ina and the brownie cake

Okay, so those that know me know that I adore Ina Garten. There's no denying it. She's an amazing cook, her food is fabulous, she's always throwing a party, and, lets face it, her husband is adorable (Justin thinks that he's really who I'm obsessed with and he's right). 
Anyway. About two or so years ago, for Christmas I received one of her cookbooks called Back to Basics. 

courtesy of Google Images 

I adore this book. She includes pictures of every single recipe, which is something that I think is a must. I want to see what I'm making so I can know if I've done it correctly. I flip through this cookbook when I want some inspiration, want a challenge, or just want to look at yummy, elegant food and day dream. It's lovely, and I love it.

The first recipe I've made out of it I want to share with you. This is my go to recipe for everything. Parties, football games, chocolate cravings. It's yummy, makes the house smell lovely, and easy. Very easy. 

Baked Chocolate Pudding

heavily adapted from Ina

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks of butter (there's no way getting around it), melted and cooled
• 1 cup Splenda and 1 cup sugar, combined
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 3/4 cup cocoa 
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees and spray a two quart dish (or butter it if you're feeling naughty). In the bowl of an electric mixer (which I have now!), combine the sugar and eggs and mixed on low for about five or so minutes, until creamy and yummy. While that's mixing, sift together the cocoa and flour and add a dash of salt (trust me). I know a lot of people are like sifting is for losers, but trust me it makes the pudding/brownie/cake smooth. Once that's sifted, add it slowly to the sugar and egg mixture and combine. Add the vanilla and butter and stir it once more. Now this is the part where Ina and I differ. Her recipe states that you need to bake this dish in a water bath. This is something that I have done the first time I made it, and it turned out so good. But about two weeks ago, I made this, but forgot the water bath. Well, what am I to do? Instead of freaking out, I just cut the baking time. It's supposed to bake for an hour. Instead, I just baked it for forty five minutes. It's really something that you just have to watch. The outside of the cake will be cake-like, but the middle will look as though it's just not baked. But that's okay, go ahead and take it out. Let it cool for twenty minutes, pop some vanilla ice cream on it, and eat up. 

"Seriously, how easy is that?"

Go make this. Love it. Buy her book (seriously, I'm not getting an endorsements, I just love her).