iPhone Arrived & Brownie Recipes

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Thank goodness that after my iPhone was stolen on Monday, my new phone arrived late Wednesday.

iPhone 4 box

UPS came to the house earlier in the day, didn’t ring the bell, and left.  I realized this hours later when I saw a sticky note on the door.  I called them and they sent the driver back to my house.  At 6pm. I waited all day for my phone, but finally, I got it.  Grrr to waiting on deliveries!

Brand new and sealed in the box.  I was worried they were going to try to send me a refurbished phone but they didn’t!

iPhone 4 inside box

I think because it’s a new-to-Verizon phone, it’s the 4G (a new phone in general) and because I had originally purchased the more expensive (and probably less common) 32 MB model rather than the 16 MB model, so there simply weren’t any “used” phones to refurbish and send to me.  So I “lucked out” and got a new phone.

However, I would hardly call having one’s phone stolen, paying $250 out of pocket for the replacement + new case, and having to endure the sense of violation and frustration that has resulted from this whole ordeal “lucky”, but you know what I mean. I’m grateful that insult to injury wasn’t added by sending me someone else’s castoff a refurbished phone.

I’m back in business!

iPhone with purple case

I bought the same case that I had before.  It’s not one of the more silicone-based cases.  Those pull my hair out!   This one is more smooth and not as “grippy” and the bottom part detaches in case you want to dock it in a Bose system or something similar and you don’t have to remove the entire case.

iPhone with purple case

And rather than downloading tons of apps that I realized I didn’t use or need anyway, I only downloaded

Pandora Radio

Runkeeper (because it has GPS and is great to see running or walking routes)

WordPops (I don’t want to play Words With Friends.  My friends are busy and take way too long to make their move.  I like scrabble-ish games that are fast-paced and WordPops suits my needs)

And I hid or removed all kinds of icons/apps like Stocks or Calendar and only have the ones I use most often on my home screen.  To do this: hold the icon til it begins to jiggle, then you can move it by dragging it or just delete it by clicking on the red x that will appear.  Many of you asked how to do this.  

iPhone with purple caseStreamlined simplicity on the home screen.

I am so happy to have my phone back!  I never realized in just six weeks how antiquated the Blackberry feels and how much I love the iPhone.  I felt naked without my phone.  For better or worse, I think we’re all pretty attached to our technology.  Especially our phones!

From my last post about Turbo Mode, thanks for sharing what you’ve been turbo’ing though.  We are all so busy but that’s okay.  Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, right?

And I got a kick out of your fill in the blank answers.

Questions:

1. What’s the last thing you waited for?  Anything you’re in the process of waiting for?

Waiting two days for my replacement phone, and then waiting on UPS to come back to my house because the driver never rang the bell (assumed no one was home I guess and just put a sticky on the door and bailed without ringing first) was a long two and a half days days!  But worth it, clearly, so I could have my phone back.

I am currently waiting to go on vacation.

I’m waiting to buy a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I really want one.

And I’m waiting to see if I win the lottery.  I won’t hold my breath on that since I don’t even play the lottery.

2.  Favorite Brownie Recipes?

I know everyone has a favorite recipe for them but if you have any recipes that you adore, please share them.  Links welcome, but only two links, max, or your comment will go into moderation.

You can even tell me you love to doctor up Duncan Hines or Betty C’s brownie mixes, or that you make your own with your Aunt Susie’s treasured recipe.  Does not have to be vegan, GF, or “healthy”.  Inherently, I don’t think brownies are “healthy”.  I think they are dessert and that’s a beautiful thing.

I have Raw Vegan Brownies in my recipe arsenal (Vegan, GF)

Raw Vegan Brownies

And Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Cupcakes with White Chocolate Icing

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Cupcake
Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Cupcake with White Chocolate Icing

…But I’d like to make really awesome brownies for an event and try out a new recipe in the process.

I know Jessica has more rich decadent brownies and bars on her site than one could imagine and so does Jenny, but fill me in on any of your favorite recipes, please!

3. What makes a good brownie recipe for you?

For me, a good brownie is rich, moist, not dry, more fudgy than cakey, has a gooey center with barely crisped edges.

Frosting is optional.  Buttercream or cream cheese frosting is preferred over chocolate frosting.

And no nuts in the brownies.  Nuts in the brownies is a 100% deal breaker.  I hate nuts in baked goods!

TGIF!

 

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. Brownies definitely have to be fudgy, not cake-like. Dense, moisty, chewy, but above all they can NOT have nuts. I love nuts, by themselves. But there is no faster way to completely ruin the texture and mouth-feel of biting into a baked good than adding a crunchy nut to the mix.

    I actually haven’t had a good brownie like that since going gluten-free. I’ve tried different recipes and mixes, but they all seem to come out cake-like or way too gummy. Raw brownies (blending together walnuts, dates, vanilla and cocoa powder) are delicious, but just not the same!

  2. Ha – you used the “m” word!!! Hehe (in your fave brownie description).

    I like that word, but I know you don’t :-)

    My perfect brownie is practically raw. I like it to taste oooey and gooey like the batter.

    The last thing I waited for was this holiday break that I am currently on!!!!

  3. So glad you’re back in business, and nice streamlined look to your phone screen.

    What do you want a stand mixer for? Curious what recipes you’re planning on trying.

    Brownies–I actually like the black bean ones, but that’s maybe because of the limitations on what I can actually try. But I think that your preferences match mine exactly (I really dislike nuts in baked goods too)! The recipe that I mostly use for my husband et al is the standard half cup butter, ~cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, 8×8 pan, done (350 ~20-30 mins)–so simple, so moist and fudgy. For me, I couldn’t stand it with the butter and probably not eggs either, but I haven’t felt inspired to make an ‘Ela friendly’ version yet.
    Good luck!

    1. what to make with a kitchenaid? Oh a million things that I have in my head :)

      black bean brownies…have not yet tried any bean-based desserts…I keep thinking it just sounds too..earthy, beany, natural and possibly not the greatest tasting but I should try them once I suppose…

  4. Stolen iPhone!? I can’t imagine… I love mine so much I’d die. I’m kind of obsessive about knowing where it is at all time. Happy Earth Day and yes, TGIF!

  5. I LOVE the Pamela’s gluten free brownie mix. There are several versions on the back of the package (you can do vegan, oil, butter, etc.). I prefer doing a version with half butter/half coconut oil. I am very picky about brownies. I am also gluten free. However, EVERYONE (gluten free or not) that I make these brownies for raves about them and wants the recipe. I just wish they were organic. Oh, and while I enjoy a nut free brownie, to me, there is nothing like a super yummy warm brownie w/ toasted pecans on top. Sigh.Off to buy some mix.

    1. thanks, Sybil! Good to know that the Pamela’s are crowd pleasers for the even non-GF people. I have heard they are awesome brownies…need to try them!

  6. I couldn’t agree more about the nuts. That’s just bad form. I actually hate nuts in all baked goods. And brownies shouldn’t be frosted. They should be warm, gooey, and sweet enough on their own. Simple is best.

    I thought of you last night as I was nibbling on buttercream frosting at my friends’ celebration – it was coffee flavored! I wasn’t going to have any, but I was like “in Averie’s honor”, and it was worth the pain I endured!

  7. I’ve been waiting for these to arrive at my local Cost Plus World Market: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10982612&clickid=body_rv_img
    I have the matching set of expresso cups and plates, and I love them. Can’t beat the price, either.

    This shouldn’t need saying, but a brownie HAS to have chocolate in it! If there’s no chocolate then it’s a BLONDIE, and if it’s made with carob then it’s a carob bar. They may be good, but they’re not brownies!

  8. Im glad they didn’t send you an old one and your back in business, just wish it didn’t have to cost you so much. If you think the black berry is antiquated you’d really get a laugh out of my phone.

  9. Gaaaah, that is so awful your phone was stolen!!! I’m lucky that I’ve never had anything stolen. Although, my sister once had her purse CUT off of her. When we were in Amsterdam, she was wearing a small handmade purse with a string for a strap. Without her realizing it, someone came up behind her and cut the purse right off. Lost her passport while travelling and everything. It was a mess. Now I only wear thick leather straps!

    Anyways, at least you’ve got a phone now, despite the giant headache. I’m currently waiting to start my new job!! Or more like, my first paycheck from my new job! :P

  10. I am waiting for vacation, too! Aaah can’t wait. :-) I don’t think I have a favorite brownie recipe, but moist and fudge-y are my fave!

  11. I don’t know if I’m waiting for anything in particular. I’m working toward a couple things, but I don’t thin I’m waiting on anything.
    I love brownies, but I think the guradelli dark chocolate ones rare the best! I really want to try the smores brownies from How Sweet It Is. Jessica always blows me away with her genius combos. Brownies+s’mores=why didn’t I think of that before?!

  12. So glad you are now back in business, so to speak! I have to confess–I like brownies from boxed mixes….

  13. I guess I’m what you’d call a lurker on your blog, but I HAD to comment regarding brownies, because you described my perfect one from start to finish! Rich, moist, fudgy, gooey center, crisped edges, NO NUTS, and frosting optional. Awesome! I have one recipe I’ve used in the past that is pretty fabulous and actually sort of “healthy” (not vegan though): http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipe/chocolate/big-fudgy-bittersweet-brownies/

    Also, UPS is pretty terrible sometimes. The last time I had a package coming from them, which contained over $100 worth of new J.Crew clothes, they apparently just left the box in front of my apartment building, no sticky note at all, and I never got it. I think someone stole it off the front steps of the building :( It’s just laziness. They could have at least tried calling me! And of course they took no responsibility for it being gone so I lost all of that money, and worse, the new clothes!