I wanna be a browniebabe!

I should have gotten this post in last week, but leave it to me to forget that the due date was approaching.. "Nooo I've got plenty of time.. I'll find something else to slack off on instead.." Doh.

And so it's here! Today! One day after the Daring Bakers' post! Sorry to shove so much chocolate down your throats! But it's Browniebabe Day! Well not really, but it's the deadline to get your submission in. ;)

I really think this is a cool lil event, because hey.. who doesn't love a brownie now and again? And again? And again? Myriam of Once Upon a Tart blog fame has decided to highlight the brownie - to give the brownie it's much deserved day in the spotlight! And what dessert better deserves to be recognized than one that's always chocolatey rich.. Sometimes cakey, sometimes fudgey, sometimes ooey-gooey or sometimes chewy. The brownie makes any nut, chip, fruit, ice cream, peanut butter, caramel, marshamallow, anti-freeze or dog feces taste better! Not that I could really vouch for the last two items, but I'm confident enough in the brownie's capabilities to say that it is, in fact, a true statement!

I found this recipe while on the search for a mousse recipe for the last HHDD and promptly added it to my Recipezaar cookbook, knowing full well I'd be making these for the Browniebabe event. Oh yes, from the minute I laid eyes on them, I knew.

These brownies were fab. To say the very least. So chocolatey, so rich, so chewy and ooey and gooey. They had a great tang from the lemon "mousse" on top and even more rich chocolately goodness came with a third layer of swirly-swizzed chocolate ganache. The Chocolate Gods were smiling upon my kitchen that day.

I just want y'all to know... I had ONE square brownie, Hubbs had one and the rest went to work and were devoured within minutes of my arrival, barely leaving the plastic wrap and plate unharmed in the whole horrific ordeal.

My only bitch, if you can even call it that, about this brownie is that the lemon layer is described as a mousse. It wasn't a mousse, more of a custard. Which is just as good in my opinion. But if you're lookin for mousse, keep lookin'. =)

So here I am, throwing my hat brownie into the ring to run for this month's Browniebabe! Wooo! (I sure as hell hope there is no swimsuit competition! Yikes!)

Lemon Mousse Brownies
Courtesy of Recipezaar.com & "Just Call Me Martha"

13 oz. Semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 c. Unsalted butter
8 oz. Cream cheese
1 3/4 c. Sugar
3 Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 c. Flour
3/4 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
3 oz. cream cheese
1/3 c. Lemon juice
1/4 c. Sugar
3 Eggs
6 oz. Semi-sweet chocolate
2/3 c. Whipping cream

Melt 13 oz. semi-sweet chocolate and butter together in double boiler. Remove from heat.

In mixing bowl, mix together cream cheese, sugar and eggs. Beat until well mixed.
Add in vanilla, flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add the melted chocolate mixture and mix until smooth. Pour into greased 9" x 12" x 2" pan.

Beat 3 oz cream cheese, lemon juice and sugar until creamy and smooth. Continue beating while adding eggs one at a time. When well blended, pour over first layer. (will be thin, more like a custard base than a thicker mousse)

Place 6 oz chocolate and cream together and melt in double boiler. Stir until chocolate melts. Drizzle over lemon layer.

Bake at 350º F for about 45-55 minutes.

Chill.

Thanks for holding a cool lil event, Myriam! Hope this is turns into a monthly thing! =)