chocolate...must have some!!!

from Easter Sunday through most of last week there was an abundant, fortunate flow of chocolate through casa piacere, but by the weekend some people (ok, it was mostly me!) were digging through Easter basket grass in search of those overlooked pieces. you know those pieces...the ones no one actually chooses on her own, but the same ones a desparate, starved chocoholic will settle for in a pinch!

saturday afternoon i had finally had enough...later that evening was the neighborhood girls' night & i knew with absolute certainty that i would make something chocolate! & because girls' night can be a bit on the late side (i really am a morning person), i decided to work in some form of coffee too. & because booze is fun for girls' night...kahlua seemed logical! the end result...

mocha madness brownies (originally found on epicurious, my adapted version)

preheat oven to 350 & butter/flour a 9 X 13 pan.

melt 1 c. unsalted butter & 6 oz. unsweetened chocolate (i used baker's) over very low heat or in microwave. allow to cool after completely melted.

beat together on high speed 4 large eggs, 2 1/2 c. sugar, 2 t. vanilla, 2 T. ground espresso (i used lavazza...NOT instant!), & 2-3 T. kahlua until thick & pale (a good 5 minutes).

beat chocolate mixture into egg mixture.

sift 1 1/2 c. flour, 1 t. baking powder, & 1/2 t. salt together & gradually add to chocolate mixture until just blended.

spread mixture into prepared pan & bake 30 minutes. these brownies are moist & chewy...store in an airtight container. serve them to your girlfriends often!