Chewy Caramel Brownies

Good Evening everyone!

Let me just start by saying I had no intention of making anything tonight. My plan was to make dinner, give my little man a bath, put him to bed and head that way myself. Big day tomorrow--the girls I nanny for are starting school and sometimes it is a little challenging getting everyone out the door. Needless to say, my sweet tooth kicked in and all of the recipes that were swarming through my head all day long were dying to get out...What's quick, easy and delicious? YES! BROWNIES!!! Can't go wrong with brownies!

So what is going to make them special...No no..not THAT kind of special..although I know a few people who would pay good money for those kind of brownies, Sorry folks..not that kind of bakery...

I check the cupboard for something to fancy them up...hmmm caramel sounds good. I pick up my once full bag of caramels and it's strangely light....seems I have a mouse in my baking cabinet which explains why I have been finding caramel wrappers in the couch and on the coffee table...Luckily for John I have exactly enough--he dodged that bullet.... because nothing worse than going to the cupboard with something in mind and finding an empty bag of what used to be your supplies...no fun

SO as I'm whipping up some Spaghetti and Meatballs I work on the brownies...luckily Cash is happy with Daddy, which makes this go A LOT faster... I start with the butter and sugar...add the eggs and Mexican vanilla ( yes it is from Mexico, it's all I use- get that imitation crap outta here!) Sift the dry ingredients and incorporate them---Very important--- Always...ALWAYS use room temperature ingredients--this helps incorporate better and just makes everything smoother in my book. I unwrap the caramels and place one directly in the center so that once you get to the middle around all of the yummy, fudgy chocolate- you bite into creamy sweet caramel...

Now my problem with brownies is they are always fall apart chewy- for my taste these are perfect--melt in your mouth BUT...I need them to be somewhat firm so that when I sell them they won't fall all apart in bag or fall apart right when you pick them up...refrigerate them perhaps?? We shall see....

John enjoying his Caramel Brownie

My top taster and awesome husband said " it's all I look for in a brownie..chewy, melts in your mouth with just the right amount of caramel." One down...My other testers get their taste tomorrow---My boss's Melissa and Jason and their kids- Joey, Tara and Hunter---( Today when I asked them to be my testers Tara asked " do we have to pay you for them?" I told her "You do....two hugs per cupcake." She replies " hmmm I think I can swing that.") My brother Austin- his wife Jamie and our friend Clay.....We have all of these baked goodies on a rating system so we know which ones will make the list.....

I also checked to see if our name is taken--No, thank goodness....if no one guessed where we came up with the name---it is my two last names together Self and Luna :)

Lots of ideas today...so much fun ahead of us....CAN'T WAIT!