk.

See my other bar recipes:
Coconut Custard Squares (see recipe)
Deadly Blondies (see recipe)
Dream Bars (see recipe)
Fantastic Blueberry Crumble Bars (see recipe)
Luscious Lemon Bars (see recipe)
Rhubarb Meringue Slices (see recipe)

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~ Brownies Marbrés Au Cheesecake ~
Recette tirée du magazine "Gourmet" (USA), Juin 2007 et adaptée par Rosa @ Rosa's Yummy Yums.

Pour 16 brownies.

Ingrédients pour les "Brownies":
1/2 Tasse (120g) de Beurre non-salé, coupé en morceaux
2 Onces (60g) de Chocolat non-sucré (0% de sucre), coupé en morceaux
1 Tasse de sucre cristallisé
2 Gros oeufs (~63g)
1/2 CC d'Extrait de vanille ou de pâte de vanille
1/2 CC de Sel
2/3 de Tasse de Farine blanche/fleur
Ingrédients pour le "Cheesecake":
8 Onces (240g) de Cream cheese (type Philadephia), bien battu
1/3 de Tasse de Sucre cristallisé
1 Jaune d'oeuf (provenant d'un gros oeuf de 70g)
1/4 de CC d'Extrait de vanille ou de pâte de vanille

Méthode pour la "Pâte à Brownie":
1. Placer une grille au milieu du four et préchauffer à 180° C (350° F).
2. Beurrer un moule carré de 20x20 cm (moule à brownie).
3. Chauffer le beurre et le chocolat dans une petite casserole, à petit feu, tout en mélangeant régulièrement, jusqu'à ce qu'ils aient fondu (ou faire fondre au bain-marie).
4. Retirer du feu, verser dans un grand bol et ajouter le sucre, les oeufs, la vanille et le sel, tout en battant afin que le mélange devienne homogène et brillant.
5. Incorporer la farine, en fouettant et verser la pâte dans le moule. Bien lisser.
Méthode pour la fabrication du "Cheesecake" et pour la cuisson des "Brownies":
6. Dans un petit bol, fouetter ensemble tous les ingrédients pour le cheesecake, jusqu'à ce que le mélange soit lisse.
7. Déposer délicatement des cuillérées du mélange au cream cheese sur la pâte à brownie, et faire des tourbillons à l'aide d'un couteau ou d'une spatule.
8. Cuire jusqu'à ce que les bords soient légèrement bombés et que le centre soit juste figé, environ 35 à 40 minutes.
9. Laisser refroidir sur une grille.

Remarques:
Comme je n'avais pas de chocolat non-sucré en stock, j'ai utilisé du chocolat contenant 60% de cacao et j'ai ajouté 3 CS de cacao en poudre non-sucré (le beurre, le chocolat et le cacao ont été mélangés au point 3).
J'ai aussi ajouté 1 CS de jus de citron et 1/2 CC de maïzena à mon mélange au cream cheese.
Pour varier les plaisirs, essayez d'ajouter de l'essence de citron ou du zeste d'orange dans votre préparation à base de cream cheese.
Vous pouvez aussi incorporer des épices (cannelle, cardamome, poivre long, tonka, etc...) dans la pâte à brownie.

Idées de présentation:
Servir tiède, à température ambiante ou froid.
Ces Brownies sont délicieux lorsqu'ils sont servis avec de la glace à la vanille ou aux cacahouètes, de la sauce au caramel, saupoudrés avec du pralin aux noix de pécan et sont dégustés avec un verre de lait bien froid.

Voir mes autres recettes de carrés:
Coconut Custard Squares (see recipe)
Deadly Blondies (see recipe)
Dream Bars (see recipe)
Fantastic Blueberry Crumble Bars (see recipe)
Luscious Lemon Bars (see recipe)
Rhubarb Meringue Slices (see recipe)