RETRO CONGO SQUARES: National Blonde Brownies Day!

Today is National Blonde Brownies Day. Blond Brownies is a misnomer. Blondies are not Brownies! They get their flavor from brown sugar and not cocoa or chocolate, but they're wonderful for exactly what they are--a great butterscotch 'brownie.' Over the years, I've added macadamia nuts, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, or a combination of these ingredients to the following basic recipe. The variety of additions is huge, and the basic batter is a delicious brown sugar concoction. Blondies are simple to make, and I highly recommend them. I use dark brown sugar because I think it has more flavor. As in any recipe, the quality of the ingredients makes a difference in your final product.

I love this Retro Ad & Recipe for Congo Squares aka Blondies or Blond Brownies. As always, you can never have too many recipes!  

Congo Squares or Bars, by the way, have nothing to do with Africa. There's nothing like these sweets in any African country that I know of...and you can't even grow wheat in Central Africa. So why are they called Congo Squares? Who knows.. maybe because of the exotic ingredients (chocolate, coconut, nuts) which might come from Africa? I also read somewhere that these Congo Squares originated in the Southeast (US). There was a plaza in New Orleans called Congo Square which in the early 19th century was a gathering place for both free and enslaved African-Americans who met for marketing, music-making and dancing... probably not the connection, but a possibility. Whatever the origin, this is a great treat for the weekend! This Nestle ad is from 1949 and doesn't include the cocoanut, but throw some toasted coconut in.

1-2-3 HOT FUDGE SAUCE: Hot Fudge Sundae Day!

Today is National Hot Fudge Sundae Day! I really like Hot Fudge Sauce on cold ice cream.

This Retro Ad & Recipe for 1-2-3 Fudge Sauce is from Carnation Evaporated Milk, September 7, 1953. You can follow the recipe, or you can make your own. I just love these vintage ads, don't you? So here's a way to beat the heat! I would use 4 squares, of course.. and probably substitute some excellent artisan chocolate!

"Recipe for Getting Yourself Talked About this Summer" - Retro Ad for Chocolate Almond Roll

Summer is here, so I thought I'd take you back to another summertime with a Retro Baker's Chocolate Ad. My parents bought a new house in suburbia in the late 50s. Since neither of my parents grew up with air conditioning, they didn't choose that option from the builder upgrades. What were they thinking? Philadelphia? In the summer? My grandmother lived with us, so there was always a hot oven since she loved to bake. Needless to say, a few years down the road, my parents added air conditioning. Thank goodness. O.K. I know it's a #firstworldproblem, but still.

So here's a great "Recipe for Getting Yourself Talked About this Summer." Gotta love the Baker's Chocolate Story/Recipe Ads. This really is a great recipe for Chocolate Almond Cream Roll (with a variation for Chocolate Tier Cake). Want to bring it into 2017? Just substitute your favorite dark chocolate and cut down a bit on the sugar.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND CREAM ROLL

Mother's Day Vintage Ad & Recipe for Golden Cream Chocolate Cake

For Mother's Day I'm posting a Vintage Ad that references mothers. I love these Vintage Ads and recipes from Baker's Chocolate that "Tell a Story." These Ads appeared in Life Magazine from 1937-1938. Some of them are so amusing, especially this Ad from February 7, 1938 (and again on June 5, 1939) for Paula's Golden Cream Chocolate Cake. What a period piece! I mean really...just read the headline, "Paula Gives Mother-in-Law Her Come-Uppance." And don't you just love the word "Flibbertigibbet." Good thing Paula had a mind and talent of her own. And what a saint she was for not lauding her baking skills over her mother-in-law. Such modesty. Oh puh..lease. I feel like writing 'the rest of the story.'

At first meeting, Paula's mother-in-law thought Paula couldn't boil water.. She was proved wrong when Paula baked a lovely Golden Cream Chocolate Cake. These 'story ads' say a lot about the times! Of course Paula couldn't have done it without Baker's Chocolate and her own Mother's teachings!

This recipe really is delicious. The cake is a "cross between a Fudge Cake and Boston Cream Pie." A perfect posting (and baking!) for Mother's Day!

Milk Chocolate Queen's Cake: Retro Ad & Recipe

I love Retro Ads with Recipes, and here's a really good one for Milk Chocolate Queen's Cake from Pillsbury's Best Flour. I'm a dark chocolate aficiando, but this a great cake! The recipe was a Grand National Pillsbury Bake-Off Favorite.

1947 Betty Crocker Double-Quick Chocolate Chip Cake: Retro Ad & Recipe

Love this Retro Ad from 1947 celebrating Betty Crocker's Silver Anniversary. This Chocolate Chip Cake uses Betty Crocker's Double-Quick Cake Method.
1. Sift 2. Add 3. Beat 4. Add

This recipe and cake is still fabulous after all these years. I love the Fudgy/Chocolate Filling. I don't make white frosting with this. I think it's also great as a pan cake!

SIFT the dry ingredients all together into one bowl. Be sure you measure ingredients accurately.
ADD the shortening, all of the liquid, and flavoring right into the dry ingredients.
BEAT with a spoon, or mix with an electric mixer, for 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl frequently.
ADD unbeaten eggs (see each recipe), beat for 2 more minutes, and pour into prepared pans.

BETTY CROCKER'S CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE

Ingredients 
2 cups Gold Medal Kitchen Tested Enriched Flour; plus 2 Tablespoons, sifted
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 tsp double action baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup high grade vegetable shortening
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 large Egg whites; unbeaten
1/2 cup sweet or semi-sweet chocolate; cut into very small pieces

Directions
Before you start:
Have all ingredients at room temperature; preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease and dust with flour two 8 inch round layer pans.

Sift flour before measuring. Measure all ingredients accurately. Sift together into a bowl: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.
Add: shortening, milk, vanilla.
Beat vigorously with spoon for 2 minutes by clock (about 150 strokes per minute). You may rest a moment when beating by hand; just count actual beating time or strokes. Or mix with electric mixer on slow or medium speed for 2 minutes. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl frequently. Add egg whites.
Beat 2 more minutes scraping bowl frequently. Fold in carefully: chocolate pieces.
Pour into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes in moderate oven (350 degrees).
When cool, spread cooked white icing between layers, over top, and sides.

If desired, make fudgy chocolate filling (below).

FUDGY CHOCOLATE FILLING 
Mix thoroughly in saucepan: 1 egg yolk, 3 Tablespoons cream, 1/2 cup sugar, add 1 square unsweetened chocolate (1 oz), 1 Tablespoon butter.
Cook over moderate heat only until bubbles appear around edge, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; Beat until thick.

Retro Baker's Chocolate Topping Pie

Here's a fun and delicious Retro Recipe for Baker's Chocolate Topping Pie! Love the Peppermint Candy Filling, too! "IT'S THE TOPS!" Watch out for the raw eggs!