RED VELVET BROWNIES and LIMONCELLO ROLL

When I remember my favorite things, it usually always involves people and food - I love any occasion where wonderful friends - familiar or as yet undiscovered - gather, and food is consumed.
A dear friend invited us for dinner and I offered to bring dessert. I wanted something that would please the kids and indulge the adults, and liked the contrast of the chocolate and lemon. Although my Limoncello Roll didn't so much elegantly roll as flop, it still tasted lovely.

RED VELVET BROWNIES

4 ounces of chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup butter
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 (1 ounce) bottle of red food coloring
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350F.
Line bottom and sides of a 9 inch pan with foil, lightly grease the foil.
Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwave safe bowl, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until melted and smooth.
Whisk in sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition. Gently stir in flour, food coloring, baking powder, vanilla extract and salt. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
Bake for 45 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Lift brownies from pan, using foil sides as handles, gently remove foil. Spread cream cheese frosting on top of brownies and cut into squares.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and salt, beating until blended. Stir in vanilla.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Southern Living, December 2010
www.southernliving.com › Food › Recipes

LIMONCELLO ROLL

5 eggs
pinch of salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
40 grams of butter, melted
2 to 3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/4 cups cream
1 cup lemon curd
2 tablespoons limoncello

Heat oven to 190C.
Grease and line a 35cm by 26cm baking dish.
Beat eggs until frothy. Add salt, sugar and vanilla and beat until thick and pale. Sift over combined flour and baking powder, add butter and fold in gently. Pour into dish and bake 10 to 12 minutes or until puffed. Turn out on to baking paper sprinkled with sugar. Cool before spreading with half the lemon curd.
Whip cream, add limoncello and remaining curd and mix until firm. Spread over sponge leaving a border on one long side. Tuck over and roll up sponge from the other side. Chill 2 to 3 hours before slicing.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from New Zealand House and Garden
www.nzhouseandgarden.co.nz/entertaining.asp