Celebrity Brownies for Bookclub Week!

by Peg Cochran

Welcome to my book club!  Have a seat and make yourself comfortable.  Help yourself to something to drink—we have coffee, tea, lemonade and some chilled white wine over on the sideboard. Tonight I am serving Celebrity Brownies—a recipe that comes from my friend Barb Newburg.   Their delicious richness will make you feel like a star!

We have a fun evening planned—girl-talk, a little gossip and a lively book discussion so settle back, relax and enjoy. 

 Celebrity Brownies

 1 20-oz. or 24-oz package brownie mix

 Frosting:

½ cup butter

1 lb. powdered sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Glaze:

1 cup bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ cup butter

Directions:

9 x 13 inch pan

Mix brownie according to directions on package for cake-like brownies.  Pour mixture into pan and bake.  Cool.

Frosting:

Beat ½ cup butter with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar, beating well.  Add 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla and mix well.  Frosting should be spreadable.  If frosting is too stiff, add third tablespoon of milk and mix well.

Spread frosting over cooled brownies.

Glaze:

Combine chocolate pieces and butter and cook, stirring, over low heat until melted.  Let cool slightly then pour chocolate mixture slowly over frosted brownies.

Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.  Store at room temperature.

Makes 24 bars.

Use a brownie mix to make your basic brownies

 

Cream butter until light and fluffy and beat in powdered sugar, vanilla and milk

 Spread butter cream frosting on prepared brownies

Drizzle melted chocolate/butter combo over frosted brownies. 

Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes

Yummy Layers!

Welcome to our book club!

 

Buy Now for your book group

Tonight we’re discussing my book Unholy Matrimony from my Lucille Series.  These books are humorous cozies that touch on deeper themes like family, faith and friends.  

Here are a few discussion points for your book group.

My main character, Lucille Mazzarella, believes family is everything.  To Lucille, family includes friends as well as second cousins once removed.  How do you define family?  Do you call really good friends of your parents' aunt and uncle?

Lucille's faith means the world to her, and she's determined to see her daughter married before she gives birth and the baby baptized in the church.  How do you feel about these things?  Are they important to you?  Is Lucille hopelessly antiquated or do you think she has a point?

To Lucille, food is synonymous with love and caring.  Cooking for her family means she cares.  Do you cook for your family or do you show your love in other ways? How?

Flo has been Lucille's best friend since second grade.  They've stuck together through thick and thin.  The path hasn't always been smooth, but they've always been there for each other.  How do you feel about your friends?  Are you willing to forgive and forget if they let you down?  Or does that mean it's over?

If you find these questions intriguing, you might enjoy my Lucille Series--Confession Is Murder and Unholy Matrimony.  The third book is in the works!

I also have a culinary mystery series called Gourmet De-Lite.  My protagonist, Gigi Fitzgerald, delivers homemade gourmet low-calorie meals to her clients.  I think she would caution you that these brownies are for special occasions only!!

 

By Now! 

My blog, I'm also on Facebook and Twitter @pegcochran!