Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Cafe: Brownies and Hot Fudge Sauce

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Honestly, hot fudge brownie sundaes were not on our menu at the TEOTWAWKI Cafe.  The disaster scenarios I have envisaged and planned for with my family didn't include still having plenty of electricity, running water, and a job to pay for them.  So in that respect, this pandemic has been somewhat of a disappointment.

During the first two months, shopping was extremely limited.  We had the food we needed and wanted for the most part, and we've been able to work with it really well.  However, with the way things were progressing--meat plants shutting down, livestock being euthanized, milk being dumped, locusts in Asia and Africa, etc., I was feeling like the effects weren't going to go away any time soon. (And I still feel that way.)  At the time, I wanted to get more chicken canned.  And gosh, we were really wanting some fresh produce.  QOTPE, a sugar addict if there ever was one, didn't ask me to get candy.  She asked for fresh green beans and spinach.  (I thought she had COVID.  Isn't weird nightmares or hallucinations one of the symptoms?)  I wanted to pick up some lettuce.  I had it growing in the raised boxed beds, but it was pretty small due to the late start.

Anyway, since I was at the store, I figured I'd get some ice cream, too.  But we needed to make it last as long as possible.  So hot fudge brownie sundaes seemed like a good idea.  And they turned out way better than I expected.  Really. 

Brownies
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons powdered eggs
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts or chocolate chips, optional

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Grease an 8x8" pan.

Melt butter in a saucepan.  When fully melted, remove from heat and stir in cocoa.  Add sugar, powdered eggs, water, vanilla, and stir well.  Add flour, baking powder, and salt, and stir well.  Spread batter into pan.  Top with chocolate chips or nuts, if desired.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Cool, cut, and enjoy.

Hot Fudge Sauce
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup hot water
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat when thickened and serve.

Links to related posts:
All About Cocoa
Powdered Eggs
Sugar
Butter