Nineteen boxes are packed, seven paintings are bubble-wrapped, and it still looks like I've got at least four more days of work ahead of me. In the meantime, is there anything worse than going to bed in a room with bare walls and boxes lining the bedside? I put a few things back on my bedroom walls and shoved some boxes out to the living room, making the middle-of-the-night bathroom run somewhat of a dangerous slalom exercise, but at least I don't wake up in the morning to a room resembling a mental health ward.
Speaking of mental health, I have some advice for the change-averse and move-phobic. First of all, on your last weekend in Manhattan, make some friends have you over for an unexpectedly raucous dinner party, where you find yourself belting out Tom Petty lyrics at the top of your lungs along with seven other inebriated souls at two o'clock in the morning, convincing you that this dinner party is by far the best dinner party you've ever been to, which then, instead of leading you to wallow in self-pity about the fact that you will no longer be able to walk home from dinner parties such as this one, leads you to start brainstorming ways in which your Queens apartment can be soundproofed for the next drunken singalong.
Second of all, invite a group of single men and your boyfriend over for a "clean-out-the-fridge barbecue" in which all the frozen beef and half-empty bottles of ketchup and mustard are turned into juicy, drippy burgers and the conversation degenerates so quickly that before you know it, you've been dispatched out of your own backyard into your living room, where you find yourself a secretly contented packer as the boys stay up late talking about slugs and snails and puppy dogs tails. Oh, and picking up chicks, natch.
Thirdly, have your boyfriend recoil in horror at the world's largest millipede, positioned conveniently in the corner of your bedroom and over your shoulder, then have him chase the millipede with a rolled-up Sunday Styles section around your room (that your boyfriend is 6 foot 5 and the room is 10 by 11 and littered with boxes only adds to the tragicomedy) until the millipede ends up on the end of the newspaper roll along with dust bunnies you didn't know you had, leaving you so disgusted that you think the movers can't come soon enough.
At this point, you'll be champing at the bit, I promise.
In other news, I thought you might like to know that we finished all the coarse-ground cornmeal in the cupboards this weekend - it was exactly enough to make a nicely creamy mound of polenta alongside some ratatouille and a broiled chicken breast for our last Sunday lunch in Chelsea. Throwing out that crinkled plastic bag was immensely satisfying. Not as satisfying, though, as finishing the last corner of Parmigiano (grated into the zucchini risotto at dinner yesterday) and definitely not nearly as satisfying as using up all the butter, eggs and brown sugar in a pan of brownies tonight.
Mmmmm. Brownies. Mmmmm-yessss.
Well, wait a minute. I don't mean to be an ingrate - after all, I've got fresh brownie smell wafting through my apartment - but these exalted brownies are cakier than I was hoping for and frankly, need. After all, moving week requires something darker and fudgier, something practically clay-like. No? Wouldn't you agree? There's a time for cakey brownies and a time for fudgy ones, and this just happens to be one of those fudgy times.
...
(Fourthly, consider how nice it will be, once you live in Queens, to be able to run upstairs to your friends' apartment and make them eat the other half of the brownie pan in return for a cuddle with their baby. Maybe moving ain't so bad after all.)
Supernatural Brownies
Yields 15 large or 24 small brownies
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) butter, more for pan and parchment paper
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup dark brown sugar, such as muscovado
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or 3/4 cup whole walnuts, optional
1. Butter a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and line with buttered parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, or on low power in a microwave, melt butter and chocolate together. Cool slightly. In a large bowl or mixer, whisk eggs. Whisk in salt, sugars and vanilla.
2. Whisk in chocolate mixture. Fold in flour just until combined. If using chopped walnuts, stir them in. Pour batter into prepared pan. If using whole walnuts, arrange on top of batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until shiny and beginning to crack on top. Cool in pan on rack.
These are the *best* brownies! i alternate between these and ina garten's outrageous brownies (which are sometimes too much, too rich) as my 'go-to' brownies. if you let them sit in the refrigerator overnight, then bring them to rrom temperature...they're even better.
Good luck with the move!
Posted by: Tracy | July 24, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Okay, the baby clenches the deal (so said the girl who just today got her nieces back from their east coast summer vacation and now thinks that hugs from little ones actually do make the world go round). Get thee to Queens!
It sounds as though you are doing a dandy job of going through all the stages, last dinner parties and all. Pretty soon you'll be able switch from "lasts" to "firsts" and that will be fun.
As for brownies, I am almost always a fudgy brownie kind of a gal. I figure life is rocky, your brownie should be smooth.
Posted by: Tea | July 25, 2007 at 03:03 AM
I really admire your adventurous soul. I have one brownie recipe, and I think I´ll make that until the day of the last big move to the brownie fields in the sky. I love it, but sometimes I wonder if I´m missing out on some untapped marvels out there.
Posted by: lobstersquad | July 25, 2007 at 04:12 AM
It sounds like there is a wonderful exclamation point coming at the end of this month -- whew, the moving is over -- and another hard on its heels for the first of next month -- hooray, a new home and new adventures! Brownies can only add to the celebrations.
Posted by: Lydia | July 25, 2007 at 06:23 AM
I'm reliving my recent move here and getting scared about having to do it again in about a month. Brownies sound like the perfect accompaniment to moving angst. Hang in there!
Posted by: Mary | July 25, 2007 at 08:12 AM
well I certainly am excited about the prospect of half-batches of brownies. But don't worry - cuddles with baby Charlotte are free.
x
Posted by: gemma | July 25, 2007 at 09:06 AM
I'm with Tea--it's no fun sleeping in a place shorn of decoration with everything packed in boxes, but it's also thrilling because you know that it's just part of the journey towards something new.
Posted by: Homesick Texan | July 25, 2007 at 10:05 AM
This is serendipity. I've been dying for brownies -- thanks!
Mike
Posted by: cry it out! | July 25, 2007 at 12:49 PM
These look great too! I'm going to have to try these!
I actually tried David Lebowitz's Dulce de Leche brownies (on my site) and holy smokes! Total knock out.
These look great too and I'll have to give them a shot :)
You've got serious talent for photography too! What Camera do you use?
Posted by: suburbangourmet | July 25, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Good luck with the final stages of the move. I tend to favor fudgy brownies over their cakier brethren at all times. My favorite fudgy brownie recipe is from Alice Medrich's Bittersweet (I think a similar recipe of hers appeared in the New York Times with this Malgieri one a few months back). It's really the rich, comforting thing for times like this.
Posted by: mary | July 25, 2007 at 01:51 PM
Luisa, this is sinful - can I have some? :)
Posted by: Patricia Scarpin | July 25, 2007 at 01:57 PM
At least the end is in sight, and it sounds like you've had a very fine send-off, indeed.
That said, are you daft girl?!? It is NEVER time for cakey brownies!!!
Posted by: s'kat | July 25, 2007 at 02:08 PM
This post made me feel like *I* was moving, and I'm not at all. Ha. LOVE the pictures. The brownie picture and recipe made me drool, and the overhead picture of your meal was adorable. Good luck with everything! Keep up the blog! :)
Posted by: Hillary | July 25, 2007 at 04:04 PM
Tracy - thank you! After eating one brownie last night, I put the pan in the fridge. Malgieri also says to let these sit overnight. Can't wait for one tonight! The cold will certainly help "densify" the brownie.
Tea - your last sentence is classic. I mean, like tag-line classic. Seriously ;)
Ximena - the big brownie field in the sky - hee. You know, I used to also have my one faithful brownie recipe (from Martha Stewart), but this blog has me making all kinds of different ones. To be honest, none of them have yet come close to being as good as hers, but it's kind of fun to have all these tastings in between...
Lydia - yes, yes! The new adventure! I'm so thrilled. It feels so real now.
Mary - another move, oh no! I feel for you, lady. Yes, brownies will make you feel better for sure, especially the making of. So nice and soothing, those familiar motions.
Gemma - sweet ;)
Lisa - you're right, now that it's just a matter of days, I'm getting pretty excited. Sleepless even!
Mike - you're welcome!
Suburban Gourmet - pretty much every recipe from David is a knock-out. He's a master. As for my photography, I'm flattered, thank you. I use a little point-and-shoot: the Panasonic Lumix.
Mary - I almost made that one last night! I just didn't feel like dealing with the water bath. But it's just a matter of time before I get around to it - maybe it'll be the first thing I bake in the new place? We'll see...
Patricia - I wish! We're never going to get around to finishing all of them.
S'kat - weeeeell, I was trying to be diplomatic ;)
Hillary - thank you!
Posted by: Luisa | July 25, 2007 at 04:52 PM
I had zucchini risotto this week too, except mine were grated not sliced, and I was eating an a box-free apartment. Good luck with the move-- change is good.
Posted by: Adrienne | July 25, 2007 at 06:15 PM
I love that brownie recipe, though I usually halve it for an 8 inch pan (or lack of neighbors). You're photography's looking good, and I bet it will be even better in that new apartment with more natural light!
Posted by: Mercedes | July 25, 2007 at 09:04 PM
Good luck on your move!! I think you've made them already, but from the trio of brownie recipes, I think Dorie Greenspan's French Chocolate Brownies were the perfect combination! A nice crackly top, but totally fudgy inside. Almost like a truffle. I found the A. Medrich ones good when cold, but at room temp. they had a peculiar consistency.
p.s. If your neighbors don't want the other half of your brownies, let me know! I'd be happy to take them off of your hands! haha
Posted by: Virtual Frolic | July 25, 2007 at 09:11 PM
Brownies, just the right thing for a cold, bare-walled room, and you're right, must be the sweet fudgie ones!
Good luck on your move.
Ronell
Posted by: Ronell | July 26, 2007 at 09:20 AM
I like cakey brownies! am I the only one?
my biggest thing about brownies is the "sheen" they need to be shiny and have almost like a little glaze on top, don't know why, but man, I love that! I hoe the packing's going well... and I love the story about Ben's friends coming over. Men are so great :-)
Posted by: ann | July 26, 2007 at 11:45 AM
As far as I am concerned, there is really no time when fudgy brownies are not to be preferred. Not that I turn down the cake-y ones, mind...but it is a very strong preference.
Much as I despise, dread and avoid whenever possible the torments of moving house, I do appreciate the joys of using up the food cleverly before leaving. The process has some of the same challenges (and satisfactions) of working with the limitations imposed by a weekly CSA farmbox.
Observant Jews go through the process every year before Passover, which would be awful frequent for a lazy so and so like myself. But it always feels like a good exercise when you do it, doesn't it?
Posted by: lindy | July 28, 2007 at 06:51 AM
Good luck with your move to beautiful Forest Hills. I grew up in Forest Hills Gardens and my parents only recently moved from our charming house...and how we miss it! Enjoy the quiet and the gardens. You'll find everything food-wise that you need locally (and at the Natural Gourmet shop on Austin Street) including the nice pastry shop called Bonelle on Ascan Avenue. Love your website and thanks for all the excellent work you do testing and figuring out ways to make good things even better. All the best!
Posted by: Vanessa | July 29, 2007 at 09:15 AM
The first time I made the Supernatural Brownies, I too found them disappointingly cakey. So the next time I replaced 1/4 c. of the flour with cocoa powder, and instead of a 1:1 brown-to-white sugar ratio I used (I think) approximately 2:1. That did the trick--the brownies were so fudgy that eating them at room temperature was a somewhat nauseating experience, but straight out of the fridge or freezer they were splendid.
Posted by: Anna | July 29, 2007 at 01:43 PM
Adrienne - mmm, that sounds lovely. I haven't had a home-cooked meal since last week - that' the worst part of Move Week. But I'm in the new place! And the kitchen is set up! Homemade risotto soon.
Mercedes - the light in the new place is indeed fantastic and I'm already so excited for taking photos here. A half-batch of the brownies sounds like a good idea - can you believe we didn't even finish them?
VF - that is SO odd, I found Dorie's brownies totally, completely cakey! How strange that they worked out so differently for us... Of course, I'm still planning on making Alice Medrich's, just to complete the trilogy. ;)
Ronell - I'm glad you agree, though sadly, I didn't bring them with me, so things are a little bleak in this new apartment! I'll have to remedy that soon.
Ann - Men are, indeed, great. I wonder if a guy finds it just as endearing to listen to a gaggle of chicks in his backyard talk about cinnamon, spice and everything nice. Shirley Corriher explains that brownies' characteristic crackly, shiny top comes from not beating the eggs too much. (I think. I read this as I packed, serendipitously, a few days ago.)
Lindy - that's it, it feels like an exercise and at first it's fun, but then it just gets tedious and sort of unenjoyable, at least for me. That's when I started ordering take-out instead of cooking ;)
Vanessa - thank you so much! We just had lunch at Nick's next to Bonelle's today, but didn't stop in for a pastry yet...soon, though. I love the Gardens, we almost rented a 2-bedroom in a house there. I can't wait to check out Natural.
Anna - genius! Thanks for the tip. I found that refrigerating the brownies helped with the fudginess, too.
Posted by: Luisa | July 29, 2007 at 05:51 PM
Sounds like things are coming along nicely... and, i agree... moving calls for fudgy... very fudgy. Perhaps even fudgy with ice cream and hot fudge.
Posted by: Caroline | July 29, 2007 at 10:45 PM
You make moving sounds fun! I know it ain't - but your writing captures the madness, sadness and joy of it all.
Posted by: hungry girl | July 30, 2007 at 08:56 PM
Oh yes, at some point you just have to let go, and the take-out is such a relief. Unpacking and moving in is always takes longer than I think it will too- but it is a bit more fun than packing up.
Posted by: lindy | July 31, 2007 at 06:13 AM
I love how chocolatey and dense the brownies look. Absolute pleasure.
Posted by: The Purple Foodie | June 01, 2009 at 02:39 PM