K is for Kitchen

Harlan reveals an episode from his teen years that took place on a kitchen’s chopping block counter. Carrie found it an amusing tale (tail?). It reveals a lot about him and his family.

Carrie (my protag from Streetwalker) is not much for cooking, but she isn’t wild about Harlan’s insistence on eating healthfully either, so every once in a while she just has to indulge.

If she baked, she’d sneak into the kitchen at night and here’s what she would make. And it’s so easy, even Carrie could bake these Nutella Brownies--with cinnamon, of course.

Nutella Brownies (12 mini-muffin servings)

½ c  Nutella                                  ¼ c mini choc chips
1 large egg                                    ½ t cinnamon

1 t olive oil                                    ½ c chopped nuts
5 Tbsp flour

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup mini muffin pan with paper or foil liners or spray with Pam.

Put the Nutella, egg, and oil in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth and well blended. Add the flour and whisk until blended. Add chocolate chips. Add cinnamon, if using.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin (about 3/4 full) and sprinkle with the chopped nuts.

Bake until a toothpick comes out with wet, gooey crumbs, 11 to 12 minutes (longer for a chewier brownie).

Set on a rack to cool completely. Serve immediately or cover and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. She’d sprinkle on powdered sugar to make them prettier.

Whereas, Harlan would not approve of the treat, Carrie might convince him with a side-show in the kitchen as an enticement to look the other way!