November 2008 - Cinnamon-Pecan Surprise Brownie
The cinnamon and pecan parts are self-explanatory. The 'surprise' is the luscious icing made with Mexican chocolate. It has an unusual flavor, but with the usual degree of yumminess that you can count on from the Brownie-of-the-Month.
Year of the Brownie redux
2008 will once again be "The Year of the Brownie" at KNEADS. With very few exceptions, the December survey results were in favor of continuing with a featured Brownie each month.
Monthly Events
Here at KNEADS BAKERY, I will honor our great heritage by introducing a new Brownie each month. Customers' input will help to determine the characteristics of future Brownies.
See for Yourself - The Brownie Archive
Here are some photos of the featured Brownies so far. Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image.
Introducing Miss January 2008 - "Triple Chocolate Shocker"
Dense, fudgy, speckled with white chocolate, and draped in bittersweet ganache. "Ganache" is French for chocolate melted in heavy cream. If you need another reason to love the French, try one of our croissants.
February 2008 - "Peanut Passion"
PEANUT PASSION will be ruling the roost for the month of February. This one is more dense and fudgy than last year's chocolate & peanut creation. It's got loads of peanuts in it and a peanut butter-white chocolate icing. If you've got a passion for peanuts, this is the Brownie for you.
March 2008 - "Susan B. Brownie"
Imagine those lucky people in Bangor, Maine in 1914. Do you think they knew that they were eating a piece of this country's future? (There are other legends about the origin of Brownies, but this one is my favorite.)
March is National Women's History Month, and I have chosen to honor the un-named but much-loved woman who submitted this recipe to her local community cookbook by making it for my customers.
Since I don't know her name, I've dubbed this the "Susan B. Brownie" after another New England woman who also left this country better than she found it. If you're interested in National Women's History Month, or Susan B. Anthony, try these links.
April 2008 - "The Double 'R'"
Cinnamon swirls dance atop a lush chocolate brownie that is supported by a caramel-laced oatmeal crust. Three simple flavors align in perfect harmony to KNOCK YOU OUT.
I am often asked if I'm ever going to run out of ideas for the Brownie-of-the-Month. The simple answer is, NO. Naming all these ideas is often the hard part. I call this one The Double 'R'. If you ask me, I'll tell you why.
This month's recipe is one that I first made when I was quite young. It's from a cookbook that I worked my way through while other kids were playing 'tag' or 'Barbies' or some other unrewarding activity.
So reward yourself with a Brownie-of-the-Month today. And tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...
May 2008 - "Euphoria"
This Brownie-of-the-Month surpasses mere joy.
I was asked to create a Brownie similar to an "Almond Joy" candy bar, and I must say that I outdid myself. Lots of coconut, toasted almonds, gooey frosting, and two kinds of chocolate make these Euphoria.
June 2008 - "Bad Girl Brownie"
It's the Brownie!
This Brownie is so good, it made me neglect my duties.
Don't say that you haven't been warned. Cancel your afternoon appointments before you take the first bite of this maple -infused, pecan-studded mind bender. Or maybe it's the praline encrusted frosting that causes the bad behavior?
Either way, Miss June 2008 practically named herself..."Bad Girl Brownie".
July 2008 - "Bad Girl Brownie - Back"
It's the Brownie!
It's a simple idea; a new flavor every month that lasts for only one month. But Bad Girls just don't follow the rules. That's why they're bad. And that's why we love them so much.
Demand for the "Bad Girl" Brownie has been extraordinary, so I'm bending the rules to feature this amazing maple-pecan beauty for another four weeks. Is it the frosting? Is it the pralines on top? I don't know, but you've got the whole month of July to decide for yourself.
August 2008 - "Wicked Good White Walnut Brownie"
After an unprecedented eight weeks as the Brownie-of-the-Month, it's time for the Bad Girl Brownie to step aside. What could follow 'Bad' except a, "Wicked Good White Walnut Brownie."
'Wicked Good' is New England slang that fits this Yankee recipe just right. The instructions included the trick for getting the top crust all shiny and crinkley, so it's too beautiful for frosting. Packed with white chocolate chips and chunks of walnuts, this Brownie doesn't need the deeply satisfying flavor of brown sugar, but I added it anyway.
'Wicked Good' means over-the-top, and this Brownie will deliver you to that place with the very first bite.
And if you want to know the trick for getting the top crust all shiny and crinkely, just ask!
September 2008 - Stealth Brownie Unveiled
Last month's "Wicked Good White Walnut" Brownie was one of KNEADS' all-time best sellers. What was the secret to its amazing popularity?
What made you all buy this brownie repeatedly during August was not the chunks of walnuts or the loads of white chocolate chips. It was what you didn't see.
The "Wicked Good" is a 100% whole wheat Brownie.
YES!
I've tried this same recipe before and promoted it as a healthful treat and surprise, surprise, no one bought it.
So this time I tricked you.
You bought it and you loved it, and not one person guessed that they were enjoying whole grain goodness.
So now you know, and I'm taking the chance that this time you will buy it even though you know.
September will be a test; I will hold over the "Wicked Good White Walnut" Brownie.
Will KNEADS' customers choose an awesome Brownie even if it is whole wheat?
I sure hope so.
October 2008 - Bailout Brownie
You may not be suffering from a multi-billion dollar debt load yourself, but let's face it, we can all use a bit of help these days.
Worry no more!
The cavalry has arived in the form of the outrageous new Brownie-of-the-Month.
"Bailout Brownie" is no less than a Raspberry, White Chocolate, Cheesecake Brownie.
Equal portions of white chocolate-studded brownie and raspberry-rich cheesecake are swirled together to solve all but the biggest problems in your life.
For the biggest problems, have two!
Yes, this time I've really gone over the top, but these are dire times and extreme measures are necessary to rally our spirits.
I'm doing my part to stimulate an economic recovery, won't you pitch in too?
Take a delightful stroll downtown and pick up a few Bailout Brownies to share with your friends and loved ones.
Do it for our community ! Do it for our country! Do it for our future!
Cinnamon-Pecan Surprise Brownie
The cinnamon and pecan parts are self-explanatory. The 'surprise' is the luscious icing made with Mexican chocolate. It has an unusual flavor, but with the usual degree of yumminess that you can count on from the Brownie-of-the-Month.