Bearhands quit smoking when I was four months pregnant with the Big Sister. He'd always promised he'd be finished with the fags by the time we had a family, but I'll admit when he chose a pricey laser treatment as his quit method, I was sceptical.
I was wrong (yes darling, wrong!) and he kicked butt. He smoked his last cigarette on the steps of the clinic and has been smoke-free for five and a half years.
There are a thousand things I love about him being off the durries, but two things stand out the most. I no longer have to fish cigarette butts out of the pockets of his shorts before I wash them and more importantly, Bearhands regained his sense of taste. Don't get me wrong, he still owns far too many striped golf shirts, but he has developed a taste for real beer. Christmas comes in October for Bearhands: all the big bottlos start selling fancy beers for Oktoberfest and he sets about sampling new brews from far-off lands.
I’d never get away with cooking the good stuff if he was home, but Bearhands is on a boys weekend at the moment – so I'm making brownies while the sun shines. 
beer brownies
ingredients:
350ml stout or dark beer
1 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
2 cups brown sugar
115g butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
2 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup white cooking chocolate, chopped
½ cup dark cooking chocolate, chopped
method:
Preheat oven to 160°C.
Line a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with aluminium foil, allow the foil to extend 2 inches beyond each short side of pan – these will be the handle from which you can lift the brownies from the pan.
In large bowl, whisk the stout and cocoa until blended and smooth. One at a time, mix in the sugar, butter, vanilla extract and eggs. Blend well. Add flour and salt and whisk until batter is smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.
Pour mixture in the prepared pan. Flatten the surface with a spatula. Bake until top is shiny and dry, and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. You don’t want to overcook brownies, so start checking at around 40 minutes (mine took 45). Remove from oven and cool in pan.
Serve with dollop cream and more dark beer!
are you a beer drinker?
hit me with your favourite brew
Robyn says
Ooh yum!!! Mr D would be happy for done of those this Monday afternoon x
mumabulous says
God damn you Amanda. I've just done an hour at the gym and you are making me hungry. There's little risk of me baking however. Quitting the cancer sticks is the very best thing your husband could have done.
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
You know you're onto something when the comments start with "Damn you Amanda". High praise Brenda, thanks. x
Author Bek Mugridge (@bekmugridge) says
These look and sound incredible!!!
I gave up smoking myself, 10 years ago so I know how hard it is - good on you Bearhands!!
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
Well done Bek - quitting is a massive achievement. x
Have a laugh on me says
Wow that looks so good, and it has an entire bottle in it?! WOW. I find beer too filling but I do love a shandy occasionally. I like Summer, but in NZ I used to drink Monteith's Pale Ale, but the hubby is now drinking Becks because it has no preservatives, supposedly, which is too heavy for me!
SIL says
One Beer Brownie Package delivered in one piece to H and L - but very sorry to say there was no sharing with us. You'll have to sneak another beer and make another batch for your drooling (and very patient) in-laws!!!
BOYEATSWORLD says
I'm not really a beer drinker but I want that brownie now. Loving the new look logo! 'tis fab!
Sonia Life Love Hiccups says
I dont mind a beer every now and then, but not the heavy thick stuff. I would however TOTAL go against that to scoff some of this down 🙂 I want it and I NEED it - thanks a lot hun hehe x