Thursday, June 10, 2010

so about those German chocolate brownies…

IMG_5396 Our story opens with an almost-full pan of deliciously decadent german chocolate brownies tucked in my fridge at 7:00pm. When the neighbor boy who had joined us for dinner noticed this bad toxic burning smell in our house. Everyone goes searching for the source room to room to room -decides its coming from the basement. No visible flame, fire, or source, but terrible smell & some smoke. Slightly nervous kids all take off outside into the rain afraid the house my suddenly combust, and begin running wildly in the yard. i calmly call the non-emergency fire number and tell them it's not a real fire but something is up and how would they feel abotu comign tot take a look. The fire dept comes, full truck and sirens (any excuse to use them in a small sleepy new england town), and the police too. Smart daddy-o and firefighters standing around in the basement trying to solve the mystery. Serious detective work, thermal imaging - much theorizing. Enough for a science crime show-- final determination rain leaking in through a vent makes it into the water heater picking up material along the way that made it highly conductive. Totally burning out wires inside the hot water heater!! (theory proven- the copper wires are no longer existent—totally evaporated!) Playing the genteel, charming hostess to my small town fire dept. (there should after all be refreshments even in times of fire crisis)  meant pulling out my fresh pan of high octane gourmet brownies as a polite offering of love for my local community fire and police personnel, the remainder were then spotted by neighbor children who had turned out to play on the truck and promptly descended on the pan like vultures to carrion flesh--declaring "Mrs Graff these are the best brownies EVER!"  As the trucks left the kids turned to a then led to a fantastic game of capture the flag in the yard in the rain, and we grown ups caught up with the various neighbors. As the night settles—I smartly relax in a bath with the remaining hot water, not sure when we’ll have more of that—and ponder the the remains of the day--  one small bit of brownie left in the pan, a pile of wet clothes, a stack of dishes (from finely chopping chocolate, gently whisking in eggs and sugar, carefully boiling the heavy cream, gently roasting pecans all afternoon), a house that reeks of burnt wires & a dead hot water heater! That my friends is the adventuresome tale of the german chocolate brownies -- I have been dreaming about making for 3 months!)

8 comments:

LL said...

speaking of "HOT"
YOU are smokin'.
Looking forward to hearing all about it tomorrow.

Trueman twins said...

Oh man! What a postive spin on a bad situation. I'm not surprised at you graciously offering treats! Ever the hostess!!

Company EIGHT said...

recipe, please! :)

bluestocking mama said...

good for you for offering the brownies. nobody messes with my treats in times of crisis. i should be as giving as you :)

and here's to a return to hot water soon

Swimmingmom said...

Wow, what a story!!!!! I'd imagine the firefighters went home quite satisfied that night!

Unknown said...

And you pulled it all off looking as smart as those women in your domestic series!...NEXT time I'm coming over for a brownies tutorial so I can get a sampling of the goodies!

Christy said...

SOmeday, if I am ever as good a baker as you..I will make you your very own pan of brownies,,,not to share! (you may be waiting a couple years just to let you know)

Anonymous said...

That is an amazing story! It seems like you guys never have a dull moment.

By the way, I too would die for that recipe. Katie has a new kitchen from our recent move and I have a strong love of all things German chocolate ;)