Dark Chocolate Brownies are a chocolate LOVERS dream come true and a perfect way to say “I love you” on Valentines Day!
I have to say that when I think of the most romantic city in the world. . . Paris, France pops right to mind don’t you agree?! Me too! So, I think it’s only appropriate to highlight some places and photo’s from my Europe trip which began in Paris, France. 🙂
But first we’ve gotta give some lovin’ to our Dark Chocolate Brownies. . .
They are divine! Truly. I love this recipe~ it’s the one I was taught in culinary school and it can. not. be. beat! I love dark chocolate and if love it like I do then, Dark Chocolate Brownies will be your new favorite brownie recipe! Make Valentines Day a little sweeter this year with some homemade “chocolate-love”!
It all began right here at the Cathedral of Notre Dame~ I was super jet lagged and all. After de-boarding the plane I jumped on the metro and inevitably got off on the seemingly wrong stop, however I was magically right at the square of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.
It is also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral or simply Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. I was a bit bummed that they wouldn’t let me go inside with my luggage (hahaha!), so I headed right back there first thing the next day!
Cathedral of Notre Dame is breath-taking inside and out. . . the stain glass windows, statues, works of art, and all the candles a glow everywhere, in every direction. The piece of art below is a copy The Black Madonna of Częstochowa, she is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland. I learned that when a copy of an original is made it goes through a special process and is endowed with a piece of the original it’s then considered as sacred. I was so happy and surprised to find this beautiful painting there.
Dark Chocolate Brownies fit right into all the love that’s in the air today. . .
Wouldn’t you agree?! Mmmmmm hmmm.
Next, I was off to the Place du Panthéon and since I was mostly on foot through all my exploring I could easily meander and visit all the lovely shops and markets on my way. Oh and since I was solo. . . I got pretty good at taking selfies too! 😉
On my way to the Pantheon I was drawn to visit Saint-Étienne-du-Mont which is a stunning church in Paris, France, located in the Latin Quarter on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in the 5th arrondissement, right across the street the Panthéon. It contains the shrine of St. Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. The church also contains the tombs of Blaise Pascal and Jean Racine.
The stain glass windows in the rear by the beautiful organ can not be missed! SOoooo amazing. . .
Dark Chocolate Brownies are just one of our many decadent desserts~ you may also enjoy some of these. . .
• Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Berries
• Meyer Lemon Cookie Cups with Blackberry Buttercream
• Coconut Banana Cream Petite Cakes
• French Tarte Au Citron (Lemon Tart)
• Lemon Cupcakes with Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting
The Panthéon is a building in the Latin Quarter in Paris, France. It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve and to house the reliquary châsse containing her relics but, after many changes, now functions as a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens.
The portico, with 24 large Corinthian columns was modeled after the second century Pantheon in Rome. The inscription above the entrance reads AUX GRANDS HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE ( “To great men, the grateful homeland”).
Above is the awe- inspiring mural of Saint Joan of Arc’s life and it is so beautiful and so enormous. Down the tight spiral staircase in the basement is the large crypt, covering the whole surface of the building accommodates the vaults of great French public figures. Some of the most famous buried here are Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Jean Moulin, Louis Braille, Jean Jaurès and Soufflot, its architect.
It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, but now functions primarily as a burial place for famous French heroes. It is an early example of Neoclassicism, with a facade modelled after the Pantheon in Rome surmounted by a dome that owes some of its character to Bramante’s “Tempietto”.
Located in the 5th arrondissement on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, the Panthéon looks out over all of Paris.
Well, we hope that our Dark Chocolate Brownies and some highlights from Paris will bring lots inspiration to your Valentines Day celebrations!
Much Love,
Ruthie & Madeliene
Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
- 2 cups bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 1 ½ cup butter
- 6 eggs room temperature
- 4 ½ cups sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups pastry flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Coat baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside.
- Place chocolate and butter in microwaveable bowl or double boiler; melt and allow to cool.
- Chocolate mixture needs to reach between 80 and 90 degrees F.
- In saucepan bring eggs and sugar to 90 degrees F, pour into mixer with whisk attachment.
- Add salt and vanilla; mix.
- Mix on medium high speed for 8-9 minutes or until thick and light in color.
- Fold in melted chocolate mixture by hand.
- Gently fold in flour ½ cup at a time; mixing with each addition, using a rubber spatula.
- Bake 40-45 minutes. (if top puffs up during baking- it will fall during cooling)
- Cool on cooling rack, then cut into bars.
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