Swatsiie’s Brownie Recipe and Quarantine Thoughts

This is a crazy phase of life, which one day – the day I’m really, really looking forward to, is a long, forgotten memory and just a story to keep the coming generations on their toes. But, for now, I am starting to experience new levels of gobsmackedness with how bored and restless I can be. I’m trying to find something new to do in this new normal.

I find myself colouring in the Zoé de Las Cases’ Secret New York, trying to come up with new writing assignments for myself, promising to not play anymore Candy Crush and actually read Pernille Hughes’ Probably the best kiss in the world. I also find myself perfecting my baking activities – like finally coming up with a batch of chocolate chip cookies (with nutella centre) that do not burn and brownies that are perfectly chewy, crispy and brownie-like.

So, apart from penning (or typing) down my thoughts, I thought I’ll put the recipe to my brownies! They’re not magical brownies – but, they do have magic. And no, the secret ingredient is not love. It’s boredom.

Ingredients:

Yogurt – 1 cup
Self-Raising Flour – 1 cup
Cocoa – 1/2 – 3/4 cup (depends on how dark you would like them to be)
Brown Sugar- 1/2 cup
Oil – 1/2 cup
Vanilla Essence – 1 tsp
Baking Powder – 1 1/2 tsp
Sodium Bicarbonate – 1/2 tsp
Hershey’s Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips – 1/2 cup

Method:

1. Empty the oven of all the things your mom’s stored inside.
2. Turn it on – and begin the preheating – I think it’s 350 Fahrenheit. Ask your mom. Or mine.  
3. Mix the oil and brown sugar in a bowl – and whisk (beat) till it’s mixed and fluffy. Then add the yogurt and whisk till it’s mixed properly. Once done, add the vanilla essence. (I’ll now call this the wet mix – for lack of better words)
4. In another bowl, sieve and mix cocoa, self-raising flour, baking powder and soda. (Let’s call this the dry mix)
5. Starting add the dry mix slowly into the wet mix – 1 tbsp at a time and keep whisking the batter. Eventually, add all the dry mix into the wet mix and whisk it all together – till everything looks like it belong together.
6. Don’t stick your fingers in yet – you can taste it after.
7. Add the chocolate chips and to not destroy them – take like those plastic thingy’s that scoop things clean or like a normal mixer wooden spoon or you know, a spoon and start mixing them in.
8. Butter up the cake dish – glaze it with a little ghee or butter and then pour the batter in (halfway in the dish). Leave some extra batter to eat after.
9. Put it in the oven for 20 minutes – and do the toothpick test. Depending on the oven – might take 20-30 minutes.