teddy_radiator | Ooooooh, Where Do I Start? (Reply)

Been a great weekend! I know it's Tuesday already, but I have Sunday & Monday off, so my week starts on Tuesdays. Had a strong Friday and Saturday at the shop, and the promised snowstorm didn't. I finished two chapters of LML, and a twisted, sick, kinda kinky little one-shot that I'm going to post somewhere. I'd like to post it here, but I don't know how. It's about 3,760 words, and I don't really want to archive on Ash or TPP yet. I'd kind of like to get some opinions. Mimi and Tales liked it enough not to beat me up, but I'd like a few more opinions before I crucify myself on the alter of good taste.

I've been wanting to make a corkboard out of some old wine corks I have, and yesterday at a thrift store, I found the perfect shadow box doodah. It's about three feet long and about two feet high, and even has a little shelf on the bottom. It is perfect. Spent yesterday sanding and re-staining, and last night gluing the corks in. I must have over two hundred corks, but it's not enough. If any of you have any corks going spare.... I'm going to ask my local pub if they'll supply me.

I found the perfect frame, including mats, for Mimi's beautiful drawing (see my userpic), and the perfect frame for Sempra's print. It needs a little work (a good clean and a coat of gloss black paint) and it will go up on the wall with Mimi's Severus calendar and drawing. I'm starting to get more excited about putting together my writing space than the kids coming. That sounds awful. I don't mean it to be, it's just so excitng to have my own little nook, surrounded by the things I love to inspire me.

If someone can tell me how to upload text so that I can post my one-shot for perusal here, I would be ever so grateful. I've seen people do it here, but I just can't figure it out. I tried to upload it to scrapbook, but it didn't want to know. I'm such a numpty about these things.

I've just found the best brownie recipe in my Bon Appetite mag - it's really easy as well. Thought I'd share - we need more sweetness in our lives.

Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts

Makes 16

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 4 hour 50 minutes (includes cooling time)

Ingredients

Nonstick vegetable oil spray

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 1/4 cups sugar

3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (spooned into cup to measure, then leveled)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs, chilled

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon unbleached all purpose flour

1 cup walnut pieces

Preparation

Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 325°F. Line 8x8x2-inch metal baking pan with foil, pressing foil firmly against pan sides and leaving 2-inch overhang. Coat foil with nonstick spray. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking until butter stops foaming and browned bits form at bottom of pan, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; immediately add sugar, cocoa, 2 teaspoons water, vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon (generous) salt. Stir to blend. Let cool 5 minutes (mixture will still be hot). Add eggs to hot mixture 1 at a time, beating vigorously to blend after each addition. When mixture looks thick and shiny, add flour and stir until blended. Beat vigorously 60 strokes. Stir in nuts. Transfer batter to prepared pan.

Bake brownies until toothpick inserted into center comes out almost clean (with a few moist crumbs attached), about 25 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Cut into 4 strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 4 brownies. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.