labor of love

mixing your life routine with another's will certainly take your relationship to a different level.  you learn their habits: shower in the morning or at night?  use the dishwasher or wash by hand?  avid tv watcher or not?  salty snacks or sweet?  laundry once a week or once every two weeks?... or longer? 

there's also the intangible benefit of conversation.  you know, chats about our individual journeys along the path of life and all the obstacles, hills, and valleys we encounter along the way.  my best roommate memories stem from late nights sitting in the hallway between our two rooms, asking good questions, and responding with even better answers.

i recently said farewell to one of my longest running roommates.  she got herself hitched. oh em gee!  (it's one of her favorite phrases).  it's hard adjusting to the empty room upstairs and learning to ignore the creaking sounds that only seem to surface at night when it's dark.  but thankfully, i only have a couple more weeks before a new roommate arrives.

to show just a sliver of my appreciation and love, i baked up some brownies and delivered them to the happy couple before they left for their honeymoon.  bon voyage my friend....on your honeymoon and on this new road of life  =)

chocolate peanut butter brownies

ingredients

brownie batter:
8 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2/3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cups white sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

peanut butter swirl
4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla

how to:
preheat to 325
butter 8" square pan
start by preparing brownie batter.
melt butter and both chocolates in a bowl set over (not in) simmering (not boiling) water. you can also melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave.  see note below.
whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl and set aside.
whisk sugar into chocolate mixture.
whisk in eggs one at a time.
stir in vanilla.
add flour mixture and mix until incorporated.
prepare peanut butter swirl.
combine all ingredients for the swirl and stir until smooth.
spread half of the brownie batter in the bottom of the prepared pan.
dollop half of the peanut butter filling on top (each dollop about 1 tbsp).
pour in remaining brownie batter.
dollop remaining peanut butter fillling on top.
make swirl patterns by dragging a butter knife lengthwise and crosswise through all layers.
bake for 35-40 min.

note:
there are two common ways to melt chocolate: 1) using a double boiler (the method above) and 2) using a microwave.  if you use a microwave, place the chocolate and butter (if using) in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals.  stir after each 30 second interval.  resist the urge to microwave the chocolate until it's completely smooth.  you'll end up burning the chocolate.  when you see some small clumps of chocolate, stop right there.  stirring the mixture usually melts these last bits.