CSN Review, Recipe, and a GIVEAWAY!

A few weeks ago, I got an email from a CSN representative asking if I'd like to do a review or host a giveaway on this here blog. When I found out how much the gift certificate would be for, I jumped at the chance to do both. Seriously, who doesn't love free stuff (plus this way, I could have the giveaway open to non-US residents as well)? So I went shopping. I ended up choosing a really awesome 9-inch square baking dish made by Le Creuset that was on sale and came with a matching 5-inch bonus dish.

Making the purchase was easy. It was the waiting for it to arrive that was hard, but that was just because I was so excited for it to get here. It only took about a week and was packaged to ensure there would be no breakage. The color, Caribbean blue, was really spot on for what the picture online showed and it's the perfect size for several recipes I like to to play with in the kitchen.

I got my chance to use the dish this weekend for a going-away BBQ at my parents' house. My baby sister got a job that will take her all the way to Egypt (how cool is that!) so we had everyone over to wish her a Bon Voyage. I was asked to bring dessert. I asked Mim what she wanted, and she asked for this cookie-cream cheese-coffee-cake thing that is literally to-die-for and then suggested I make brownies for my dad and any other communists that don't like cream cheese (yeah, she called him that).

Since the cookie cake thing requires no baking and uses cling wrap, I was able to make it, stick it in the fridge, and move it to a different pan after it got firm. Then I went in search of a good homemade brownie recipe, since I've never tried making brownies without a mix before. I'll admit, I should have stuck with a box mix just to get a true feel for how the Le Creuset works, but everyone was happy with what I made. They were fudgey and chocolatey and really quite good. What I really liked though was how evenly they baked. Usually, I burn brownies. Or the outsides get really tough while the inside is perfect. Or it looks done but ends up being a gooey mess that no one wants to eat. But with this pan, they came out perfect! Ok, they stuck a bit because I didn't grease it very well, but they were still cooked perfectly.

Here's where the giveaway comes in. I bought a second pan in Dijon yellow for you to win. All you have to do is:

1. Leave a comment on this post by 11:59 P.M. Tuesday 31 August. Be sure I have some way of contacting you inc ase you win.
2. Get an extra entry by being a follower (just leave a second comment saying that you follow me).

That's it! I'll pick a winner on 1 September using random.org and will hopefully have it sent toy our home before the Labor Day holiday. Now on to the recipe!

Deep Dish Brownies
Recipe from All Recipes, adapted by me

3/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder (only use this if you like a cakey brownie)
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.
2. In a large bowl, blend melted butter, sugar and vanilla. Beat in eggs one at a time. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Gradually blend into the egg mixture. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Let brownies cool, then cut into squares. Enjoy!