Dark Chocolate Brownies and Vanilla Ice Cream

These brownies come from My Kitchen Cafe (Thanks Melanie for another great recipe!) And this vanilla ice cream is our favorite, it comes from the Ben and Jerry's cookbook, but is slightly modified. After spending a great couple of days on Mackinaw Island, where we ate our weight in fudge, I came home wanting MORE, if you can believe that! So, I opted for brownies instead of fudge. But these brownies are dangerously close, mind you, so find someone to share with!

Dark Chocolate Brownies

2 sticks butter

8 oz semi-sweet chocolate (I used chocolate chips)

2 cups sugar

1 t vanilla

5 large eggs

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 t salt

2/3 cup flour

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 with cooking spray. Melt butter and chocolate chips in a 3 quart sauce pan over low heat until completely melted and smooth. Add 1 cup of sugar to the hot chocolate mixture and then let it cool to lukewarm. Whisk in the remaining 1 cup of sugar and vanilla. Next whisk in the eggs one at a time until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Whisk in the salt and the cocoa powder. Add the flour last and mix just until it disappears, be careful not to over beat.

Spread into the greased pan and bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes. An inserted toothpick should come out with crumbs it, NOT clean. Cool to room temperature, if you can.

Vanilla Ice Cream

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

2 cups whipping cream

1 cup milk

2 t vanilla

a dash of salt

Beat eggs until light and foamy, about 1-2 minutes. Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking for about 1 more minute. Pour in the cream, milk, vanilla, and salt until blended.

Transfer to the mixture to an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.