I am so excited to finally be in my new home!  To celebrate I have chosen five of my favorite baking recipes and two I hope become favorites to share this week.  I can't think of a better way to start off than with chocolate!

I don't think it is a secret that I like simple recipes.  I don't think that good food needs to be fussy or difficult.  I used to stay away from brownie recipes because they all seemed to require melting chocolate.  Since then I have developed a love of standing at a warm stove, slightly flushed, stirring the slowing melting pools of shiny chocolate as its deep aroma wafts up.  It's a very sensual experience that I didn't appreciate at the time so I was very happy to find this recipe from King Arthur's Flour.  Not only are these moist chocolatey brownies outstanding, there is no melting required and they are simple to make.  I have altered the preparation somewhat, but the ingredients are all the same.

I once made these for a friend who had just had a baby.  She said they were "to-die-for".  I couldn't agree more.  When I die just bury me with a batch of these and I'll be happy.

The Best Brownies Ever (Seriously)

2 sticks unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups sugar (I like baker's sugar)
11/4 cups dutch-processed cocoa (I use regular cocoa most of the time)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9x13-inch pan.

In a large microwavable bowl, melt the butter.  Once melted, stir in the sugar and put back into the microwave and heat for about one minute, until the sugar has dissolved a bit.  Do not allow to boil.

Mix together the cocoa, salt, and baking powder.  Stir into the butter mixture.  

Mix together the vanilla and eggs.  Stir into the butter-cocoa mixture.

Stir in the flour and then fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into the prepared pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 28-30 minutes.  

These brownies are very moist and it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether or not they are done.  Watch them carefully so they don't over bake.