Saturday, February 9, 2008

Sandra Lee's Creme de Menthe Brownies.

Don't ask me why, but I felt compelled today, nay, INSPIRED, to recreate Sandra Lee's slo-kukked Creme de Menthe brownies.
T
he thing that gets me about Semi-Ho, is that 99% of her arrrussuppees call for things I don't have in my pantry and never stock. I do not have brownie mix. I actually go to the monkey business of making brownies from scratch. HORRORS! I don't have Andes mints in my pantry. I don't have Creme de Menthe on hand. I have the oil, eggs, and cream cheese, so I'm halfway there.
I'm just not a good Fandra.

Here's the arrrusssupppee:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_119747,00.html

So, today, Mr. Hawthorne and I went to our regular groshry shtore to pick up a few items needed for my crocked adventure.



My head is spinning.
I had no idea there were so many choices.














Gee, I don't know which one to pick.












































I know the Fandras must be scratching their collective heads on this one. What a quandary. I couldn't remember Sandra's recommendation of a 19.5 ounce box of Pillsbury milk chocolate brownie mix.
Actually, all the boxes I saw were 22. 5 ounces. I finally settled on Betty Crocker's Original Supreme Brownie Mix.















Now, here's where I got really confused. Knowing Sandy's propensity for overkill and redundancy in her menus, why didn't she choose Pillsbury's Mint Chocolate Brownie Mix with real Andes Mints?

The mind ... it boggles.














I caught Mr. Hawthorne in the dairy case picking out Jello puddings. He didn't know I was shooting this picture.
He wanted a sugar free,
fat free snack.

We finally get to checkout.
Mr. H. didn't know of my crockery plans and as he's emptying the cart, he pulls out the box of Betty Crocker Brownie Mix. He gives me the funniest WTF? look, then thinks for a second, and just says,
"Oh, Sandra Lee."
He knows me too well.


We get home and I'm anxious to start as it's already 3:30 and the arrrusssuppe says to slo-kuk for 4 1/2 to 6 hours! That's another thing about Semi-HO. She says her arrrusssupppee save you time and money. Now, I don't know about you, but I got brownie recipes that take 30-45 MINUTES, NOT 4 1/2 to 6 HOURS.
And Creme-de-Menthe is NOT cheap.
So, here's my mise-en-place.






I combine the brownie mix, 2 aigs, 1/2 cup vegetable oil
(Hey, Sandy! Could I substitute,, really, whatever's in my pantry? Like, I got some motor oil. Would that work?), and 1/4 cup Creme de Menthe.












Beat until smooth.
















Then, fold in your chopped Andes Mints.
I poured this konkoktion INto a 1/ 1/2 quart souffle dish.















I beat the cream cheese while adding 1/2 cup sugar.















Next, add in the aig.

Love those akshun shots!

















I add in one teaspoon of Creme de Menthe, which is a capful, as Sandy tells me.



















And here's a second capful (teaspoon) of Creme de Menthe.













Pour the creme mixture on top of the brownie mixture.

















Here, I'm swirling the two mixtures to create
a marble effect.

I put this INto my slo-kukker at 4:15 pm. I don't know when it will be done. Sandra has given me a window of
4 1/2 to 6 HOURS.

Sigh.




3 comments:

Unknown said...

"Could I substitute,, really, whatever's in my pantry? Like, I got some motor oil. Would that work?"

Only if you want the "brownies" to have that Great Racetrack Flavor!

Can't wait for your taste test, Rosie!

- Andy/bizook

Unknown said...

[Scratches head] You have motor oil in your pantry?

Rosie Hawthorne said...

"[Scratches head] You have motor oil in your pantry?"

Why, yes. Doesn't everyone?