Chocolate+Chipotle= Yum?

Being here in Texas we have a lot of Mexican influence on our food (hence how Tex-mex became so popular). We also have a lot of authentic Mexican food, and I guess I live in the right state because I love Mexican food and Tex-mex. However, I do have to be careful with the amount of spice I eat because my mouth can’t take it very well. And despite my love of Mexican food there is one type of food (or should I say way of food) that is very popular in Mexican cuisine and that is the use of chili or chipolte powder on EVERYTHING. And I mean everything… covering fruit such as pineapple, mango, and cantaloupe with chili powder. Putting it on candy, putting it in chocolate cakes and musses. In my mind this is all wrong. When I want fruit or chocolate I want the sweet natural taste.

But I have herd using chili powder this way is so good. And I have never tried it, so how can I judge and say I don’t like it? So when I saw this brownie recipe in this month’s cookbook I decided now was the time to try this crazy combination! These brownies were extremely fudgy (maybe because I didn’t let my cook long enough) and the spice flavor was not overwhelming at all. I am so glad I tried these. I did make a few changes to the recipe by adding vanilla and some extra flour. Chocolate Chipotle Browniesadapted from Emeril At The Grill: A Cookbook For All Seasons
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 (12 oz) bag semisweet chocolate morsels, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper
4 eggs

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Grease and flour an 13 by 9-inch baking pan or dish. Heat butter and half of the chocolate in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted. Add vanilla to melted butter and chocolate mixture. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cinnamon, and ground chipotle. Add melted chocolate mixture to sugar mixture, stirring to combine. Add eggs, mixing until smooth. Stir in remaining chocolate morsels.

Pour mixture into the prepared baking pan or dish. Bake until the center is set, about 25-30 minutes. Cool completely and then cut into small squares.