Feed Your Inner Leprechaun

Well Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you! I was going to say something more like "Happy St. Paddy's Day to ye" but thought to even attempt an Irish lilt in writing might garner the disdain of some Irish folk and this is supposed to be a day of celebration and drunkenness and who wants to fight a drunken Irishman (or woman)?

Instead, I propose a toast, in a way, a celebration of all that is good in the culinary world. Really, I can't remember if I've posted this recipe before. If I have, bear with me...or make it again.

Drunken Irish Brownies (or "Guinness at its Finest") Oh, be ye warned: this recipe should only be attempted if you a) really like dark chocolate (and you should because it's good) and b) really like Guinness or stouty beer (and you should because it's good). Your children will probably NOT like these brownies, but you can always bring the leftovers to work tomorrow and make everybody jealous that they weren't part of the festivities at your house tonight! Har!

Ingredients:
4 eggs
¾ cup sugar
1-12 ounce package of dark chocolate chips*
6 Tablespoons butter
¾ cup flour
¾ cup cocoa
1 ¼ cups Guinness Extra Stout or whatever is the closest equivalent you can find (take one moderate swig of the beer; the rest of the bottle should be exactly the right amount - you should ENJOY making the brownies, should you not?)
2 Tablespoons icing (powdered) sugar (for sprinkling on top in case they really are just too darn chocolately for you)

Directions:
1) Grease an 8-inch square pan.
2) Combine the eggs and sugar, beat until light and fluffy.
3) In a large glass bowl**, melt all the chocolate and butter in the microwave in one minute increments until you can stir it and it is smooth.
4) Beat chocolate into egg/sugar mixture.
5) Stir the flour and cocoa together and beat into chocolate mixture.
6) Carefully whisk in Guinness, half at a time.
7) Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 F for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean-ish. The brownies will be DENSE. Possibly the most dense you've ever eaten. Prepare thyself!

* Or semisweet - the original recipe actually calls for bittersweet.
** Make sure the bowl is completely dry - water will make the chocolate seize and you don’t want that!

Behold: The Brownie(s)