Rachael Ray

So my Valentine’s Day went just as expected. My dog ate a pan of brownies that a customer had ordered from my baking business. We discovered we have a serious home pest issue and my husband and I spent the day with the exterminator (nothing says romance like the exterminator - and his bill).

My Valentine’s Day family dinner prep took longer than expected and my kids were wound up by the time I got dinner on the table. Before the meal even started, my daughter spilled a giant glass of cranberry juice all over the table that was strewn with valentines. As we sat down, I suggested we all go around the table and say one small thing we loved about each person in the family. Let’s see, my older daughter said “I love Mom because she’s sometimes nice and sometimes mean.” Hmm. That’s not really something she can love about me. My husband and I launched into a lecture about how lucky she is to have parents who care about her so much, she needs to think before she speaks and the impact her words have on others, etc., etc. Off to a flying start.

Next, my younger daughter of course was theatrically stumped and couldn’t come up with something she loved about her brother, driving him to sock her in the arm. (We are definitely not going through this exercise again.) Then my son couldn’t keep himself under control and after about 8 strikes was sent away from the table, at which point he threw himself on the couch in the kitchen and cried himself to sleep. At 7:30pm, before his scheduled shower, piano practice, and bedroom pick-up duties. At the conclusion of the tortuous dinner, my husband and I silently looked at each other across the table and took a giant sip of wine. However, I don’t think we would have it any other way.

The best part of the day was this brownie pudding recipe courtesy of Ina Garten that we had for dessert once the dust settled. All three kids ended up showered, chores done, quietly and appreciatively enjoying this delicious dessert, which is basically a giant fudgy brownie - best served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Brownie Pudding

(recipe adapted from a recipe by Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa)

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, plus extra for buttering the dish
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup good cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
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Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 2 quart baking dish. Melt the butter and set aside to cool. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 to 10 minutes, until very thick and light yellow. Meanwhile, stir together the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.

When the egg and sugar mixture is ready, reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla and the cocoa powder and flour mixture. Mix only until combined. With mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.

Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan. Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for exactly 1 hour. A cake tester inserted 2 inches from the side will come out 3/4 clean. The center will appear very under-baked; this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding.

Allow to cool and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Plan B Mom is a mostly-stay-at-home mom of 3 who works from home but sees her main job as managing her family. When she is not taking care of her 11-year old and 9-year old girls, 8- year old son, two yellow labs, and husband - she is baking, running, carpooling, or helping with homework. She tries to stay organized to keep life running smoothly - or at least catastrophies at bay. Follow her on Twitter at @PlanBMom.