To eat a whole platter of brownies, or not eat a whole platter of brownies--that is the question. It’s a tragedy we’ve all had the displeasure of experiencing, and let's face it; the platter always wins. ALWAYS. But it's time to put the foot down and insert some regulation to brownie eating.
The solution: a perfect, one-person brownie that can be made within minutes. Drum roll please...Brownie in a mug!
It's a perfect way to portion size and personalize a treat you love, not to mention it's fast! Succumb to your chocolate cravings without feeling like you completely went off your health path.
Short Brownie History
The brownie is a classic baked good that originated from the United States. But, we can start at the core origin of the brownie: chocolate. Chocolate originated from South America over 2,000 years ago when the Mayans smashed cocoa beans for religious and culinary purposes. By the late 1400s, Christopher Columbus integrated cocoa beans into European culture after visiting the Americas. In American Culture, chocolate was first consumed as an unsweetened, after-dinner beverage. Eventually, chocolate and sugar started to compliment each other in the forms of candy bars and cakes in the mid-1700s. It's not until a happy accident that the brownie would become famous. Mildred Brown Shrumpf from Bangor, Maine made the mistake of using less flour in her cake mix, resulting in a surprisingly tasty flat cake she would eventually publish in the 1906 edition of Fanny Farmer's "Boston Cooking-School Cook Book." Brownies today are a must at an American dinner table.
Ingredients
One-fourth cup of all-purpose flour
One-fourth cup of sugar or brown sugar
Two tbsp of olive oil
Two tbsp of cocoa powder
3.5 tbsp of water
Two scoops of ice cream (optional)
Recipe
One: Gather the essentials: flour, sugar, oil, cocoa powder, flour and water. Also your utensils!
Two: Mix together the dry ingredients: cocoa powder, flour and sugar.
Three: Once the dry ingredients are mixed together, mix in the liquids: oil and water. Stir the brownie mix until the consistency turns paste-like.
Four: Place into microwave on high for one minute and 45 seconds.
Five: Let the brownie sit for one minute (it's hot!!).
Six: Add optional ice scream or cool whip (highly recommend).
Eat and enjoy!
**Note** Substitutes can be integrated: use honey instead of sugar, whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour and whip cream instead of ice cream.
