Friday, November 5, 2010

Brownies from 1934

One of my students recently did a speech on her great grandmother. Apparently, Mrs. W. D. Johnston submitted a very early recipe for brownies to the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
1/4 cup of shortening
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup evaporated milk
2 ounces of chocolate
1/2 cup of sifted general purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup of nutmeats (optional)

Instructions:
*Cream the shortening
*Add sugar and cream together
*Beat eggs and add to mixture
*Add milk to mixture
*Melt the chocolate and add to mixture
*Sift in all dry ingredients
*Add nutmeats
*Stir all ingredients together

*Place in a shallow, greased and floured 9x13 pan and bake in over at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes
*Remove from oven, let cool and cut into bars

This recipe is a far cry from the thick, fudgey and cakey brownies with all of the additions we use today. This is a simple recipe from the 1930's - pure, a little sweet, but very 1930's. Enjoy!

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