I think you will find the soup eatable and the wine good...these people wallow in dirt but live well as a rule." - Sir Andrew, The Scarlet Pimpernel

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While dear Sir Andrew was none too complimentary regarding the French, I’ve often laughed at that remark because it is rather relatable.

There’s a saying that describes the life of a creative: “the romantic life of a starving artist.”

Well, if we are going to be poor, then in the spirit of Sir Andrew, I say, we know how to live.

Yes, an artist’s life is rather hard, and most of us don’t have extra change in our pockets nor our bank accounts. But many of our lot tend to look at things through a different lens that allows us to enjoy the little things.

What we create through that lens gives pleasure to others, and whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of this inspiration, you’ll know – life is all about the small indulgences.

That’s what this blog is all about.

To get things started, let’s talk about one of the oldest cravings out there – chocolate!

Since it crossed the ocean in the sixteenth century, a great many people have been hooked by it’s rich, smooth, taste. We are currently in the month where you see it tied up in heart-shaped boxes with an array of fillings and delightful shades of dark, milk, or white.

But let’s just be honest, times are getting hard. Chocolates have been on a steady incline and a good chocolate bar will cost you close to five dollars!

This is where you start raiding the pantry for stashes you are sure you put away. So you search and search… and find nothing. I don’t know about you, but isn’t it true that the moment you crave something, all traces of it magically disappear from the house? Somebody, please tell me I’m not alone in this!

Before we blame it all on elves and trolls, (ahem…aka: spouses and children) perhaps there’s just a simple solution: you have that baking cocoa that’s been sitting in the pantry.

The ideas begin to churn. You could go through the whole palaver of baking a cake. First, it’s the two or three bowls, plus the one for the icing, (because you can’t have cake without icing) and then you need to wait for it to cool, which should give you just enough time to do the dishes!

This is a craving… not a sudden burst of motivation.

That leads me to share my solution: brownies.

I know, I know; some are too cakey, some are too dry, and others are…well…they rival a good, solid, brick!

Then there’s the fact that most brownies require melted chocolate, which, if you had even the chocolate chips you’d probably have snacked on them by now.

So, what if I could tell you that you can make the fudgiest, most wonderful brownies without the use of melted chocolate?

Yes, it is possible.

This recipe, takes about half an hour – including the baking time – and you’re done! They cool for five minutes – depending on the fortitude of your fingers – and require but one bowl. They are the richest, fudgiest, and most satisfying answer to a chocolate craving that I’ve ever indulged in.

Without further ado… here is your recipe.

Now, I realize that many artists suffer from food allergies. Thankfully, I have a dear friend who is both dairy and gluten-free, and when I shared the recipe, she saw possibilities. All credit to my friend, Mary Boyd, who made three batches to perfect this next recipe. Enjoy!

Thanks for joining us for our first indulgence. Not every indulgence will be for food though. Stay tuned next week if you’re a fan of poetry! We’ll explore it’s romantic side!

Are you a fan of brownies? I hope you enjoy the recipe. But just to make this post a little more indulgent, we’d love to hear what you’d put on for toppings! Share a pic, share an experience, share the most indulgent brownie creation you can! We’d love to hear it! Give us a comment.