Stories and Sweets
Oct. 18th, 2009 09:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fauxkloreLast night's story swap was very well attended - 21 people if I counted right. Not everybody told, of course, but listeners are highly valued. I just told a throw-away shaggy dog story, because I'm working on three things and not really focused enough on any of them. And, by the end of the evening, I realized what I should actually spend some time focused on.
The highlight of the evening was hearing Csenge, a young woman from Hungary who is performing at the Kids Euro Festival, tell a Hungarian folk tale. What was especially impressive is that she said she had never told that story in English before.
The swap was also an excuse for baking. I actually did what I'd intended with the idea of a recipe of the month, namely trying something from the (overflowing) clippings file. The chocolate pecan brownies turned out okay, but they were: a) a bit too sweet, b) not very strongly pecan-flavored and c) not as good as Marcia's brownies (for which I do have the recipe). But, in case someone else wants to try them, the recipe is:
1. Combine 3/4 c. sugar, 1/3 c. butter and 2 T. water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in 1 c. bittersweet chocolate morsels (about 1/2 a 12 ounce package) and 1 tsp. vanilla. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
2. Let cool. Beat in 2 eggs, 1 at a time. Stir in 1/4 c. flour and 1/4 tsp. baking soda.
3. Mix in remaining chocolate morsels and 1/2 c. chopped pecans. Pour into a greased 9 inch square baking pan.
4. Bake at 325 degrees until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
The highlight of the evening was hearing Csenge, a young woman from Hungary who is performing at the Kids Euro Festival, tell a Hungarian folk tale. What was especially impressive is that she said she had never told that story in English before.
The swap was also an excuse for baking. I actually did what I'd intended with the idea of a recipe of the month, namely trying something from the (overflowing) clippings file. The chocolate pecan brownies turned out okay, but they were: a) a bit too sweet, b) not very strongly pecan-flavored and c) not as good as Marcia's brownies (for which I do have the recipe). But, in case someone else wants to try them, the recipe is:
1. Combine 3/4 c. sugar, 1/3 c. butter and 2 T. water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in 1 c. bittersweet chocolate morsels (about 1/2 a 12 ounce package) and 1 tsp. vanilla. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
2. Let cool. Beat in 2 eggs, 1 at a time. Stir in 1/4 c. flour and 1/4 tsp. baking soda.
3. Mix in remaining chocolate morsels and 1/2 c. chopped pecans. Pour into a greased 9 inch square baking pan.
4. Bake at 325 degrees until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
