brownies from a new book

I just received this new book, Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share, and the timing is difficult with me limiting my sugar and all, but for research purposes, I had to try out a recipe. Notice I have switched to limiting my sugar, not cutting it out all together—cause, well. . .that's not going to happen. But I am thrilled to report that smaller sized pants were purchased last week! Moving on—

These are coconut brownies that actually have very little coconut swirled in. I am not a huge coconut fan but wanted to make something different and not completely tempting. They were immediately frozen to send to a friend with an upcoming birthday and the rest went to Pete's work, where I hear they were well received. I did try half of one and it was amazing. This was with coffee before 8:00 am when I think all chocolate should be consumed.

The book is very pleasing. It's a soft back and includes this great visual index which is so handy. The inside photos are mostly full bleeds, sparse and well done, and the text layout is really minimal. Lots of white space on the pages. Of course the recipes look wonderful as well. I have a feeling I will use it often. Hopefully not too often, if you know what I mean.

Comments

[Jacinda]

Love the idea of sending baked goods to far-away friends. Such a warm-n-fuzzy gesture.

[sarah]

I have a soft spot for Ms. Martha as my friend was a food editor for her magazine for a number of years.... and this book looks really yummy! I'll have to check it out!

[AJ]

> and the rest went to Pete's work, where I hear they were well received
Um yeah, I guess 'well received' would be how I would put it... if you count 'well received' as someone saying 'get in my belly'. Thanks for the brownies! :)

[Julie]

Ah -- I have this book on my wishlist. I think I'll have to bite the bullet and order it now. I've been making cookies out of the little holiday cookie mini-mag she did a couple years back and I was hoping this was a sturdier version along the same lines. Looks like it just might be.

[Lisa]

These look awesome! Have you looked at Jessica Seinfeld's "Deceptively Delicious"? She adds all kinds of veggies (like spinach) to sweets and the ones I've tried are really pretty good. I feel less guilty about the sugar if there's a little good stuff mixed in.

[Sara]

This book looks amazing. It would be 'dangerous' at my house! I'm trying to lose a few pounds after the last baby (he's 2 1/2!) and I love to bake - so it's a vicious cycle.

[Kelly]

YUM.

[Susanne]

That looks really very yum yum. I love Brownies. When I was in Florida a few years ago, I ate them the first time and I was in love at once. Here in Germany you can get them too, but they taste not that good like in your country.
Kindest regards
Susanne

[Swistle]

Oh, MAN. I'm dieting, and this is...like p0rrn.

[jenny]

hey, you and me both sans all the sugar. have you been having withdrawals? i really like having fruit in the morning... sure helps when my sweet tooth wants something.

[Toby]

that wedge-shaped chocolate thing on the right... you wouldn't mind trying it and giving a review, would you? looks decadent.

[HeatherM]

Yummy! Just looking at those brownies made me need a glass of milk!

[Marta Mourão]

Well, they seem amazing!!

[Marta Mourão]

Well, they seem amazing!!

[wendi]

are you doing anything else besides 'limiting your sugar'? I ask because i've been TRYING to diet the last few weeks and haven't lost a single pound...hoping you have a magic secret!

[Julie in Houston]

Martha is pure genius. I love how she organizes her books. This recipe looks great.

[kat]

now i know what is causing me to gain weight... the photos you post of your baked goodies!!

i feel better knowing i'm not to blame.

;-)

[Ellie]

Ohhh, I love really good brownies. These look good. Amazing that you only tried half - that's true willpower, maybe you need to treat yourself as a reward!
Have you tried using brown sugar in recipes (it's better for you than white or castor sugar, and works fine in all recipes, though maybe not meringue). And I always reduce the quantity of sugar in any cooking book - they often have so much in them. I'm training the kids to not need as much sugar. And, you can always try to use fruit sugar, instead of sucrose - date spread is lovely instead of sugar.
Congrats on the smaller pants!

[Henriette Brettell]

Hi Miss Amy,
I often read your blog as it makes me laugh and laugh! I thought of you when viewing something today, here it is:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9816521
Sorry, I STILL havn't learnt how to post links! Silly me :)

[Kristin]

Those brownies look absolutely fabulous! :) What lucky recipients they will go to!

[Pip]

Mmmm Brownies! Did you know that in Melbourne we have our own Brownies... called 'Brown Owls' - a bit like Girl Guides for Grown Ups - and all we do is sit around and do crafty stuff and eat biscuits and drink tea! I wish you could all come! Hurry hurry! Anyway, hooray for Brownies, edible or not!
xx

[Cook book lover]

Wow, those look great! I'd get the book just based on those photos... I sure hope my brownies come out that nice.

[Sara]

Thanks for the book review. I've been debating weather to buy it or not. I will now. The brownines look delicious!

[Mellissa - wondermommy]

Delicious! That looks like a great book to pick up.

[Moonbeam]

It's so funny you posted about brownies because I had a killer craving last night...I was lying in bed about to go to sleep and whining to my husband about wanting a brownie. He jokingly said well why don't you make some? I rushed to my cook book and ALMOST started but realized I was missing a couple of ingredients. This morning I've been researching recipes on Williams Sonoma's website - they have fantastic recipes in case you haven't tried them. Your post certainly didn't distract me from my crazed mission!

[rebecca]

This looks delicious!

[Heather]

Those brownies look so so good!!

[Steph]

wow, those look so great. and considering coconut is my favorite thing in the world I think I better order that book soon. it's been on my amazon wish list for awhile now.

[Kate of all Trades]

Couldn't agree with you more about chocolate in the morning. And I applaud your choice of making a recipe that you're not too tempted by, that's a good tip.

[Bacon Pecan Pie]

Yeah, "research purposes"!
They look so good!

[Ashley B]

oh yes, all chocolate is best with coffee at 8 am. I mean, really, a muffin is just a cake without frosting, so... brownies are like, a dense muffin really. And a dense muffin is absolutely breakfast food.

[Lasso the Moon]

I just love those Martha charts!

[Sally McEntire]

I'm actually on the search for the perfect brownie. This one looks yummy. I'm a big coconut fan.

[Grace]

OK, fantastic! I have the Holiday Cookies magazine special issue that they put out I guess two years ago, and it looks like the book follows a similar format, which I really liked.

And coconut brownies? Um, those would be *very* tempting to me...

[kirsten]

those look to die for....

[Hidden Eloise]

Hi there sweety:)
....!!! I'm SO happy to have just found out about your blog!! -yeah i know it took me long enough:(-
Anyway.. i'm loving it and i'll be trying this yummy recipe too:D

I'm off to read more:)
xxx
Hidden Eloise

[Tricia]

Coconut and chocolate brownies -- Delicious like a big Almond Joy.

[R Amour]

I just got this book, too!!! I am going to make the peanut butter brownies for my husbands birthday tomorrow. YUM!!!

[julie]

It's so funny that you beat Martha to the punch! She talked about this book on her show this morning and will be featuring a different cookie each day this week!

[forcryeye]

Yummy. Kudos on the smaller pants size!

[Tracey Willingham]

I have recently purchased a fantastic fabric but have no idea what to make with it. Any suggestions? Check it out:

www.itching2Bstitching.blogspot.com

Love to follow your blog!

Thanks!
Tracey

[Kristi]

Those look mouth watering.

[cheriwan]

I. Need. Brownies. Now.
I guess I'm not the only one who sees things on Esty and think of you. This one reminded me of your aesthetic. It's really cool- I wish I could sew like you people. Man.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5310858

Have a fantastic week!!
Cheri

[Christina]

another congrats on the smaller pants.. i have a closet full of clothing calling my name with sadness in their voice.. it's been 7 months now, i've got to stop using breastfeeding as an excuse to indulge my every whim...lol.. mmm, brownies...

[KarWar]

you gotta check out the new knitty.com, I think you will love the little girl bloomers, "emma's unmentionables"!

[Pamela Gardner]

I saw this book at Wegman's the other day-now I think I may have to succumb to temptation and buy it. I have a powerful sweet tooth which is not good in ladies of a certain age, if you know what I mean. I agree that eating sweets early in the a.m. is a good strategy. Ha!

[erinn Johnson]

I am dying for the book. I have a lot of her other books and I use them all the time.
Lucky you!

[molly!]

Yum, those brownies look so good! I am trying to limit my sugar intake as well, but just made a batch of cupcakes from Mariko's blog. Oh well, good luck with the sugar battle!

[Jenny Pocknall]

They look delicious.

[Jenny]

Speaking of consuming chocolate at 8:00am.....I once knew a catwalk model in New York. She told me that she only ever eats chocolate for breakfast----because that's the only time of the day when she can "afford" to eat something "fattening"!!! If you eat chocolate in the morning, she rationalized, then you have all day to "burn it off". She said it was commonplace for models to eat chocolate cake for breakfast! Who knew!