Chocolate-Chip Brownie Muffins

Yes. Brownie. Muffins.

To finish off this week's guilty delights features I'm giving you the recipe that will be melt in your mouth delicious.

There are two ways to make this happen -- the box way or the homemade way.

I fancy the box way, just because you add your own little touches here and there and essentially cut the prep time in half. Oh how Sandra Lee would be SO proud!!

But here's the basics for the easy peasy way to brownie muffins. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F

• one box store-bought brownie mix (the fudge kind is really good)
• one large egg
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup water
  
• milk chocolate chips
• 12 muffin cups (or you can just spray the inside of the muffin pan with PAM)
• one muffin tray (12 cups)
  

1. Mix together the brownie mix, egg, oil, and water.
2. Spoon mixture into the muffin cups 3/4ths full.
3. Drop in milk chocolate chips, as many as your little heart desires
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until done, since some ovens are faster than others.

To top it off....make a simple chocolate ganache by melting dark chocolate bars in the microwave but be careful! Chocolate, like butter, burns very quickly. Once the brownie muffins are done, dip the tops into the ganache and let it set.

And a pat of butter and you're in for a muffin that looks like its from Willy Wonka's factory.

photo credit: twisted_karolina

"Sending Y'all Love & Best Dishes..."

Ohhh...Paula Deen.

How we all love your six pounds of butter, grease, and kitchen counter deep-fryer.

While Deen's food won't be found in any healthy eating cookbooks; this Southern diva's down home cooking is sure to please. After my college roommates and I made Giada De Laurentiis' "Ravioli Caprese" earlier this week, we decided to give Paula Deen's Southern Fried Chicken recipe a whirl.

Or, shall we say, we gave the recipe a try and it nearly gave us a heart attack. Deen's recipe calls for an undisclosed amount of oil for frying.

A word of advice, just dump an entire bottle into the griddle. Your arteries won't thank you later in life but your tummy will.

Deen's fried chicken is Southern to the core. It reminds me of my Grandma's fried chicken. Made on the stovetop in a kitchen not equipped for a grease fire or splattering molten lard all over the place.

I said this week's posts would be about trying out how celebrity chef's recipes and talk about the trial run of their preparations.

Deen's fried chicken couldn't be easier.

• Dredge the chicken in flour and egg
• Add a dash of Texas Pete hot sauce
• Plop the floured diddlies into a hot skillet
  
• Watch closely as they turn quickly into frittered goodness.

In true Paula Deen fashion, whip up some extra creamy mashed potatoes, make green beans and sprinkle them with bacon. Finish off with Devil's Food Cake.

After all, The Lady herself throughly enjoys chocolate.