Walnut Chocolate Brownies

The new year is often a time for resolutions and healthy feel good goals, which are usually too extreme to maintain, like no junk food - yeah right. As far as I'm concerned there is no good or bad food. Sure some things we should eat more of than others, but restricting something is only going to make you want it more!! 

I don't think I know anyone who doesn't like chocolate brownies  - except maybe me. However for some reason I had a craving, and the only way to satisfy a craving is to have the thing which one craves, these brownies are rich and chocolates, the addition of walnuts adds a delightful crunchy texture and the subtle aroma of olive oil cuts through the sweetness. Making these chewy chocolates morsels quite devine. They're also rediculously easy to prepare.

Ingredients (makes 12 - 16):

• 220 grams dark chocolate
• 170 grams walnut pieces
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3 eggs
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence 
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/2 tsp baking powder 

Method

Grease a 20cm square baking dish and line with baking paper. Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius. 

Over a double boiler, gently melt the chocolate. Set aside to cool slightly. 

Use an electric beater to beat eggs with sugar and oil. Slowly poor in the melted chocolate while still beating. Doing this slowly makes sure that you don't scramble the eggs in the residual heat of the chocolate. 

Next sift the dry ingredients, flour, cocoa, and baking powder over the chocolate mix. Use a large metal spoon to gently fold together till combined. Finally fold in the walnuts. 

Spread into the prepared baking dish and bake for 35 minutes. The top will start to crack a little. 

Cool in the tin, before removing and gently peeling off the baking paper. Cut and serve with cream or ice cream.