Being Neighborly

We have some new neighbors that just moved in a couple of doors down from us, so I thought that would be a perfect opportunity to bake some ooey -gooey drunken cherry and almond brownies. As you know, I am really trying to be good and not make sweets, or even have them in the house, unless I have a special reason to do so. New neighbors is an excellent reason to make something sweet and “naughty”.

Sometimes, things that come in a mix are the best. Brownies are one such thing. Everything is already pre-measured, and they almost always come out perfect. I started off with the Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate brownies, then added the cherries and almonds. When I was in culinary school, my pastry chef was the creator of the Pillsbury cakes, and he was a Master Pastry chef, so I know, the quality that goes into these top brand mixes. Ghirardelli is one you can’t go wrong with. It is definitely one of the best.

I cut the cherries in half and removed the pits, then I chopped them and soaked them in some almond tequila for a few minutes. I replaced some of the water that was called for with the almond tequila.

Other than adding the “drunken” cherries and almonds, believe it or not, I actually followed the recipe. This does not happen very often in my kitchen. It is a pretty rare event. 🙂

Once I evenly spread the brownie mixture into the baking pan, I sprinkled almond slivers on top and baked it at 325* F for about 1 hour. Then I let them cool completely before cutting.

They are still very ooey and gooey though. But they taste oh so good.

Each bite of brownie is a little bit of decadent bliss. 🙂 A little bit goes a long way. These are very rich and very decadent.

Stay safe and stay well Everyone. ‘Til next time.