Delightfully Chewy Brownies + Giveaway Winner!!!!

I've shared two dinners with you this week, now it's time for dessert!

My love for the classics continue. I love a good brownie, and sometimes, it's best in its simplest form. No frosting or crazy toppings. Not that I'm knocking those fancy creations- I love them too!

I'm really glad I picked this brownie recipe to try. It's my current favorite to date. They're chewy, fudgy, and have enough chocolate to satisfy any chocoholic. If I had no self control, I'd eat four in a row. They're so good.

Source: Cook's Illustrated

1/3cup Dutch-processed cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso (optional)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water
2  ounces unsweetened chocolate , finely chopped (see note and related illustration)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter , melted
1/2cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2cups (17 1/2 ounces) sugar
1 3/4cups (8 3/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4teaspoon table salt
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate , cut into 1/2-inch pieces (see note)

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Referring to directions in Making a Foil Sling (related), make sling using the following steps: Cut 18-inch length foil and fold lengthwise to 8-inch width. Fit foil into length of 13 by 9-inch baking pan, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; allow excess to overhang pan edges. Cut 14-inch length foil and fit into width of pan in the same manner, perpendicular to the first sheet (if using extra-wide foil, fold second sheet lengthwise to 12-inch width). Spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk cocoa, espresso powder (if using), and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. (Mixture may look curdled.) Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in bittersweet chocolate pieces.

Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool 1½ hours.Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Return brownies to wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.

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And now we've come to the real reason you're reading this post (the brownies weren't enough? :))- to announce the winner of my 1st giveaway!!!  

True Random 
Number Generator
Min: 1 Max: 30  
Result: 6  

I couldn't figure out how to copy and paste the html code for the random generator, so I copied the result. I only counted once per commenter. Therefore, there were 30 entries in all.

Congratulations Meghan from Cupcakes with Sprinkles!!!!
You've won a batch of chocolate chip cookies!! Please contact me with your mailing address so I can send you your cookies right away!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my giveaway and for becoming a follower (if you did!). I hope to have plenty more giveaways in the future! I have never been so excited about my blog before, it is such an amazing feeling!! I hope you will continue to come back and we can all be good blog friends! :) Cheers!